Checkmate

CHAPTER 1

LAURA'S POV

The house is extremely big, much bigger than the house we lived in in Florida. It’s a double story with a lot of windows.

Most of the house is painted white, with some walls a cream colour. I chose the bedroom with a bathroom. I hate sharing a bathroom with anyone, even with my family.

I called Emma to tell her how the house looks, and she promised to visit on the next holiday. Her Mother is worse than mine.

They love having family dinners and family holidays. Emma was my best friend from high school before we graduated.

We moved to Washington DC for me to start my law degree and my Mother got a promotion to work for the best law firm in DC.

I chose a law degree after my dad got killed and no one could solve the case. I will reopen the case as soon as I graduate and start my own law firm. Someone needs to pay for murdering my father in cold blood.

“Laura, you have 10 minutes before we have to go to dinner.” my mother yells from downstairs.

I have like 10 boxes still unpacked. I groan as I stare at the mess in my room, not even thinking about the mess downstairs.

I love my mother, but she’s not as organized as I am. She would throw everything in a box, where I would mark each box with what was inside.

I guess I take after my father, and that’s probably why I chose a law degree, instead of going into fashion or whatever girls prefer these days.

“Laura, mom called like three times already,” Jeremy said behind my closed door. My brother is only five years old, but for his age, he’s quite clever.

“Yeah, I said I will be downstairs soon.”

It’s the middle of winter in Washington and I have no idea what to wear to this ridiculous dinner with my Mother’s new managing partner.

It’s nearly Christmas and we haven’t even decorated the house. Usually, the Christmas decorations would be up by now.

The only thing decorating this house is boxes standing all over the damn place.

I must admit, Washington is beautiful, especially this time of the year.

Even though it’s cold and the snow falling like stars from the sky. The air is still replenishing.

I changed into denim and an olive-green jacket with a matching hat. I know Mother will give me a wicked stare, giving it’s a formal dinner.

“Laura, five minutes, then we’re leaving,” she yells again.

“Yes, almost done.” I curled the ends of my long black hair, just to satisfy my mother.

I used only Eyeliner to make my grey eyes stand out more, so I won’t look so pale. At least that would make up for the denim and plain olive-green jacket.

I finally went downstairs and just as expected, my mother stared at me with disappointment in her eyes.

“You’re wearing this?” she showed her hands towards my outfit in displeasure.

“Oh, common Mother, it’s cold.” I snap. Why should the dinner be tonight, after we just moved to Washington?

“The Summers Family is probably waiting for us let’s get going.” My mother grabs her jacket and started running into the snow to start the car.

Jeremy waited for me to put on another coat. It’s freezing outside and I have no idea why they would choose a night like this to have dinner?

Mom goes on and on about how she would make a senior partner before the end of the holidays and would help me so vastly with my studies in law. Jeremy played on his phone some Zombie game. Seriously, I don’t get kids these days, devoting their time to games like this? When I was his age, I was interested in Law already. Anyway, I guess not everyone could be the same.

We finally parked in front of the restaurant.

There are not a lot of cars in the parking lot, only stylish vehicles with drivers waiting inside for their rich bosses to spend dinner with their families.

Honestly, I don’t get families like this? I know they have money, but damn, I’m sure you were taught how to drive a car when you were 16 years old, well that’s when I learned to drive.

The snow is falling heavy now while we walk inside the restaurant. Mom spoke to the gentleman receiving the guest, and he showed us to the table where the Summers Family was waiting for us.

“Mrs., Grey, so nice meeting you in person.” Mister Summers greets, offering a smile to my Mother. His smile is quite captivating, to my surprise. I thought he would be a full-blown jackass that will throw his weight around, showing he’s the boss.

“This is my wife Trudi and Jade my son.” Mrs Summers stands up and greets my mother and then me.

“Jade!” Mr Summers half yells, half-whispered.

“Hey,” he said in a low tone, looking at me before he stared down at his phone again. Clearly, he’s less interested in this dinner than I am. Mr Summers gave him a warning look before he turned his attention to my Mother again. I must admit, he’s attractive. Dark brown hair, with tanned skin and muscular body, but with no manners whatsoever.

“Please sit. I ordered wine for so long, hope you don’t mind? What would you like to drink Jeremy and...?”

“Laura.” I polity answered him, while Jade glares underneath his eyelids.

My eye catches him, and he quickly looked away. I kind of feel annoyed at his bad manners. I know I probably hated the dinner idea more, but you can at least have some manners.

Mother and Mr Summers talked about work, and I’ve noticed Mrs Summers feeling uncomfortable, Jade even more. Jeremy ate his food and almost finished half of my plate as well.

“Excuse me,” Jade announced, his eyes still glued to his phone.

“Where are you going?” Mr Summers grabbed him by the arm, but he jerks away. The tension on Mrs Summer's face is unavoidable, it’s like she’s scared, or angry. I can’t really tell.

“John, please” Mrs Summers softly put her hand on his arm to calm him down before he throws a tantrum.

“The students on campus made plans to celebrate the holidays.” she half-whispered. Jade glares at her, either to thank her or to swear at her for telling him.

“Oh, that’s good. You can take Laura with you. She starts at the university next year. You can show her around.” he turned his attention to me, and with that look, he can either decline his father’s offer and stay here or accept the offer and take me without his father making a scene.

“Fine.” he grabs his leather jacket from the chair.

“Are You coming?” my mother looks worried but don’t decline the offer that was made. I looked back and forth between my Mother and Jade before I stand up and followed Jade outside.

“Listen, you can go your own way, and if someone asks, you can tell them we had a good night or whatever the f**k you want,” he said the moment we get close to what looks like a BMW.

Kids with tattoos and piercing all over their bodies hanging outside the windows. I glared around the parking lot to try and understand what was happening now.

“Or I can just go inside and tell your Father you told me to f**k off.” I challenged him.

I don’t actually want to go with him, wherever they are going, but I don’t appreciate the way he talks to me, so I would rather spend a s**t night with him than give him the satisfaction of treating me like I’m a nobody.

He stares at me awkwardly, like he was just beaten in his own game.

“Fine get in the car.” My heart started racing. I have no idea if we’re going to campus or some dodgy place outside Washington. I took a deep breath in and hope no one notices how nervous I am.

“Hey girl.” one of the boys greeted me with pure hunger in his eyes. At this very moment, I feel like jumping out of the car, but it’s too late. The blond girl with black stripes in her hair and way too much piercing started the engine and took off before my mind could catch up with the kind of people that’s inside the car. The only one with no tattoos or piercings is me and Jade.