The lady with Ambitions

Chapter 8

Hello, Irene.

I couldn't understand the text on my phone screen. I could see them, kind of, through my eyes, which had gradually filled with thick tears.

I didn't want to weep, and I never have, but I couldn't stop. My tears constantly took hold of me; it was the only way I felt any comfort, as if I were erasing every pain from my body.

When Chris' name appeared on my computer as I was heading to school, I believed I was hallucinating until I ran my eyes over the line of words that seemed to frighten me more than any words had ever done.

Two weeks left, sweetie.

I didn't have many alternatives.

If I didn't give Chris the money, my life would end abruptly, and I wasn't prepared for that. For years, all I wanted was to experience some level of normalcy.

I knew my check would not cover the $25,000 remaining in my mother's debt, but I thought that if I gave Chris some money, he would give me more time.

The remainder of the funds had to go to Sydney.

I couldn't afford to spend anything on myself. I needed every dime if I wanted to be free.

The walk to school today felt especially lengthy, maybe because I was drowning in my thoughts, which were crushing down on me like waves.

As usual, I had no control.

As soon as I pass through the enormous building's gates, I hear the noises of kids coming towards the school entrance.

The weather was better today; the sun was out, it wasn't too windy, and everyone seemed pleased. I couldn't help but feel envious as I watched a group of females ahead of me laugh and joke with one another.

I felt the kids' eyes on me, some judging, others disgusted. Word travelled around the school that I was from the impoverished side of town. And, following that event with Caden in the cafeteria, I appeared to be loathed even more.

I pull in a breath and attempt to go quicker towards the door.

Maybe I should have paid more attention to my surroundings since when I hear the sound of a loud car and turn my head towards it, my heart nearly leaves my chest.

A black motorbike comes to a stop just in front of me, and my books all tumble to the ground from the stress of almost being run over.

I reach down, hastily gathering up my books, attempting to calm my beating heart after the near-death experience.

When I glance up, I am overcome with regret. Even before I looked up, I could sense Caden's icy cold presence. After removing the black helmet that covered his face, he quickly ran his fingers through his dark hair.

I immediately see the new cut on his nose. Was this man just getting into fights every day? Didn't he go to school in Ace's private car?

His eyes have a teasing glitter in them as he appears to be perplexed by my fearful state.

I don't hesitate to lower my gaze as I reach for my last book. Once it's in my arms, I rise without looking back as I reach for the door and go into the student-filled corridor.

As I go towards my first class, the sound of a bunch of females laughing at me fills my ears. I'm barely hanging on to my books, which I'd just put into my arms to avoid Caden.

I open the classroom door and attempt to push it back as much as possible so that I can walk in with the weight of the books in my hand.

My getaway from Caden did not go as planned because the fragrance of his cologne struck my nose from behind me and caused chills all over my body.

His big hand suddenly extends over my own, pushing the door entirely open after my futile attempt.

I come inside the classroom, his gaze following me the entire way to my place.

To say I was uneasy is an understatement.

He almost killed me back there with his motorbike, and I wouldn't be shocked if he did it on purpose to terrify me.

Mr. Silas wastes little time, passing out a stack of papers to each row. I cringe internally at the notion of having to return one to Caden.

As soon as the stack of papers reaches my desk, I immediately move them behind my head and wait for Caden to grab one.

When he doesn't accept it, I turn around to see him leaning back in his chair, his eyes searching up and down as if he were waiting for me to do something.

"Your paper, y..you didn't take it," I reply, handing out the stack to him.

" Really? "I never noticed." His gruff voice mumbles sarcastically.

"Aren't you going to take one?" I respond, disregarding his snide comment. I wanted the conversation to end so Caden could take a paper and just hand it to the guy waiting behind him.

"Put it on my desk." He says, looking at me with enjoyment in his eyes. Everyone was staring at me, and all I could think about was why he had to disgrace me in school as if I wasn't already ashamed enough.

I placed the papers on his desk before turning around, keeping my gaze fixed on completing the work rather than my classmates gossiping about me as if I weren't in the same class as them.

When the bell sounds, I'm already out the door, going to my next lesson. As I walk, I establish eye contact with Ace, who is standing by a locker with his companions.

He smiles at me, and as I think he's about to beckon me over, I swiftly walk away. I didn't want people to despise or speak about me any more than they already did.

I'd somehow made it through the remainder of the day without running across Caden or Ace. I assumed I'd be free for the rest of the day until I reached the gates of the Agosti Estate.

The first thing I saw was Caden's motorcycle parked outside the gates, which seemed weird, given that they had a private garage for it.

My feet get slower as I cautiously gaze about. When I notice that no one is now there, I rush to the door.

A loud cry escapes my mouth as I feel a hand abruptly grasp my arm and throw me against the massive brick wall next to the entry gates while the other hand covers my mouth to prevent any further sounds.

My eyes widen as I notice Caden's steely gaze glaring down at me, his brow furrows as he glances at my fearful condition.

I consider biting his hand so he can take it from my mouth, but I don't believe it would help.

"Stop f*****g moving." He scowls and holds me in place. His hands had moved away from my lips and were now preventing my arms from moving.

My heart pounded in terror as my body regained control of me. My head was hammering, and hot tears poured down my cheeks. This was what Sydney did before he touched or beat me, and it would happen again.

Not again

Not again

"P..please no." I shake my head, and he releases go of me, attempting to stare into my eyes, but I always turn away.

"Why the f**k are you crying?" He replies, taking my chin and pushing me to stare into his gaze.

My eyes were covered with heavy tears, making everything fuzzy.

" W..what? I thought you were going to..." I do not complete that phrase. All I do is glance up at him, seeing the smallest tenderness in his eyes.

It immediately fades into his typical frigid glare, and he removes his hand from my chin.

"How long are you going to keep pretending you don't know me?" He says, shrugging off what I had just stated.

"I. I don't know what you're talking about." I lie down, folding my arms across my chest uneasily. I understood precisely what he was talking about, but I was afraid to admit it. I wanted to forget about everything, avoid him as much as possible, and never have to speak to him again.

"I can see through your pitiful falsehoods. What were you doing in that nasty alleyway, all banged up? He orders, waiting for my response.

"T..that wasn't me, you m. must be mistaking me for someone else o..or..." When he gets closer to me, his jaw clenches in irritation.

"If I find out you're some sort of spy, I won't waste a second to kill you, angel." He glares, firing daggers into my skull as I stare down at my shoes.

When I don't reply, his hand takes my hair and tugs on it, pulling my head up to gaze into his eyes as he bends down to my height.

"Understood?" He says this with venom in his voice, and his eyes blaze with malice. I nodded, my lips slightly parted in awe at how near he'd come to my face.

I could see the storm developing in his eyes even more now, and it appeared colder and more menacing. The dark greys in his eyes swirled like a cyclone, rising in size.

Caden looks at me one more before releasing go of my hair. He comes up to his motorcycle, grabs the helmet hanging on the side, and quickly pulls it over his head before starting the noisy machine and driving past me.

After losing sight of the racing motorbike, I return to the estate entrance and walk in, attempting to settle my body after the incident.