Wes' parents had long since come back, although he and his parents never really crossed paths with Otto and Wes.

She liked it.

She thought Marjorie was nice, quite and comforting. A little like her own mother, but she had a hint of - not arrogance - but it was very clear she grew up with wealth and she was uncomfortable around people who weren't wealthy.

Horace didn't hide his elitism, it was out in the open and he wanted people to know about it. He wanted them to see his life, all the fancy cars, designer suits and holidays 99% of the population couldn't even dream of, and he wanted them to be jealous.

It was like he got some sick satisfaction that people struggled while he didn't.

Otto found it disgusting.

Sure, she was wealthy, her father owned a large housing development company, one he started from the ground up. But he always made a point to help those who struggled, he built houses in countries with people who couldn't afford them and he made sure to donate to homeless organisations. He was very passionate about everyone having access to a roof over their heads, it was how he tried to contribute.

Otto perched on the end of Wes' bed, she was starting to feel less nauseous something she was extremely glad about.

Wes, his parents and some friends of theirs who lived New York that had come down to visit for dinner. Otto had asked to go home, to see her family.

Wesley shot that down so quickly, he believed his dinner was far more important than her dying father.

So there she was, sitting on the end of his bed in a hideous dress he picked out in an incorrect size he assumed she was. It was about three sizes too big and absolutely swallowed her, she decided on safety pining the back so she didn't accidentally flash anyone at the dinner table.

The repercussions of that would be horrendous.

Wesley walked out of the steamy bathroom, his hair was slicked back, he always used way too much gel, and he was dressed in a suit that made him look really good.

"I told you to wear makeup."

Otto bite the inside of her lip, "I am wearing makeup."

He scanned her face, she knew what he was thinking, she looked bad.

Instead if commenting on it he reached out his hand and gripped hers, the pair walked down together and into the grand dining room.

Once again the dinner was run by the men, they did all the talking and eight women may have collectedly said a dozen words. And all of those words concerned food, if anyone wanted seconds, was their partner happy with the food, was the food bad, or cold?

Otto, however, had a bad feeling.

Her phone, which sat on her lap, began buzzing. The first time everyone brushed it off, but then there was the second time, and the third time, and after the forth time, Wesley snatched it off her lap and leaned into her ear.

"What have I told you about embarrassing me? Have you learned nothing?"

He treated like an impotent child.

Otto said nothing, she just moved around her full plate with her fork. The wrong fork.

Her parents never concerned themselves with what spoons and forks where meant to be used with what. It just seemed a little boring.

Wes turned it off and slipped it into the pocket of his jacket, "Sorry about that, she's a tad bit forgetful." He joked, everyone at the table laughed, and the men took the opportunity to make a dig at their wives and how forgetful they were.

The dinner finished and the Harrington's and Otto said goodbye to the guests. And after biding goodbye to Wes' parents the duo went to bed.

Otto was given the silent treatment, something she had grown to love.

She knew that if you preferred when your partner wasn't speaking it probably said something about the nature of your relationship.

He undressed in the room before stepping into the shower, from her spot sitting on the bed she could see her phone peaking out the pocket of his trousers.

Her stomach had been full of anxiety over what the texts were about, that coupled with the bad feeling she had been experiencing all day wasn't a good match.

She did something stupid, well it was actually perfectly reasonable, but in Wes' world it was stupid.

She took the phone out once the shower began to run, she knew he liked long showers so she had a bit of time to look over the texts. Once the power to her phone turned on her stomach sank.  The texts were from her mother.

You need to come home. Now.

Otto, this is important.

Please pick up.

It's your father, he is in hospital, he had a fall.

Go to the hospital, text me when you're outside.

The texts were coupled with a ten missed calls.

It takes her a second to figure out what to do. She didn't have any friends anymore, and she shouldn't ask for favours from people she ditched. But there was no one else, she knew Wes wouldn't take her, not after what happened at dinner.

She tapped Kie's contact and waited, hoping, she would pick up. Three rings and she picked up.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Kie asked.

Otto was silently crying, "I'm at Wes' house, my dad had a fall and he isn't going to let me go to the hospital, he's in the shower and I don't have my car. I know it's not okay to ask you bu--"

"I'm in Charleston, but I just spoke to JJ and he is doing fuck all. Call him, I know he'll come pick you up."

Otto thanked her before hanging up the call.

One ring. Thats all it took for JJ to pick up.

"Otto? Are you okay?" He had a similar response to her call as Kie did. They were worried for her.

"No. My dad had a fall and Wes is angry at me so he isn't going to let me go to the hospital, I don't have my car--"

"I'm coming to pick you up, just get to the gates and I'll be there in ten." He said, she could hear him moving.

"I'm so sorry. Thank you." Otto said, trying to stop crying.

She hated crying, especially when other people saw - or heard - her crying.

She hung up and wondered how to get out the house, Wes' bedroom was too high up for her to consider jumping or climbing down, so she had to go through the house.

There was only the cleaner, who was too busy cleaning up the mess made by the dinner, to notice Otto slipping out. Once she got outside the cool air began nipping at her skin but she ignored it and made a break for it. She ran like her life depended on it, making it all the way through the ginormous garden without stopping.

JJ, who was somehow true to his word arrived a little over ten minutes later. An at least twenty minute journey was more than halved.

As soon as the objectively hideous car pulled up she jumped into it. JJ spared no time in driving away.

"Thak you so much." Otto said, she had managed to stop the tears but her voice sounded strained.

"I told you to call me for anything. That still stands, that will always stand." He said, looking over at her with a smile that brought the slightest hint of comfort to her.

JJ had probably broken dozens of traffic laws to get to the Harrington Manor, but as soon as Otto was in the car he followed them all. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her.

Because friends don't want to hurt friends. And that's what he and Otto were. Friends and absolutely nothing more.

•

Mr Maybank is in denial.