Started With a Lie – Chapter Five

“This is my suite,” Lee announces, his left hand in mid-air indicating to two double doors. I trail my eyes from his hand to his expensive looking suit to his baby blue eyes—which I’m very jealous of. He opens the doors and I follow behind him with my bags in my hands.

            “Um, nice suite you’ve got here,” I say awkwardly as I look around. Everything looks so high-class. It feels as if I move more than an inch, something expensive—like the glass vases on each table—will randomly shatter. There’s even a freaking chandelier! I scream in my head. And it’s just a suite!

            “Thank you,” he says, eyeing me suspiciously as if he’s expecting me to grab something expensive and run. “Follow me.” He starts walking without even waiting for me. Such a gentleman, I think sarcastically. I leave my bags near the entrance and try to go catch up to Lee without getting lost.

            My sneakers squeak against the marble floor of the suite.

            I must be crazy for wearing disgusting sneakers with a skirt. Hey, at least I look nice… but obviously not nice enough after looking at his suite. It feels as if the air I breathe is more expensive than everything I own.

            I suddenly realize we’re in the kitchen. There’s a large white table covered in a silk tablecloth with matching chairs. A stove and other kitchen things are on the side of the wall. Everything looks so elegant.

            “Take a seat.” His voice sends chills through me. I’ll never get used to it.

               He is already sitting at the head of the table, so I decide to sit at one of his sides. I’m nervous. I resist the urge to bite my nails—a habit Mom constantly lectures me to stop. What will he say? Will he kick me out after and make me sleep on the streets?

                “So, I’m ready for your explanation,” Lee says. His nice, charming appearance is gone. His eyes are dead set onto mine. “Why would you start these rumors?”

           “Um, it’s really complicated.” I stare at my bare legs, looking anywhere but him.

             “What? Are you a gold digger? Do you want money? I’ve had tons of girls like you—making stupid rumors for money.” His tone is harsh. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out three hundred-dollar bills and then sets it on the table. “Is this enough? You’re what? Sixteen, seventeen? This should be enough for someone your age.”

           Wow. His personality changed quickly. Even though it’s my fault everything’s happened—I can’t help but feel angry. “No, I’m not a gold-digger,” I say calmly as I can. I push back his money.

           He looks strangely confused—which is a cute look for him, but I push that thought away. I’m supposed to be mad. “Then what? Are you going to blackmail me?”

         “No,” I say through gritted teeth. “Just let me explain.”

                  “I’m listening.”

              I’m going to tell him straight out. “I need you for something.” He raises his eyebrow. “I need you to make my friend jealous. I know I sound completely ridiculous, but I didn’t intend for this to happen. Your name just randomly slipped out of my mouth when she asked me if I had a boyfriend—you know, because I saw you in a magazine earlier. I know I sound crazy.”

         “You do.” He doesn’t seem angry though. Maybe I hit a soft spot. He leans in and folds his hands on the table and stares at me, amused with all of this. “Now tell me, Miss Ivory, what would I get out of this little act?”

          I didn’t think of that. “I don’t know. What do you want?”

           He chuckles. And I mean, really loud chuckling. He basically looks like he’s about to die from laughter. Lee’s clutching his chest, laughing. Finally, he stops. Wiping off a tear from his eye, he says, “There’s nothing you can give me, sweetheart.”

           And then… I flip.

             First he accuses me of being a gold-digger and then he acts like I’m no good as a human being. “Listen here, Lee! Money isn’t everything! Yeah, you have tons of money, but can you buy friendship? Or love? Or family? You can’t! Because those things can’t be bought! You are a sick excuse for a human!”

            He looks stunned. His eyes are wide and his mouth is hanging open. I take this opportunity to retrieve my bags and storm off. I don’t know where I’m going but I guess I’ll just have to use my instincts to figure out where I’m supposed to sleep.

            It’s hilarious how I just yelled at the man who’s giving me shelter for the night. I am going crazy.

            I don’t care anymore. I walk into endless hallways and finally find a room that has a bed. I just take my things in there and lock the door. The bed looks really fluffy so I jump on it before crashing on a pillow. And then I think. I think of this entire thing over.

            Should I just give up? Let Karen win this fight? I mean, it’s not even that important. Honestly, I don’t care about Karen or Peter. It’s my pride that I don’t want to lose. Stupid pride. I’m at a dead end.

            I scream into a pillow. I’m about to start unpacking when my phone makes a bing noise. It’s a text from Candy: How’s things with Lee? Update me. Btw, in three hours we’re going to go sightseeing. Be ready. Remember this is a fieldtrip, Ivory.

            I completely forgot. I’m on a fieldtrip. The stupid jerk and Karen made me forget. Suddenly, someone’s knocking on the door.

            “What?!” I scream. I know I’m being really rude but that guy deserves it after treating me like I was worth nothing.

            “Miss Ivory, please open the door!” Lee yells.

            “I don’t want to!” I cross my arms. I feel like a five-year old. “Go shove it, Lee! Leave me alone! You’re the one who offered me a place to sleep!”

            “Open the door!” he says. He starts banging on the door but nothing happens. I hear him mutter, “Stupid teenagers.”

            “Like you’re any different!” I shout. “You’re only twenty! Like two years is a big difference, smarty-pants!”

            “You’re the one in my room, smart-ass!” he yells, not able to help himself. Did he just swear? I can’t believe it. World-class billionaire, Lee Richardson, just swore. I curse myself for not being able to record it.

            I crack the door open an inch. His face is red from yelling. “Did you just swear?” I ask him, a smirk on my face. “Never knew rich dudes like you could swear.”

            He fixes his face back into his cool gaze. “I do not recall cursing, Miss Ivory.” He grabs my wrist. “Hurry up. We’re not done talking about this issue.”

Lee brings us back to the kitchen and we sit where we sat before.

            “Well, aren’t you going to apologize?” I question.

            “For what?” Lee asks. “I spoke the truth.”

            “Arrogant bastard,” I mutter.

            “Heard that,” he says. “I do not wish to accompany you any further in this rumor about us being together. Now, go up to a reporter and say it was all a lie. I cannot have this interfering with my business plans. If I look bad on the media, people will never work with me.”

            This grabs my attention. “No, no, please! I’m sorry for calling you names and things, but I really need you.”    I take his hand, earning an appalled look from him. “Please, Lee!”

            He shrugs off my hand. “That’s Mr. Richardson to you.” Lee stands up and fixes his tie before checking his watch. “I have a meeting to get to. You can still sleep here for the night because I actually do care about my customers, but we will not engage in any activity that could cause more rumors. Just order room service for food and everything else you need is here. I assume you’ll get back to your class for the rest of the day.”

            I nod, knowing there’s nothing I can do anymore.

            “Good. I’ll see you soon then, Miss Ivory. Pleasure meeting you,” he says. “Now if you excuse me.” Lee walks out of the suite and then I’m alone.

            I’ve lost.

I spend the rest of the day unpacking and sightseeing with the rest of the class. Nobody mentions the thing between Lee and I. I’m thankful, but I know Karen’s going to come up sooner or later.

            We’re visiting Central Park when Karen comes up to me. Candy and I are sitting at a bench. Mr. Hopkins ordered that we separate around the park but meet back at 4:30.

            “So, Ivory,” Karen starts, “where’s Lee Richardson?”

            “How should I know?” I say. I turn back to Candy but she’s texting Kevin. “I may be his girlfriend but I don’t track him. He’s probably at work.”

            “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” she says. “I mean if you really are dating—you’ll have no problem introducing him to your friends, right?”

            “He’s busy.”

            She claps her hand. “I just remembered! There’s a small party at the hotel tonight, and as owner of the hotel—he’s going to be there. Our class is attending, so why not introduce us there?”

            My fingers twitch. What do I do? Remain cool, remain cool, I remind myself over and over. “Really? Okay, then. When’s the party?”

            “Ten o’clock sharp.” Karen’s smirking. Does she have some kind of evil plan? Or does she not expect me to fight back?

            “Okay then. You can meet him then,” I say.

            “Good.” Karen walks off. I sit there and think. I have made the biggest mistake. There’s no way out. Lee refuses to help me, and the party’s tonight. This night will affect everything. All I know is one thing.

            Time for Plan B.

This chapter's a bit short but that's because the next chapter's going to be very dramatic, teehee. Buckle your seat belts because we are going for a long ride! (:

Lol, I'm so corny... Anyways.. 

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