YOU’RE MY ONLY GOOD INVESTMENT
1207 Words
ZANE’S POV
I froze in my steps. She stepped out of her room wearing that dress and I forgot what I was going to say.
My eyes raked over her. The wardrobe team had made her look like she belonged here—with me. And that made my teeth clench.
Maybe because she was still Reeve Callahan, the annoying well—poor and annoying girl that almost ruined my life. It wasn’t fair that she looked this good.
I opened my mouth to tell her the car was waiting. My phone started to vibrate in my hand. I tore my eyes off her, glancing at the screen.
And my stomach dropped.
My father.
No. Not now—not before.
It kept ringing in my hand. I stared at my father’s name on the screen, Richard. I could answer it. But not there with Priya hovering, the cameras filming and Reeve standing there catching the fear that found its way to my features.
“Zane.” Priya’s voice cut through. “The car’s downstairs. We have to leave now.”
I held up one finger without looking at her, still holding the phone with my gaze.
“I just need one minute.” I turned, brushing past Reeve as I walked to my room.
“Zane, we don’t have one minu—“ Priya’s voice followed me but I closed my door, leaning against it.
The phone was still ringing. If I let it go to voicemail. He’d only call back. And then it would be worse because I ignored him the first time.
My heart was slamming against my ribs now. I answered it, pressing the phone to my ear.
”Dad.” I cleared my throat.
“I saw the teaser?” His usual cold tone came off the other end.
I didn’t say anything. My throat closed up like someone had their hands around it.
“Thirty million views in six hours is pretty impressive.” He paused. I could hear him breathing on the other end. “I’ll admit son, it’s working.”
My other hand curled into a fist against the door. “Yes, sir.”
”But don’t get distracted by that girl.”
This was it. The main reason he called.
My jaw clenched so tight my teeth hurt.
“I know how you are. You don’t use your head sometimes. You let your emotions cloud your judgement. Just like—“ He stopped himself but I knew who. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. What matters is you stay focused.”
I pressed my fist harder against the door till my knuckles hurt.
”Your mother isn’t a smart one either.” His voice went colder. “If she was, she wouldn’t have stuck around as a housewife waiting for crumbs to fall from my table just because she has a ring on her finger. She could have made herself useful, but she didn’t.”
Something tightened in my chest. I couldn’t breathe right anymore.
”This family—“ He exhaled as if just thinking about us exhausted him. “This family is my biggest regret, Zane. But you?” His voice shifted into something quieter but deadly.
”You’re my only shot at redemption. The only investment I ever made that’s actually worth a damn.”
The room started to tilt. I moved briskly away from the door, grabbing the edge of my dresser with my free hand.
“I’d slit your wrist before I let some blonde barbie f**k that up for me.” He scoffed. “Don’t end up part of the low lives in this family, boy. The scouts are watching, the board and you know the f**k that I am too.”
Suddenly my fingers went numb around the phone.
“This show is working. Keep it working. Stay focused on your reinstatement, on that draft and our f*****g future.”
My vision blurred. I blinked back rapidly but it didn't clear.
”Do you understand me, Zane?”
”Ye-s-sir.” I barely got the word out.
”Good.” He paused. “You can embarrass the f**k out of your mother. But don’t you dare embarrass me, Zane.”
The line went dead instantly. I stood there with the phone still pressed against my ear. The dial tone buzzed loudly.
I lowered the phone slowly, staring at it. My hands trembled violently and I could barely hold it.
My eyes squeezed shut as I tried to draw in a deep breath. I couldn’t. The air stopped halfway down my throat.
I pressed my hand against my chest, pushing hard against it as it grew tighter. But it didn’t help.
The room tilted harder. I grabbed the dresser with both hands, my knuckles turning white. My heart went faster, thudding against my ribs like it’d break through.
I could feel it everywhere—in my throat, my ears, every f*****g inch of me.
My chest wouldn’t expand no matter how hard I tried. I was going to pass out—right there. And Priya would come in and find me on the floor and the cameras would see me and my father would think I’m a f*****g cunt.
I slammed my fist hard into my chest. Once—then again. The pain cut through everything and my lungs opened up.
With a loud gasp, I dragged in air so fast it burned my throat.
I looked up at the mirror across from me. With that perfect tux sitting on me and my hair styled so well. Yet my face was pale and my eyes red.
I looked like s**t.
But I looked exactly like he wanted. His redemption—and I couldn't fall apart.
I straightened, rolling my shoulders back. In a few strides, I took one more breath and opened the door.
Priya was standing in the hallway with her arms crossed. Her jaw clenched tightly and her gaze cut to me.
”We’re twenty minutes late, Zane.”
”I know.”
”Then move.”
I walked past her without another word. Reeve was standing by the front door. Her hands clasped in front of her and her eyes went straight to my face.
I looked away before she could find anything.
”Move-move” Priya hurried us.
The cameras followed us out until we reached the garage where a black limo was waiting with the engine running.
I pulled open the door for Reeve and she slid in, all the way to the far side of the back seat. Then I got in after, keeping as much space between us as possible.
Priya closed the door and the driver pulled away from the curb. I stared out the window, allowing silence to settle between us.
Yet I could feel Reeve looking at me, could feel her eyes on the side of my face.
Don’t ask me s**t. I didn’t turn.
”Zane, are you okay?”
And—she did ask me s**t.
”I’m fine.” I murmured.
”Zane, you didn’t look—“
”Jesus—“ I snapped, turning my gaze from the window to the dashboard. “Mind your f*****g business, Callahan.”
- Writer
