Page 58 of Marcus: Sins of the Father

Marcus—

I walk from the room feeling like a shell of myself. What the hell just happened? I’m so distracted in my thoughts, I almost run right into Izzy.

“Oh sorry,” I mutter.

“Marcus, what’s going on? Where’s Brandy?”

“She told me to leave,” I admit.

“She what? Why would she do that?”

“I guess Daddy’s approval was more important. Anyway, I better be going. I don’t want to cause any more of a scene than I already have.”

“It wasn’t you who caused a scene. It was Holt.”

“Yeah, I guess.” I look down and notice the forgotten gift I’m still clutching with one hand under my arm. I slide it out. “This is for Brandy. I forgot to give it to her. Will you?” I hand it over, and Izzy takes it.

She opens her mouth to say something but closes it again, seemingly at a loss for words.

“It was nice meeting you.” Then I turn and walk out, unsure if I’m leaving behind the girl of my dreams.

***

Brandy—

My father returned to the party about ten minutes ago, but I need a minute.

Leaning against the bathroom counter, looking into the mirror, I try to regain my composure. I take a deep breath. Just make it through the rest of tonight, I tell myself. Then I can talk to my father and call Marcus to explain. I give myself a once-over and push off the counter.

As I walk out the door, I see Holt casually leaned against the wall, waiting for me.

“Holt,” I bite out as I walk past.

He immediately shoves off the wall. “Oh, come on. I didn’t know it was a big secret. I was just trying to do something nice for you.”

I whip around to face him. “You were trying to humiliate him. But he’s not the kind of man who shies from a challenge.”

“Come on, Brandy. He’s beneath you. Your father knows it, and so do you. You and I? We’re the right kind of match, the right kind of social circle.”

“Brandy!” I turn to see Izzy hurrying down the hall. “What the hell did you do?” Her accusation feels like a slap.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, furrowing my brows.

“You sent him away?”

“I have to give my father a chance to calm down, so I can convince him Marcus is a good guy.”

Holt scoffs next to me.

“You’re an idiot,” Izzy says bluntly. Then she shoves a package at me. “Here, he gave me this to give to you.”

“Oh.” I look down at it, unsure if I should open it now.

“Open it,” Holt prods.

I pull off the wrapping and lift the lid to a box. My eyes bulge at the contents.

Holt leans forward to see. “Ha, an old used bag. He couldn’t even swing for a new one. It looks like something he found in his grandma’s closet. What a terrible gift.”

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