Rebirth: Flirting with a Dangerous Billionaire

A Proper Education

A gentle knock on the door woke me up. Eva advised me breakfast would be ready soon, her soft voice muffled by the door. I pulled myself up into a sitting position and listened to her footsteps recede down the hall. My face felt hot and itchy, I had rolled over onto the phone during the night, and it had left an imprint on my cheek. The phone was fully charged but a dead end. It required a passcode. I switched it off and put it back under the bed where I found it. My head felt heavy as I stood and made my way towards the bathroom. Without thinking, I stretched, causing my backbones to pop. I let out a satisfied groan. Recalling the previous night, I listened attentively. There were no signs of life on the other side of the wall.

As the steam filled the room, I regarded Mara's frail body. I needed to gain weight. The symbols on my arms, which had once been deep red lines, had become ropey pink scars that showed no signs of fading. They seemed so prominent against my milky skin. I stayed there regarding my new body long enough for the mirror to fog over. A low rumble in my stomach hurried me on. Stepping into the shower, I was surprised at the expensive products at my fingertips. I picked some at random, and after some wild speculation and daring experimentation, I smelled better than I ever had in my life.

Snuggling myself into a vast towel, I set about the daunting task of getting dressed. It was a challenge I had given great thought to during my shower. There had to be some comfortable clothes here. Everyone had casual days, though every day was a casual day in my case. It took a great deal of digging, but eventually, I managed to find a pair of jeans and a T-shirt tucked away at the back of a drawer. Despite their quality, which surpassed any clothing I owned, I would need more than one outfit. I added it to my internal to-do list and pulled out the makeup I found last night. There were pictures of Mara littered about the house. She always appeared radiant with light, effortless makeup and long perfect tresses. Unfortunately, my results were less than desirable. I made do with a messy bun and eyeliner, a Lena classic, and ventured downstairs for breakfast.

The spread was vast, and it was clear that the staff had put in considerable effort for the girl they had watched grow up. I ignored my guilt and instead enjoyed the shocked expression on the family's face as they digested my dishevelled appearance. Cain recovered quickly and got up to pull out my chair. His shirt clung to him, outlining his lean muscle. I blushed when he saw me gawping. He looked like he had showered, had that been his gym bag beside the door? My stomach had been in knots all morning, nervous to discover if he had worked out the truth. After how we left things, I had braced for a confrontation or, at the very least, awkwardness, but he acted as if nothing had happened. I reassured myself that my situation was so bizarre no one would catch on and declined the grapefruit he presented me. The odd looks I received confirmed my suspicions that this was something Mara would have accepted. What are the rules? I had always found grapefruits sour and unappealing, but these were not my tastebuds. Mara seemed the type to favour fruit over bacon. I failed to resist the temptation and filled my plate.

Over food, the conversation naturally turned to the future. Despite my resolve to return home, it quickly became apparent that I was going nowhere soon. The Morgan's didn't seem to know the extent of Mara's situation, but they were protective enough to try and keep me shielded at home. The first thing I had to do was earn their trust.

Opportunity knocked sooner than expected in the form of a letter. University admissions, advising her that the deadline to register for this year's modules was fast approaching. The room fell silent as I read. Clearing my throat, I placed down my cutlery and looked at the concerned faces. "It's a letter from the university...reminding me to register" the statement was followed by an extended silence. Cain spoke up first, "You only just got out of the hospital." Mara's parents agreed. The collective opinion was that I should take a break and focus on getting better. This wouldn't do. I had waited long enough for a shot at my dream.

It was clear that Mara's parents were trying to act in my best interest. What caught my attention was that Cain was becoming agitated. I met his gaze with a smile. "The sooner I get back to normal, the better. I thought you missed me?"

"Your better off with your family" he clenched his teeth. I narrowed my eyes. He seemed determined to monopolize me. I glanced across the table, but Emmerson and Eva looked unconcerned. His face remained serene, but you could notice the minute changes if you looked closer. Like how the fork he held trembled slightly as he raised it to his strained mouth or how his knuckles were turning white with tension. I continued, "I think I would recover better within my normal routine; I might start to remember with familiar surroundings." Emmerson and Eva exchanged a quick glance that made speaking redundant. They were afraid of what would happen if Mara remembered. If Mara had made a deliberate attempt on her life, being in the same environment could cause further harm. Yet Mara was gone. I would not waste my time here. Emmerson placed his cutlery down and smiled at his stepdaughter. "We don't want you to rush into anything you may regret."

Across the table, Cain was fixated on his plate. I could make use of him. "Cain will be there too; I can commute, so I won't have to live in halls. I'll always have a member of my family around me." I had ensured my expression was warm and my smile blinding. He looked stunned, but shock soon diffused into a smug smile likely due to his inherent self-assurance. Fascination took over me, and I watched his lips purse into a thin line. He was a true narcissist; he wanted me to meet his expectations with unquestioning compliance. I had to convince him he was in control of the situation and ignore that part of me that thought it wouldn't be so bad to give him power. I dropped my fork with a clang forcing him to look up. Time to bring it home. "I would like to study graphic design" I placed the module guide down on the table and spread out the campus map. "Look how close we will be!" I tried my best at what I thought was a flirtatious look, but my failure was evident in his look of bewilderment. I ate through the shame whilst he spent a moment's in silence staring at the map.

"She's right. It's right next to the sport's building." Eva sat back in her chair with a sigh. "What about fashion design? It's your dream to inherit my business?"

"A dream that I have no memory of, no passion for. But last night I found some sketchbooks...I can still draw, still design. It's time for a change." I tried to hide the rising panic inside me. In truth, I had no idea if I could do this, but in my limited academic life, this is all I had been good at. I added, "I don't want to completely go back to my old life. It's a new beginning."

There was a thoughtful silence where only the tinkling of cutlery could be heard. Mara's mother laid a gentle hand on my arm. I felt a pang in my chest as our eyes met. "If you feel up to it, of course, we support it. You're an adult now, Mara. But this will be a trial. I don't want you making life-changing decisions with no memory." Emmerson gave me a warm smile before shooting a nervous look at his son. "If either of you needs anything, you can come to us." The rest of breakfast was uneventful. After our meal Cain and I lingered, watching as the plates were dutifully cleared away. Cain was scrolling through his phone and smiling. He was texting someone called Sam. Samantha? My old friend envy stirred within me. I ran upstairs before he could see.