Page 5 of Ruse
I turn to her, my back now painfully pressing into the sink. “Why wouldn’t he, Dee? His mom marriedmyfather, moved intomyhouse, and is currently digging her claws into my father’s bank account.”
“Just give him a chance, Phoenix. Maybe you’ll be surprised. I mean, I knew he was going to be hot, but God-fucking-dammit, he is unreal,” Olly adds, fanning himself off dramatically with his textbook.
Donovan nods, biting her lip, “Yeah, I haven’t seen a guy with that much sex appeal, like ever.”
I can’t help the eye roll that comes next, as I turn back to the running water, nearly overflowing. “He’s a fucking cliche, guys. Dark, broody bad boy with a knack for dropping panties, and one too many strikes on his rap sheet. Bottom line, he’s bad news.”
The only problem is lately bad news is all I seem to attract. For my sake and sanity, I just hope I’m strong enough to stay away.
ChapterTwo
PHOENIX
The first day of school, as expected, was a drag. If I had to sit there and listen to one more snide remark or hushed whisper aboutPoor Phoenix Bancroft, crying herself to sleep because of her mommy’s secret drug addiction and her daddy’s infamous slut habit,I was going to have a fucking aneurism. No joke.
At least those who blatantly cheered at the sudden demise of their school’s reigning IT girl were a little less fake. Also, as expected, Chadwick Hollingsworth III didn’t bother to acknowledge my existence, not that I cared in the slightest. I just find it funny how last month, he’d declared his undying love for me with a ten-thousand-dollar diamond necklace.
A necklace, of course, I returned to him, shredded into pieces, the day I found him sleeping with some faceless skank not two days after he’d broken up with me. Typical.
Though as of now, to everyone around me,The Pretentious Princess Phoenix Bancroftis tainted. With a scandal like the one that befell my family, I’m as good as dead.
Again, if only I cared.
People often mistake Malibu Cove for a free spirited, liberal, and carefree beach town on the southern west coast. Essentially, it is until you drive up the hill toward suburbia. That’s where the real gems are found. The elitist class that reigns with the same archaic laws and power-holds of our patriarchs on the motherland, reign supreme on this side of town. The most dominant, privileged, and influential group in High-Society, they are everything wrong with the world.
And I’m everything they aspire not to be.
Stepping into the foyer of my mega-beach-mansion sitting at the top of that hill I was talking about and leading out onto the private beach, I take a deep breath and exhale all the pent-up anger and emotion I’ve been hauling around all day, like a stone lodged in my throat suffocating me to my untimely death. Being a teenager is impossible in today's cancel-culture, but it’s nothing compared to the exile and shunning of upper-crust society.
Though I’m glad to be home and finally done with the first day of school, which, despite everything, wasn’t as horrible as I expected. At least I didn’t have to see him again.
Maverick, my darling new stepbrother, who is not only going to be living inmy housebut also attendingmyschool withmyfriends. Well, they’re no longer my friends. I’ll have to make Olly and Dee swear to never speak his name nor cower in his presence ever again. Especially to never mention how perfect his sharp, chiseled jaw is, nor the enticing color of his blue eyes behind the blackest, thickest lashes. That ought to keep him away.
Out of sight, out of mind.
I didn’t have to worry about him here at the house. I was determined to stay hauled up in my room for the rest of my life in order to prevent ever crossing paths with him. Or maybe he’d hide like the recluse I'm sure he is.
Either way, I’m determined to steer clear of him and whatever scheme he’s ought to be concocting.
Wandering into the kitchen on my way to my bedroom, I grab myself a sparkling water out of the refrigerator and an apple from the fruit bowl sitting atop the white marbled island in the middle of the expansive modern kitchen. It’s unreal for a kitchen to be this big given we never use it, but I’m sure our housekeeper Marta brags to the other housemaids of the neighboring houses she has the biggest, most impressive, and lavish workplace.
I twist open the bottle of Pellegrino and head toward the narrow, winding staircase at the far end of the room, heading up to the second floor. Bringing the bottle to my lips for a long refreshing sip, I nearly trip on the first step, the water splashing all over the front of my white crop top.
“Fuck,” I curse to myself, staring down at my now see-through top, the baby blue lace of my bra is visible through the damp fabric. “Ugh,” I groan, “Can this day get any worse?”
Out of the silence that surrounds me, I hear a low, guttural groan. Instantly, the hairs on the back of my neck raise in awareness, my skin prickling with goosebumps as I feel another presence in the room. All the air in the room suddenly goes cold and dreary, except the warm blow of breath creeping against the back of my neck.
“Is that a challenge,sis?” The moment the words leave his lips, I know it’s him, and instinctively turn behind me as quickly as I can manage without tripping on my own two feet. Again.
“What the hell are you doing, creep?” I shout out, immediately regretting turning so quickly. He’s barely a foot away from me, all six plus feet of lean, defined muscle hovering over me, covering me in a blanket of heat, his cologne sneaking its way through my nostrils, making me incredibly dizzy.
“Where are you off too in such a hurry,sis?” His teasing tone makes me uneasy and on high alert, forcing me to take a step back and up the staircase.
I had to open my big mouth and wish for the impossible. Closing my eyes, I pray it was a mistake, that he’s not really there, or on the phone with some other nonexistent sister.
Though I don’t think it works. Deciding to ignore him is the best way to deal with this unwanted situation, I turn and rush up the gray sandstone stairs without bothering to look back. However, just before I take the last step to reach the top, a hand reaches out to grab my arm, turning me toward him, nearly knocking us both down at the impact.
My chest crashes into his, a firm hand coming down on my lower back, the other gripping tightly behind my neck. “I asked you a question, littlesis,” he drawls, hissing the sound at the end with intention. Leaning forward, his mouth comes across my ear, licking teasingly as he whispers, “Didn’t mommy tell you it’s rude to ignore your elders?”
