Cruel Captivation - Kelli Callahan Page 0,2

hates me because I made out with her sister a year ago. Grace and I decided to remain friends instead because we agreed kissing each other was like kissing a brother or a sister. Might be because while I kissed her, I thought of Heather.

I always think about Heather, with every woman I’ve ever been with, and she’s smart enough to stay away from me.

I have dirty whore blood in my veins, after all. I’m not good enough for a woman like Heather. She tosses her head back at Jake, the son of David Lossareu, a billionaire who invented some app I don’t give a shit about.

He stares at her like he wants to eat her, and it pisses me off. He reaches up and slides his hand down her toned, tan arm, and I grit my teeth, toss my drink back, and begin to look for Grace. She has to be here somewhere, and I haven’t seen her in a few months since Dad tossed me in a different private school.

I am not meant for this life.

Being a part of the rich and famous isn’t so bad, but being a part of an emotionless life sucks.

There is a string quartet playing in the corner, playing a beautiful song that no one is dancing to. I make my way around the room, starting near the wall, smiling at who I need to smile at as I look for Grace. Heather and I lock eyes, and the look of pure hate she gives me has my stomach turning. She’s the only one I wish saw through the mask I wear for everyone else. I’m not a bad guy. I don’t treat women poorly even though with my parents' track record, I should be just like them, but I’m not.

Her eyes roam my body, and I puff out my chest, then run my fingers through my dirty blonde hair. She watches me as I work my way around the room and her stare almost has my foot catching behind the other. She’s the only woman that I know of that can take my confidence and flip it upside down.

And I have barely spoken five words to her since I’ve known her.

The marble swirling staircase comes to view, and I glance down to make sure I don’t miss a step. As I ascend, everyone on the lower floor reminds me of a heard of sheep doing what money tells them to do. Heather’s eyes meet mine again, and I pause on the staircase, locked in the beautiful gaze of a woman I know I’ll never have the pleasure of knowing. At least, not in the way I want. I pretend the smooth banister is the silk flesh of her leg. I take my time climbing the steps as my teenage imagination holds on tight and has blood rushing south.

When I get to the top of the stairs, the hairs on my arms fall, and I know her attention is on someone else. Before I can get too involved in my feelings, I see Grace’s friend, Jennifer, talking to Zach, the star quarterback, who isn’t really talented because daddy pays for everything.

When she sees me, she smiles, and I lift my chin as I make my way to her. “Hey, Jenn, have you seen Grace?”

Jennifer’s red hair is up in a pretty twist, and her lipstick matches the flame of the perfectly placed strands. There’s a silver clip laced with real diamonds and sapphires in her hair, and she is wearing a diamond neckless with a huge sapphire that reminds me of the gem the lady wore in the Titanic. Her father owns a chain of fancy restaurants along the West Coast and is a major contributor to my dad’s campaign. They have been friends since high school, and I think they expect me and Jennifer to get married, but I’d rather cut off my own foot than be with a hyena like Jennifer.

She’s pretty, but she’s fucking vicious.

“She went to powder her nose a few minutes ago, but I haven’t seen her come out of the restroom,” Jennifer says.

“Asher,” Zach greets me with repulsion.

“Zach,” I say with the same apprehension. He has his hand lying against the wall above Jennifer’s head, and she is leaning her back against it, clearly enjoying his presence.

I don’t know why. He has nothing to offer her.

I place a kiss on her temple, smelling the ungodly amount of hairspray and try no sneeze. “Thanks, Jenn. Have fun tonight.”