Chapter 13: Trapped

OLLIE

Oh, gosh, I screamed in delight! Who knew polo would be this fun?

I glanced to my right. Sarah was socializing with the same group of girls, all tall and model-like.

They gave me mean girl vibes immediately. I felt them, but my sister was too naive to read people as well as I did.

“Point for the Rothschilds!” the speaker exclaimed.

Fuck, my eyes returned to the field as a puff-daddy, larger-than-life Darius did his victory lap and stood in line with his team after scoring.

Six minutes left of this game and they were already matching the score.

“Come on, Archer!” I stood up, yelling too loud.

Yes, immediately all eyes were on me. They liked to watch this game silently.

Archer watched me and smiled.

Then my eyes met Darius’, where he glanced back and forth between us with a stern look.

Yep, finally he was showing his real self.

Where was Sarah? She needed to watch this game!

My eyes scanned for her, but she was nowhere to be found.

I approached the group of girls she was talking to.

“Do you think they are exclusive?” one of the tall girls said furiously. “How could Alexander fall so down—she surely is from the slums.”

I stopped in my tracks. They were talking about my sister?

“And so…what is the word? Oh, yes—fat,” the other girl giggled, grabbing her tiny waist with her hands, surely comparing herself.

Yeah, none of them were even as hot as my sister. Fake-ass skinny bitches.

One had something in her hands. Was that my sister’s hat? She was swinging it back and forth like a fan.

“Did you see her face when I took it from that cheap outfit?” She did what?

“This hat is just too nice to be worn by that—”

“Oh,” I pushed her from the back as if it was an accident, making both girls bump into each other. But oh boy, how tall both of them were.

I looked up, standing straight in my tiny frame, and snatched the hat out of her hands.

“I am sorry, does this belong to you?”

The brunette standing to her left frowned in surprise.

I turned the hat as if reading the label. “Nah, it doesn’t say ~envious bitch~ in here.”

“I am sorry? Who are—?”

“Your motherfucking nightmare from the slums, you bitch.”

I passed my hand smoothly over her golden locks.

“Don’t touch me.” She stepped back.

“Models do need a pretty face and healthy hair to stay on the market.” I smiled while putting my sister’s hat on. “I love to touch things that are not mine too.”

I snarled at them like a rabid dog while stepping forward.

They backed off immediately.

Ha! I always wanted to do this. ~Coward bitches~.

I turned around, hat on, and went looking for Sarah.

***

Minutes later I found her sobbing in one of the horse stables.

“Those bimbos don’t deserve half a tear of yours,” I said.

She looked up. She was sitting in the hay, hugging her knees.

She snorted, half a laugh, half a wail, and shook her head, letting me know she wasn’t crying because of that.

“The way I see it, they are envious.”

Sarah looked at me with hope, like I was the mighty oracle of the stables.

“You are beautiful, kind, have this rich-ass boyfriend, and soon you’ll be a known actress with that pilot coming out soon.”

My words only made her cry harder. ~Great job, Ollie.~

“I—I turned the part down. I’m taking a break from acting.”

“What? When did this happen?” I asked, kneeling beside her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Oh, because you share with me all that’s happening in your life?” she asked, looking at me through her teary eyes.

~Ouch. Touché.~

She exhaled while lying down, facing the ceiling. “Those girls are mean, but I’m not crying because of them.”

“Is it because of Alexander?”

“Darius has openly disapproved of our relationship,” she said, returning to her uncontrollable sobbing a second later. “He approached Alexander yesterday. Something came up on the Grandmother’s will and Darius is putting him under a lot of pressure.”

I sighed. I really didn’t care about these people’s money drama. Probably they were bickering over who gets more millions than the other. Talk about the one percent problems.

“Alexander didn’t say it, but I know—I know he wants Alexander to end our relationship,” she finished.

“What does Alexander say about all of this? Can’t he do something about his brother?”

I joined her in the cold straw, lying down and holding her hand as we both watched the ceiling of the stable.

The air was thick with hay dust and the faint sounds of the horses shifting in their stalls.

“His hands are tied, Ollie,” she said with certainty.

~What does that mean?~

I was beginning to think that this relationship with Alexander was different from Sarah’s past failed relationships.

Something was up, but I couldn’t get a sense of it. ~Yet.~

“What do you mean his hands are tied? Darius puts on his pants in the morning like everybody else, Sarah. He is just one man, flesh and bones like everyone else. You need to relax.”

I should stop underestimating him. Darius Rothschild was beginning to show how cunningly smart he was.

He chose a soft approach for Sarah while keeping me entertained with his games, making me think he would attack us both the same way.

All along, he was targeting his brother to expose Sarah’s vulnerability.

It’s like he knew exactly what buttons to press. He was tugging at the strings of what Sarah cared for most, deliberately creating distance between her and the things that brought her joy. Distance between her and Alexander.

Oh, I had to think of a way to fight back! I had to stand up against him!

“Oh, no. He is powerful. Like ~real~ power.” She was quiet for a moment and then she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. “I feel trapped, Ollie.”

~Trapped?~ I frowned.

“Maybe I should leave Alexander and spare him all the drama I’m bringing to his family.”

Hell no, that would mean Darius would win, and that motherfucker is going down for making my sister feel this way.

“What matters is how much Alexander loves you.” I faked a sweet voice through my irritability.

I was like a firecracker. I needed to calm down. All I wanted to do was to pull on her ear harshly.

“I am sorry I brought you along.” She took my hands in hers.

“I am not scared of them.” I tried to sound carefree, but deep inside, I knew they were even worse than what she said.

“I don’t know what they are capable of.” She pulled her hands away.

“Capable of what? What are you not telling me? Nothing you are saying makes sense, Sarah. Tell me, what is going on?” I demanded.

A long silence fell between us, letting me know she was ready to end this conversation for now.

~Then let’s leave.~ I wanted to say that, but that was not my choice, and of course, I didn’t want to give Darius Rothschild the delight of following his orders.

“I’m so tired. I want to sleep forever,” she wailed, surprising me by throwing herself at my chest.

This was no good at all. Sarah had tended toward depression since our parents died, and she looked so tired.

Someone had to keep the boat afloat when it was the two of us, and who else was there but me?

My skin just kept getting thicker and thicker.

I softened, rubbing her back. “I am here now.”

“But you’ll leave,” she sobbed weakly.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been—” I paused, choosing my words.

~I’ve been dealing with a lot.~

“—so distant these past two years,” I finished, swallowing my problems.

How I’d always been incapable of asking for help was an afterthought. It just felt natural.

“Why can’t I be as strong as you? You never cry, Ollie.”

She buried herself deeper in my chest, her trembling hands holding on to me.

I said nothing.

How do you tell someone who thinks you are tough that you are just a coward?

But watching her crumble because of this family was making me reactive.

I was a fucking ticking bomb.

“I would never cry for Roger, but for you, I would,” I lied, kissing her head.

I hadn’t shed a tear since our parents’ car had crashed.

They had died, and then a part of me died while taking care of her: my ability to cry.

Of course I could feel pain; I was a rollercoaster at the full speed of chaos.

I was just unable to express my inner hell.

“You can count on me, I’ll be here when you are ready to talk and tell me what’s going on,” I said, squeezing her tight.

“Tomorrow, I promise I will tell you, but now I am tired, and I want to return to the manor.”

“Nah, you are putting this hat back on with those black glasses, and we are going to stand tall. Those girls took your hat, hopefully, as Darius Rothschild loses this game.”

“No!” she said, mortified.

“You will.” I pulled her arm up.

No one bullied my sister. That right was only reserved for me.

Not these girls, not this family, and nevertheless, Darius Fucking Rothschild.

“I don’t want to go out,” she confessed.

Me neither.

~I feel trapped, Ollie.~

My sister felt trapped. What was going on with this family?

It was hard to admit it. I was scared, too.

I was scared for my little sister.

“Together—we are both doing this together.” I said to her, faking confidence.

She glanced at me, nodding, and grabbed my hand.

I was the opposite of relaxed about what she had just revealed, but I was not backing down.

My heart was pounding as if a bear had chased me.

The cold weather hit our faces as we had the polo field view back on display.

The Prices were about to win the game when Darius Rothschild scored in the last seconds.

“It’s a match!” the speaker said in bewilderment.