The Billionaires Heir

Stucked

James POV

I splashed water on my face and watched as water ran down my face. My reflection on the mirror was blurry from the water. I splashed water on my face, feeling the burn of the water in my eyes. I grabbed a towel from the hanger and patted my face dry.

"Don't look sad baby… this is mommy's way of showing that she loves you so much"

I pressed my eyes shut, as if it would somehow stop the voice from the past in my head. I rubbed my face hard as I bit the inside of my cheek very hard until a metallic taste filled my mouth.

"Look at me, other boys are doing it for their mommy," the voice said again. "My handsome son… you make my heart melt," the voice said yet again.

"f**k you b***h!" I screamed as my fist connected with the mirror, breaking it as tiny glass shards littered on the sink and some on the floor. My knuckles burned from the pain but I ignored it because it was nothing compared to what I'd been through already.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Victoria said from the other side of the door as she knocked gently on the door. I didn't respond but just stared at my reflection in what was left of the mirror. The fractured images of myself stared back at me,each shard showing a different angle of my anger.

"Answer me! I'm coming in," I heard her say just before the bathroom door opened and she walked in. She was draped in the bed cover as she stared at me in concern which I hated. I didn't want anyone to show concern or pity for me. "What happened here? Are you okay!" She said as she took in the mess, coming to my side but moved carefully to avoid stepping on the broken mirror. "Oh my God… your hands! You're bleeding" she said as she tried to grab my hands but I moved away from her to the cabinet, grabbed a bandage and made my way out of the bathroom.

I removed the shirt on my back and grabbed a loose shirt from the closet and hastily put it on as if I was on autopilot. I grabbed my car key and phone from the table and walked past a confused Victoria, making my way towards the front door. She followed behind, holding the sheets close to her shirt tightly.

"When you leave, don't forget to lock the door and be quick about that… I don't want to see you here when I get back" I said before making my way to my car and driving out of the penthouse. The engine roared to life as I gripped the steering wheel tightly and sped off,the street lights blurring as I drove aimlessly through the almost empty road

"If daddy leaves, come to mommy's room and get candy" the voice said again. I gripped the steering wheel tighter,my knuckles white as my injured hand throbbed in pain as different memories came flooding in, I parked on the side of the road as the memories came washing down,too tired to stop them.

★★★★★★★★★★

I sat on the edge of my seat , scraping my feet on the floor as I poked my chicken curry rice with a forlorn fork. Father sat close to mom as they discussed a business contract, reviewing papers as they murmured amongst themselves while I stared at my food blankly.

"... for James' birthday, he'll like it," I heard Mom say, pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked up from my food to see her smiling at me as she brought her water close to her lips.

"Isn't that fun? Did you hear that, James?" Father repeated, I turned to him to see him smiling, his eyes crinkling at the corner.

"What?... I didn't hear you" I mumbled as I stirred my food, before dropping my fork on the plate.

"Your mom said that we'll go on a birthday vacation to San Francisco with her friend's kid for you, your birthday party will be in San Francisco" father said as he leaned on his chair. "Isn't that exciting? …San Francisco is a very beautiful City, you'll be the talk of your classmates when you resume school, having your eleventh birthday in San Francisco"

"I don't want a party in San Francisco…I don't want to go on a vacation" I mumbled, staring at my food as I already lost my appetite. My mom landed a sharp kick on my shin under the table,as she glared at me. She had a tight smile which didn't reach her eyes.

"Stop that nonsense talk" mother cautioned in a clipped voice. "We are going and you will enjoy it the others…okay?"

I pushed my plates away, sitting up straight. " But daddy has a business meeting and he won't be with us so I don't see the reason "

Father laughed as he ran his hand through my hair. " Just the beginning, champ. I'll make sure that I join you guys later, okay. This project is big and needs daddy's extra attention but I'm sad that I'll miss some of the vacation. "

My face fell in disappointment. I didn't want to spend time with Mom, I just wanted to stay with Daddy. He played with me,read me bedtime stories and didn't treat me the way Mom does. The idea of being alone with Mom made me sick.

"Cheer up darling," mom continued as she rubbed father's hand. "Imagine all the amazing new stuff you'll experience in San Francisco. Ummm what about the golden gate bridge that you read about and Alcatraz island…we'll visit those places"

I had wanted to see the huge red bridge but I didn't feel like going again. The thought of spending time with Mom and her friends made my stomach churn with a mixture of disgust and fear.

"I still don't want to go," I said in a whispered voice as I pushed myself away from the table.

Mother's smile faltered for a moment before she fixed her expression. "Bye James, I'll see you when I'm back from work" father said walking towards the door, with Mom following behind him with his work bag.

I made my way upstairs to my room and closed it. I couldn't bolt the door because Mom had my locks removed so that I won't shut the door when she's not there.

I sat on my bed, staring out the window as I noticed father's car drive out the window as Mom made her way back into the house. The house was quiet as the clock in my room ticked increasing the tension.

Few minutes later, I heard the soft creak of my floorboard,followed by the soft click of the door as mother walked in, no longer wearing the clothes from earlier. She was now wearing a light blue silk robe that hung low on her shoulders with a very deep neckline that revealed more than I wished to see. She moved gracefully as she walked closer to me. The floorboard creaking under her weight.

"You see that stuff you did at the dining earlier, don't repeat it again…I won't let it slide next time" she said,not hiding the hint of warning in her tone. She sat on my side table right in front of me as she stared at me but I didn't look at her, I stared out the window watching the birds flying in the sky.

She grabbed my hands in hers,her fingers cold against my warm ones. She brought my fingers closer to her chest, and I could feel her heart beating against her chest. The marks on my back burned reminding me of what happened last time. I pulled my hands away from her as though her touch burned.

"Please leave me…please" I said in a very low voice as I held my hands close to my body. She sighed as she pressed her lips in a tight line. "I do everything for you but you can't do something for Mom…other boys do it" she said in a soft voice as she sat beside me. " I'll let you be for now"

I knew that she shouldn't be doing this. I had a feeling that other moms weren't like this. She stood up and took slow steps towards the door. "I'll get you snacks in the afternoon and don't leave this room" she said in a low voice. And with that she left the room, closing the door behind her.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. The room felt cold and empty, the shadows lengthening as the sun set completely. I curled up on the bed, pulling the blanket around me like a protective shield. The mark on my back throbbed dully, a reminder of the consequences of disobedience.

★★★★★★★★★★★

I immediately woke up,my car horn blaring as I mistakenly pressed it. My shirt soaked from sweat as I tried to regulate my breathing. The silence was too loud. The moon was hidden behind a thick cloud which hid its beauty. I tried to arrange my thoughts as I cleared my eyes, still feeling the memory fresh in my head.

An old man walked towards my car and knocked on the car window as he stared with concern. I rolled down the window to take a good look at him. "Is there a problem?" I asked,not bothering to hide my irritated glare. He took a step back, surprise evident on his face as he shook his head slowly. I didn't mean to shout at him but I wasn't going to apologize either. He was wearing a simple blue shirt and jeans shorts as his weathered face was lined with wrinkles.

"There's no problem… my wife and I were enjoying the moonlight when we noticed that you have been here so we just wanted to make sure that you're fine" he said in a gentle voice, gesturing to the other side of the road where a small,frail woman with long silver hair stood, clutching a shawl around his shoulder as it's end fluttered freely in the night breeze.

I turned to look at her, my mind racing to catch up with the situation. The kindness in their eyes was disarming, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of vulnerability. "I'm fine, thanks for your concern," I said curtly, trying to sound composed. I didn't want to come across as ungrateful, but I needed to be alone, away from prying eyes and questions I wasn't ready to answer.

Before they could respond, I started the car and drove off, the engine's roar breaking the night's silence. The old couple faded into the darkness behind me, their concern lingering in my mind. The road stretched out ahead, a ribbon of asphalt cutting through the night. The headlights carved a path through the darkness, illuminating the way but doing little to dispel the shadows that crowded my thoughts.