“Ahh, no,” he scoffs. “That’s not how it’s going to go.”
“Oh, so you don’t want me to pretend like you don’t exist. That’s fine, I can let the world know that you have a little issue keeping away from me. Though, think of what they might say. Colton Carrington slumming it with the staff. Damn, that won’t look good.”
“You know that’s not what I mean.”
“Then please, enlighten me, oh wise one.”
His eyes darken and he steps into me, backing me up against one of the many pillars that wrap around the mansion. “You’re going to march your bitch ass back down those stairs and wash my fucking car until it’s sparkling and then you’re going to beg me not to kick you out of here. My Veneno is off fucking limits, especially to people like you.”
“People like me?” I scoff, pushing hard against his chest and forcing him back a step. “You mean ‘the help.’”
“No, Jade. I mean people like you. People like Oceania fucking Munroe who think that they can come in here and piss over everything that you’ve worked for.”
“Worked for? You haven’t worked for anything a day in your life. You’ve had everything handed to you on a silver platter. Oh, no, poor rich boy has to share his multi-million dollar home because Daddy hired more staff to help wipe his ass. Heaven forbid he has to get his own breakfast in the morning or wash his own damn clothes. I’m so sorry, Colton, I didn’t realize how hard your life must be.”
“Don’t underestimate me, Jade.”
“For the last fucking time, the name is Ocean, you daft cunt. Learn it.”
I turn around, ready to storm through the house and cut through the staff quarters to the pool house but I come up short when Charles Carrington blocks my way. “Colton,” he demands. “I’ve just had a call from the bank. There was unusual activity at a hair salon. Did you lose your credit card? Do I need to cancel it and report it stolen?”
Oh, shit. This isn’t going to go well.
“No,” Colton says with a heavy sigh, his eyes slicing back to mine. “It was me. It’s the only salon that stocks what Cora and Casey use for their hair. They called and asked me to make a stop.”
The fuck?
I narrow my eyes on him. Why would he cover for me like that? I’m starting to lose count of how many times he’s saved my ass around here. But why? It doesn’t make sense. If he hates me so damn much, why not use the opportunity to throw me under the bus?
“Oh,” Charles says, pulling himself up and losing the attitude while acting as though they didn’t almost have a fight right by this very foyer only yesterday. “Very well then. How are your sisters?”
“Fine,” Colton says, keeping it short. “They were thinking of visiting next month.”
“That’d be nice.” Charles nods. “Now, what happened to your face? Who do I need to make a check out for this month?”
Colton shakes his head. “It was nothing. Just Spencer pissed because he found out that you’re screwing his cousin … or screwing her over. Either one.”
Oh, shit. Shots fired.
“Cousin?” he questions and I stare between the two, waiting for the shit to hit the fan like it had yesterday.
“Jacqueline Vanderbilt. You had your dick shoved halfway down her throat during the party.”
“Oh, that’s right. Was she a Vanderbilt? Eager young thing she was, but that Spencer. He needs to learn to control his emotions.” A shiver runs down my spine at how quickly he dismisses the topic. I mean, the girl gave him the ride of his life while deep-throating him. She deserves a little more respect than that. At least, I think she does. She had some skill.
I resist scowling and then fix whatever expression may be on my face when Charles looks down at me. “Ocean. I trust you’re settling in at school. There haven’t been any more issues with the faculty?”
Wow, he just skipped over the whole beaten and bloodied son standing before him thing. Not even asking if he was alright before dismissing that too. Though, it’s not as though I’ve even asked if he was okay. When I first saw him after school, the first thing out of my mouth was a demand for his wallet and that must make me as bad as Charles.
I raise my chin and realize that to get anything across with Charles, it needs to be quick and factual. Straight to the point. “No. Just teenage boys who are about to learn what it means to deal with Ocean Munroe.”
Charles’ face darkens and he turns an accusing scowl on Colton before licking his gaze back to me. “It wasn’t Colton and his friends retaliating for Saturday night, was it?”
“No,” I say bluntly as Colton scoffs behind my shoulder. “I’ve already handled the backlash from that.”