Chapter 2

"The love of a father is worth more than a thousand gems."

I arrived at the large gates with the two large K's engraved into the design, reached up to put in the security code to unlock the gates, and watched as they swung open effortlessly.

I rode up the driveway and into the garage where I turned off the engine and got off the bike and walked to the front door.

"Mom, please?"

"No, Brooke. I already told you we are getting visitors that night."

"It will only be for a couple hours. I am sure you won't miss me."

"For the last time, Brooklyn, no!"

Home sweet home, I sighed.

As quietly as possible I slowly began to ascend the stairs trying not to draw attention to myself but luck was not on my side.

"Ciara?! Come here immediately!"

Ciara? Really?

When will she ever acknowledge the fact that my name is Callista?

I turned around and walked into the kitchen to find her and Brooklyn sitting at the kitchen table drinking pink lemonade and flipping through fashion magazines.

Scratch that, Brooklyn was drinking pink lemonade; Kierra on the other hand was drinking a glass of Chardonnay at three in the afternoon.

"Yes Mrs. Kinsley?" I kept my head down as I spoke to her, my hands crossed behind my back.

Brooklyn didn't look up from the magazine and studiously ignored my presence choosing instead to flip through the magazine as loudly as possible.

Without looking up she said, "I need you to do everything on this list. We are having guests over in the next two days and I want this house to be spotless and perfect. Ava will help with the cooking and other necessary things. You are to go grocery shopping, clean this entire house, set up the guest bedrooms, and do the laundry. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am," I replied as she handed me a sheet full of chores.

"Oh, and don't forget to pick up my dress and Jaxon's suit," she said, finally looking up at me. "Why are you not in your uniform?" she asked frowning.

"I just arrived ma'am. If you will excuse me I must attend to my duties."

I curtsied once whilst fighting the urge to flip her off before turning around and leaving the kitchen.

Who drunks at three in the afternoon?I thought rolling my eyes.

I slowly climbed up the winding grand staircase and made my way to my room on the third floor. I threw the door open, kicked off my shoes and threw myself onto my bed.

Closing my eyes, I thought of how quickly my life had changed in the past three years and allowed the memory to bombard my mind.

I ran out of my room and down the stairs only to come face to face with the image of Jaxon and Kierra making out in the parlor.

I immediately screwed up my face in disgust. The amount of PDA they gave off could probably satisfy a succubus for a couple years.

I had been on my way to the kitchen to grab a bite before I escaped to meet my friend Irisalene but now I had lost my appetite.

I silently walked towards the front door and just as I was going to open it, I felt a cold hand grip my shoulder.

"Where do you think you're going Cami?"

For the woman who has known me since I was a child you would think she would remember my name.

"Out," I quietly murmured.

"No you're not. Not until you have finished your chores."

"I finished my chores already," I finished them hours ago just so I could leave with Irisalene when her mom came to pick me up.

"I will be the judge of that," she said as she sauntered away.

Jaxon had already left the room. Probably to hide in his office so he would not get involved- the coward.

She came back a few minutes later and said, "You forgot the bathroom."

"I already cleaned the bathroom," I replied.

She raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"All of the bathrooms?"

All of the bathrooms? She wanted me to clean every single bathroom in this house?

I was about to protest when she frowned at me and said, "We wouldn't want to get your father involved now do we? Or would you rather I have you clean all the bedrooms too?"

I snapped my mouth shut and turned away.

"No no no, Calypso, haven't you forgotten something?"

I could feel tears pricking at my eyes but I kept my head down as I curtsied to her once and then ran up the stairs.

A while later whilst cleaning up bathroom number five, I was on my way to find a new pair of gloves when I passed by Jaxon's office and heard a conversation I still can't understand.

"Jaxon, I think we need to get rid of that girl. She is nothing but trouble."

"Why, what's wrong with her?"

"She is just so..so...so...Ugh! I don't know but I don't think she is right for this family. She doesn't fit in here and she is too different. It's hard to believe that people like us are stuck with someone like her."

"People like us? Someone like her? What exactly are you saying Kierra?"

"I'm saying that we have an image to uphold. Everybody sees us as one of the most powerful and influential families in the country but with her around everything might change. She does not fit into this life and honestly never will," she replied.

"She is not like us, Jaxon, and that might cause some problems. I mean, what will people think if we have a girl that barely stands a chance in life? A girl that does not meet the standards of the life we live?"

"That is why we agreed long ago to keep her from the public eye. Why are you making things so difficult?"

"I am not. I am simply stating a fact. Have you not heard the rumors about her going around? People think she is an orphan that we took in. She is our charity case. It's not far from the truth if you ask me but if we don't get it under control, it will not end well."

"...Alright, so what do you suppose we do?"

"I want you to first disown her and then bring her back as an orphan that we have taken in. Since nobody knows about her it will not be that hard to pass her off as our little charity case. They will believe it. She can continue living with us while helping out around the house. It will be like they do in London. An Au Pair if you will."

"You want me to adopt my daughter after I disown her so that our image is not ruined? Am I hearing you correctly? Kierra, I am her father! How can you say something like that about my child?!"

"I don't care if she is your child or not! That girl is a disgrace to this family! You know I never wanted her but you insisted that we keep her. After everything she has put me through how can you continuously stand up for her like this? How about me? How about what I feel and think?! Do you not care about me at all?!"

"Do you really want an answer to that question, Kierra? Would you like to know exactly what I think of you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about how you are always torturing my daughter. How you always seem to get her name wrong even though you helped choose it. Leave my daughter alone Kierra or so help me God--"

"So help you God what?! What are you going to do?! Or have you forgotten that your life, your reputation, and the reputation of the b***h are all in my hands?! Stop torturing her?! She is one of the reason's why my life was ruined and until I get what I want, none of you will! Not you, not Callista, and definitely not Kare--"

"Don't you dare say that name! You have no right to say that name!"

"Choose, Jaxon! It is either me or her. Sound familiar? Just know that if I leave, Terra and Brooklyn come with me and everything you have ever worked for will come crashing down and your pathetic excuse for a daughter will suffer even more!"

Complete silence filled the time that passed by as I waited with baited breath for what my father would say to her.

"Alright, I will have the paperwork drawn up tomorrow."

"Oh, thank you! Thank you darling!"

Tears started falling slowly down my cheeks as his words circulated through my head. I will have the paperwork drawn up tomorrow.

That night my little 14 year old heart was broken forever.

Two weeks later, I had been stripped of my inheritance, sent to an orphanage, and had a new birth certificate.

Two months in the orphanage, I learned that Iris had moved to New Zealand to be with her sick Grandmother.

Five months later I was free from the orphanage and was being sent to another form of hell.

And with all that, I was completely alone without a shoulder to cry on or anybody to comfort me.

Just me, myself, and I.

Reviews

[C. Rose]

The dialogue at the beginning was a bit confusing, because I didn't realize at first that Callista was listening in and not participating in the dialogue.
I think "drunks" should be "drinks".
I am shocked by the step-mother's cruelty.
I'd like to see more of what the orphanage was like. It might give you a chance to show more of Callista's emotions.
I also got a "cinderella" vibe - was that intentional?

[sohadtolba]

hmmmmmm felt it more like Cinderella for a moment. Still realistic as many stepmothers/ fathers are so. I dont blame them as I blame the biological parent who agreed to be part of this. So many stories like that in the true life. So sad and pathetic.

I like the idea you kept me curious, why he could not say not to his wife and preferred to do the paperwork instead? Good catching to the reader's interest.

[Andrew Liddy]

Really solid, but as I said before more description, give me details. Beside from that good.