Page 29 of Broken

“Me and my fiancé decided we needed some special time together. So, we checked into a lovely spa and have been having a great time. Word just reached me that you have been trying to get in touch.” My reply is full of fake courtesy and respect. I sound like I am playing dumb and trying to kiss his arse to anyone who knows me, but that is exactly why Alan Blakeman has no idea I am lying to him, because he doesn’t know me.

“Bullshit. When I call, you answer. You don’t get to take fucking personal days. I have important things I need to discuss with you. Both you and Ava will report here for breakfast tomorrow morning. Is that clear?” I can hear the venom in his voice as he speaks.

“Father, if it’s me that you need to speak to, why do I need to drag Ava away from this beautiful spa? We are booked for longer and she really doesn’t need to be there to talk business. Besides, I thought you didn’t want me to be part of the business any more.” I know I’m winding him up right now, but he gives away more clues than he intends to when he's annoyed.

“You are still part of this family, even if you have chosen some pussy over your birthright. I still expect you to report to me when I ask you to. As for Ava, I have heard some quite disgusting stories about how she is being treated and quite frankly, I want to see with my own two eyes that she is well.” I feel like whooping in celebration because this is a massive slip up for him. Not only has he exposed he has a mole in my team, he has also shown his true colours for how he feels about Ava. Now, I just need to pull more out of him.

“Who exactly have you been hearing these stories from? We both know the story you are referring to was a very private event and I would like to know who felt the need to betray my trust. And as for Ava, what do you care? She is my fiancé and I can do as I please. So why would it matter to you what goes on in my relationship with Ava? You have taught me everything I know about how to be in control in the relationship.” I spit out the last point because he most definitely did spend years teaching me that I should always have dominance over the women in my life. That I should show them who's boss and break them to make them the perfect obedient partner. So, all I’m doing with Ava is exactly what he taught me. What is really pathetic is that for years, I thought this was all true. I thought it was my responsibility to let the woman know that I’m in charge and she is less than me. So, I used women for sex and threw them away, not letting anyone get close because none of them deserved it. They talked back, they got put in their place. Then I met Katyia and she told me that is how men have treated her throughout her whole life. She has always felt like a second class citizen, if she felt like one at all. Hearing her say this broke a wall in me my father had spent years carefully constructing. The idea that any man would dominate, abuse, or belittle this gorgeous, fragile angel is a fucking mystery. There's no way she is a second class citizen, she’s so far out of all our leagues, it’s unreal. She helped me see the way my father had raised me to feel is wrong and with her help, I started to heal.

But right now, I need my father to believe I’m just doing what he taught me was right. He has to believe it’s real. Given the growl at the end of the phone as I speak, he knows that he will struggle to argue back, given that he is arguing his own teachings, but this is my father and I know he will find a way.

“Don’t bring up irrelevant shit from the past. You will be here at nine in the morning and you will have Ava.” With that, he instantly hangs up, allowing no room for argument. I can’t help but laugh because this reckless behaviour is exactly what I want to see from him. I need him off his game.

I call Ryder to update him and inform him to have Ava ready tomorrow morning. I haven’t given any instructions regarding clothing, but I know that she won’t let me down. I need her to keep pushing me because that’s what triggers my rage and I feel the overwhelming desire to make her pay and punish her.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Grant

Iget back to the house early to make sure Ava and Ryder are ready to go on time. I just have visions of her arguing and making us late. Whilst you would think the idea of pissing my father off and keeping him waiting would be amusing to me, it is so ingrained in me that I am required to show up on time when he calls, that I can’t even imagine anything else. I still have the scars from other times I have challenged him on this issue.

When I arrive at the house, I ping Ryder a text, telling him to get Ava’s arse downstairs. She will be more amenable for him, he is the nice guy after all. It’s not long before Ryder is walking down the curved wooden staircase, dressed in his typical black suit with black tie. My father believes that if you want to be a success, you need to dress like it and for Ryder, he says that everyone should know his roll in security, but I know that he fucking hates dressing in the suit, which is why his top button is undone. The perfectionist side of me is desperate to button it up, but I lost that battle a long time ago. My eyes are not on Ryder long before the beauty behind him with the jet back hair begins her descent. She could not look more different from the clothes she usually chooses. She’s wearing a cream pencil skirt that falls just below the knee and clings to all of her curves. Matching that is a cream tweed suit jacket with three quarter length sleeves that sits elegantly over a pale, dusty pink t-shirt. Ava has no skin on display and looks like your typical rich society housewife, exactly what I told her that I wanted, but there is no denying that the edge that makes her Ava is still there. I could dress her in a paper bag and you would still be able to see her sexy body and curves, but it’s her attitude that gives her away. Her hair is worn loose in curls and the jet black colour shines in the sunlight, like a beacon that she was instructed to wear her hair up and didn’t. Normally, she does not wear much make-up I have noticed, but that just won't do around my father and whatever whore he brings to breakfast, which is why I instructed her to wear make-up, but not much and nude tones. So, the bright red colour she’s wearing that makes her lips look plump and like they are sending a personal invitation out to any nearby cocks, is definitely breaking the rules. Given the little glint in her eye and the small cocky smirk, she has had time to forget about the rules she was taught at her last encounter and that makes me sneer at her as I watch her travel down the staircase. Seeing the look on my face has her momentarily stalling, I guess she hasn’t completely forgotten the lesson.

She makes it to the last step and Ryder holds out a hand to help her down, even though these disgusting pink pump heels are the lowest I have seen her wearing yet. Like I said, he’s the gentleman here, not me. She takes his hand somewhat reluctantly, almost as though she isn’t sure if she is allowed to touch him or if he is allowed to help her. I’m glad she has a healthy suspicion of Ryder. I want her to feel comfortable enough with him that she lets him look after her when I’m gone, but I need her to remember Ryder works for me. The sweet little smile she gives him in thanks does not go unnoticed. Apparently, my fiancé is still attracted to my security manager, but his steel face remains unchanged, like he hasn’t even noticed she was looking at him. His eyes are too busy focused on the job, exactly where they should be. Fuck, it never occured to me until now that Ava and Ryder spending so much time together could, potentially, be problematic. I mean, I’m not blind, they are both ridiculously good looking people, but in the two years I’ve known Ryder, I haven’t seen him with a woman. He has always been all focused on the work and his career, which is what I have loved about him. He is always there and never let’s me down, which is why I never saw a problem between him and Ava. Ryder is probably the most professional member of staff that I have. So what if she has a crush on him? He will never let it effect his ability to do his job and thank fuck for that, because I would be seriously lost without him.

The drive over to the Blakeman residence is filled with awkward silence and tension. I talk to Ryder and Vic, who both sit in the front seats, about some up and coming work that we have. Ava just sits there, staring at the window, not saying a word. This is exactly how I need her to behave, but it's infuriating me because I can feel that it’s all an act, one that I don’t need her to let slip at the big house.

“I expect you will be able to remember how to behave appropriately when we get to my fathers?” I ask Ava and her back straightens at the fact I’m talking to her.

“Of course. I would never forget how to be your good little wife.” Her tone to anyone else would sound serious, but I can hear the mocking behind it.

“Should my father question you about our engagement party the other night, how will you respond?” This is not the first time we have rehearsed this question and every time her shoulders tense and her jaw tightens. She looks physically uncomfortable about the reminder of what happened and that brings a little smirk to my face.

“I had a lovely night. It was so nice to meet so many new people. I hope I made a good impression with them.” As she grits the final line out, I chuckle. I may have added that last part to wind her up and I’m loving the fact it’s working.

“Good girl,” I say patronisingly as we pull up the long driveway towards the main house. Ava scowls at me and looks like she is going to say something before thinking better of it. I feel her taking deep meditating breaths beside me, like she is trying to calm herself down and that sadistic side of me smiles at how easy it is to wind her up. I’m just hoping she snaps in front of my father.

We are all out of the car and the door to the main house springs open before we have even had the chance to ring the doorbell. That isn’t even the most confusing thing, the fact it’s my father who answers the door, personally, is truly baffling. I don't think I can ever remember a time when he has opened the door to company by himself and looking around at Hilda, the maid, I see she’s in just as much shock as me.

“Grant, you finally made it,” he grinds out to me and I know it is not a comment about us being late for breakfast as we are actually ten minutes early. It’s more of a comment about the length of time it took to get in contact with me. He is shooting daggers at me and if looks could kill, I would have been dead the second he opened the door. But then he notices Ava standing next to me and he stares at her like he is trying to bore a hole through her, but I know he is assessing her for any signs of damage, which he will not find. Her body stiffens up and who can blame her with the way the crazy old guy is staring at her. His eyes assess her and I notice just for a fleeting second that a flash of what looks to be pain or sadness fills his eyes and vanishes just as quickly. It’s only because I have spent years looking into those shallow, vacant orbs, desperately seeking some semblance of emotion other than anger or shame to be aimed my way, but it never came. Yet, this very clearly is emotion and it is aimed at Ava, making my blood start to boil and I can feel my cheeks start to redden with fury.

“Ava, beautiful girl, how lovely to see you again. Tell me you are well.” He leans in and kisses both of her cheeks, giving her the high society version of a hug where there is no actual touching involved, just the way my father likes it. He hates when people touch him, but I think right now, he looks like he wants Ava to return it with an actual hug, a word I was not sure my father even knew. Ava’s body is tight and rigid, with a smile so fake, it looks to be almost painted on her face. But her eyes give everything away, her smile doesn’t reach that far and her eyes look empty, like Ava checked out back in the car.

Ava answers Father exactly as we rehearsed. He leads us through to the breakfast room whilst she continues telling him all about the beautiful couple’s massage we enjoyed together last night. I mean let’s be honest, the girl isn’t going to win any bloody Oscars with this performance, but that’s the point. I want him to know how much I have her under my spell. I want him to see how much she’s changed to be married to me. I also want the old man to realise he has run out of options.

Sitting at the table when we arrive in the large bright conservatory is my most recent stepmother Mindy. As I’m sure you can tell by the name, she is not with my father for his looks. Although Alan Blakeman is in his early sixties, he doesn’t look particularly old. His once sandy blonde hair is now a gray colour. His chiseled jaw and angular features that replicate my own are covered in short stubble, which is most unusual as my father shaves daily. His eyes are the type of blue that should shine bright, but the darkness within his soul takes the edge off them, dimming their colour. He is as tall as me, at just over six feet, and despite his age, he continues to exercise regularly, which is why he is still muscular. So, while he isn’t bad to look at and I’m sure that does help Mindy slightly when she has to suck his wrinkly cock, clearly there are other reasons why this blonde Barbie, in her early twenties, with severely surgically enhanced breasts, is with my father. The notoriety of being a crime lord, the power, and the money bring in the stupid women, because let’s be honest, clever women would run as far away from this life as they possibly can, but sadly, money can be a dreadful motivator.

“Ava, come sit. I don’t think you have met my wife yet. This is Mindy. Mindy, this is Grant’s fiancé, Ava. Please, everyone, have a seat. You too, Ryder.” Despite the fact Ryder has always been made to feel more included in this household than even I have, he still always hesitates. He knows my father can be unpredictable and that at the end of the day, he will always be an employee. I also think it’s Ryder’s way of showing the old man that he still respects him enough to get his permission to join the table again, each time. Arse kisser!

“Oh, how wonderful that you are getting married. I am so excited for you both. Have you set a date yet?” Mindy gushes and Ava looks stunned, like she has no idea what to say. We did not rehearse this part and she is looking at me like a deer in headlights. But it is my father's expression of fury that is spurring me on.

“Well, no official date yet, but I have hired us a wedding planner who will get everything sorted for us. We are just so in love that we don’t want to wait. We are hoping, if we can get a good enough venue, for it to be in the next couple of weeks.” I don’t know who my statement shocks more. Ryder starts to choke on the mouthful of water he had just taken an unlucky sip from. Ava’s already ramrod straight back gets impossibly firmer and her gaze turns towards me. I don’t even need to look at her to know that her eyes are burning a hole in the side of my head. Mindy probably has the same vacant expression as always, but it's not their reactions that I care about. It's his.

“Like hell! You are not getting married that soon,” he screams, causing both Mindy and Ava to jump as his fist smacks down onto the wooden breakfast table, causing all of the tableware to shake. Me and Ryder don’t even blink, clearly we are used to his outbursts. I’m about to return his argument with one of my own when a flurry of staff enter the room, carrying all of the breakfast foods and begin to place it on the table. I take a huff because there were many things I had ingrained into me as a child and one of those was that meal times were protected from any bullshit arguments, it is our fake family time, but the most important one is that our family image, the idea that we are a perfect family unit, must always be preserved. This means no arguing or backchat in front of the staff. I know that if I want to unravel him over this Ava thing, then I have to play by his rules, for now.

Breakfast at the Blakeman residence looks like it has been filmed for a bloody soap opera. Everyone is dressed immaculately, women with their perfect hair and make-up, men with their smart business suits. Your typical rich, high-society family getting ready to start their day. There's a vast array of food from cereal and pastries, to hot cooked meat, such as sausage and bacon. It looks more like the type of breakfast that you would get if you were staying in a hotel rather than the everyday breakfast you get in your own home. Don’t be mistaken to think that this is only put on as a special occasion because we are visiting, this is how my father has always started his day, whether he is alone or with company, the only thing that differs is the amount of food. You see, it’s all about the perfect image he has been trying to burn into my soul since I was born, and I know it was burnt into him by his father. But it all just seems so false. We talk about the weather, whatever surgical enhancement Father is paying for Mindy to get, and how lovely the food is. But we never discuss any real issues and despite the light and friendly conversation that we are trying to maintain, I can see that the longer this farce continues, the more agitated everyone is getting. Well, everyone but Mindy, who has no idea what is going on and I don’t know whether that's a blessing in disguise or not.

Once everyone is finished with the food, the waiting staff enter the room and clear the table away just as quickly as when they first came in. The most senior member of staff asks my father if we would like another cup of coffee. He asks him on all of our behalf because he has been trained that way. To know that Father is the most important person in the room. But when I look at the young wait staff, who I haven’t seen before, his gaze is not on the floor like it should be, like he has been trained to do. Instead, his eyes are roaming all over Ava’s body like he is imagining what she looks like under her clothes and I can already tell he knows about what happened the other night. The way he leers at her disgusts me, but what really catches me by surprise is the growl that erupts from Ryder.

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