Shay's POV
The car slowly stopped in front of the big iron gates outside, and Jason parked before turning around in his seat to face me.
"Thanks for bringing me home. I had a great time hanging out with your mom today."
"She likes you. I'm pretty sure she won't stop talking about you from now on whenever we see each other."
I chuckled and released my seatbelt.
"Will you be okay going in there and facing them alone?" he asked with a hint of concern in his tone.
"Of course. I've been through worse, so staying away from home for one night is nothing. Don't worry about me."
I squeezed his hand in reassurance, and he slowly nodded back at me with a smile.
"If you say so, but if anything happens, call me straight away. Okay?" I couldn't help but laugh and nodded in agreement.
"Yes, sir."
He smiled at me and reached out, gently pushing a lock of hair behind my ear. His touch sent a fire-like sensation throughout my whole body, making me shiver slightly. He leaned in and kissed me on the lips.
I wrapped my arm around his neck, pulling him closer, and deepened the kiss. We finally pulled apart after a long minute, and he placed a quick kiss on the top of my head before staring deeply into my eyes.
"Good night."
"Night," I responded with a smile before opening the door and stepping out of the vehicle.
I waved goodbye and watched his car drive off before turning around and heading into the house. The moment I stepped inside, Mom appeared in front of me with a questioning look on her face.
"Where were you last night?" she demanded immediately.
"I slept over at a friend's house."
"Who's the guy in the black car you came with?" I sighed and walked past her, but she started to follow me up the staircase.
"That same 'friend' I spent the night with."
"What? You slept over at a guy's house?" I rolled my eyes and walked down the hallway toward my bedroom.
"So what if I did, Mom? He's my boyfriend, and I'm already an adult. Stop treating me like I'm still 16 or something."
She scoffed behind me as I opened the door to my room, and she followed me inside.
"You're acting out now, huh? First, you didn't come home last night and slept over at a guy's house. Then, this news came out about you working at Cartwright & Evans Holdings without us knowing!"
I frowned and slowly turned around to face her.
"How did you know where I was working?" She faked a smile at me before answering.
"If you weren't so busy spending the night and the whole day with some guy, check the tabloids and the news for once and see what they've written about you. You were sneaking behind our backs to go to work, and now you're suddenly being bold about being in a relationship? You've done nothing but bring this family's name down, do you hear me?"
She continued yelling at me, but I blocked out her words and thought about what she had just said. Someone found out I was working at Cartwright & Evans Holdings and exposed it in the media?
This can't be happening right now
After her scolding, she left me a warning and stormed out of the room angrily. I walked over to the door and closed it before taking my phone out of my back pocket. I searched for the news website that loved to write about my family and snap unexpected pictures of us when we were out in public or at events. As expected, the news about my job was the first thing that popped up. But to my surprise, they weren't the ones who released the article.
It was a magazine called ECHOVIEW.
I sat down on my bed and read everything written about me. They knew the exact date I started working there and had all the details about my job. There were also pictures of me in my office and at work, completely oblivious to the fact that my photo had been taken from afar. It worried me a little how my father would react to this news, but I also felt a sense of relief that I had quit my job today.
At least that shouldn't be a problem now... right?
I quickly took a shower, changed my clothes, and then went outside to pay Shawn's home office a visit. It had been a while since I last went there. Not only did I go to think about him, but the room also brought me comfort.
I was surprised to see the lights on inside. I quickly opened the door and walked in, my heart jumping in surprise when Shelby suddenly walked by with some books in her hand. She slightly frowned at me before placing the book on the shelves.
"Well, look who finally decided to come home," she said. I rolled my eyes behind her back and folded my arms.
"What are you doing here, Shelby?"
She turned around to face me and shrugged.
"Didn't you notice? This is going to be my new office now."
I frowned and glanced around the room. I noticed the white plastic covers on the furniture and the big portraits leaning against the wall. The wall bookshelves that used to be full of Shawn's books were now empty.
"You're moving in here?" I asked.
She nodded with a smirk on her face.
"But why? This is Shawn's office!"
She shrugged again and sat down in Shawn's leather seat behind the big glass table.
"He's gone now, Shay. Get over it. We've all moved on, and soon we'll be reading his will documents that he left behind. So I'm moving everything out and making this my new home office."
Tears pricked the back of my eyes, and I glared angrily at her. I couldn't believe she was doing thisâremoving everything in here that belonged to Shawn. But then again, this is how heartless she's always been, and we all know how jealous she was of him. Now that he's gone, she'll start doing whatever she wants, even claiming things that were once his.
"So, I found out that you were working. You're really good at sneaking around, aren't you?" she taunted.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
"That's none of your concern."
"Well, look at youâone night out and you're now boldly talking back?" She chuckled, then set her mouth in a hard line while staring up at me. "Dad will not be happy about this since he wants you to start working at the company now."
I looked away and leaned my back against the wall.
"I'm moving out soon, and Dad already knows. So, there's no reason for me to work at the company."
She raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Wow, is that so?"
"Yes." I quickly snapped back.
"Hmm. Good luck with that." I pushed myself off the wall and glared at her one last time before leaving the room.
She knows how to push my buttons. It's why we never get along in the first place. I swear, I will never miss anything or anyone when I finally move out of hereâexcept the memories of my brother spending time in this house that I will also leave behind.
I can't wait to leave this miserable life already.