Crowned by Fate (Crowned 2)

“Yes, we, because if he’s taking his fiancée, I will need you there.” I pull open the fridge and take out a bottle of water, flicking open the lid and bringing it to my mouth.

Max takes a few steps toward me, his head tilted. Seeing Bryant again was like swallowing acid, now his presence is stuck to my throat and refusing to let go. I’ll drink his poison and die for all my sins. I’m that stupid.

“Then I’ll be there,” Max says.

I want to thank him, and I should feel relieved, but all I feel is this heavy throbbing in my chest and instead of it becoming lighter, it’s gaining weight and speed and soon enough, there’s going to be a gaping hole where it was and I’ll be left with nothing but a shattered soul, and a broken heart with a big ass hole in it. Again, I’m that stupid.

For the rest of the day, I spend most of my time laying out on the bed and obsessing about all the things that could go wrong tonight. The butterflies are no longer fluttering in my belly, they’ve just straight up eaten it. It’s now five p.m. and I’ve moved on to obsessing about what I’m going to wear. It doesn’t help that his fiancée is all prim, pretty, and pert. My options for attire are also slim, (again, not in my favor), but I can and will make whatever I have in this bag work. Because I may be a mess, but I’m a stubborn mess. Red was Bryant’s favorite color on me, so I know I need to shop for that.

“I need to go to BOA.” I scoop up my jacket.

Max watches me in passing before grabbing me by the hand. “You think you can withdraw undetected?” It’s not that I think I can withdraw money undetected, it’s that I no longer care. I won’t let my father get away with whatever he has been doing to me for almost all of my life.

My palms drip with sweat as I swipe them down my thighs. I went for tight red skinny jeans, boots that close around my ankles, and a black blouse. It’s sexy without noise. Which has always been my style.

After a drive that seemed to go on forever, the taxi comes to a halt outside the mansion I’m a little too familiar with. The floor to ceiling glass windows gives the home an executive style setting, but the stark white pillars on the wrap-around porch offer the home a warm traditional welcome. It’s a complete contradiction to the two styles but is what Bryant intended it to be.

“You okay?” Max asks worriedly, grasping my thigh. His touch instantly shocks me out of the hole I was successfully dragging myself into. The memories of this home are burned into my brain, although I don’t have many. Our collection of memories are built into the walls of the apartment in the city.

“Yeah.” I clear my throat, stepping out of the car as Max pays the driver.

Once the taxi has disappeared down the driveway, he brings his hand to mine. I relax slightly, somewhat appreciative of his presence. I can’t imagine having to face Bryant and his fiancée on my own. Max is the strength I didn’t think I would need. It’s funny how a stranger, someone who I never knew, has become someone that I rely on to a degree.

At least for now.

We make our way up the milky marble steps and it’s like stepping back into time. This was Bryant’s home home. The one away from the city. We had plans to move here eventually, what with it being in suburbia, but obviously, fate had other plans.

Max reaches up to knock, but I’m already twisting the gold plated handle and flinging the door open.

“Ah…” Max looks from me to the inside of the house. “Isa…”

“This was my husband, Max. I’m not knocking on his door.”

His face contorts, displaying his apprehension, but he enters anyway, obviously trusting my judgment.

I slam the door closed just as blonde Barbie walks down the foyer, wearing a short mini dress that clings to what curves she has and bright red lipstick smudged over her lips. A little loud, but good on her. I only take her obvious display of formal attire as a hint that I have her insecure. You don’t need a short skirt to please Bryant, you just need to drop to your knees and call him daddy after he rearranges your insides.

“Oh, you let yourself in,” she says curtly, but it was more to herself than to me.

“I did,” I answer, hanging my fur coat on the hanger and hooking my arm into Max’s. “Max, this is…” I tilt my head, signaling for her to tell me her name.

“Stacey,” she says, and I watch as they exchange politely. “Hi, Max, nice to meet you. I didn’t realize Isa was bringing a guest. I’ll have Trevor set a place for you.”