Spencer Carlin, the devil child (her parents called her), the child that ruined their lives and marriage. They were not expecting to have a child as her father thought he was infertile. Her mother had been outraged. This child would ruin her figure and give her stretch marks, not attractive. Her father was pissed as well, he didn't want to worry about child support if the time may come and he didn't want to change diapers. The only thing he was proud about was spreading his seed and continuing his family legacy.
Arthur Carlin was very rich. He was a trust fund baby and had used his notoriety for all it was worth. In high school he was a preppy football player. He got accepted into Yale, (even though he had shitty grades), and majored in business. Money can get you anywhere. After college he opened his own business that specialized in overseas work. He owned many companies in and out of the United States and played the stock market like a slot machine. His parents taught him about diversifying his stocks and he always ended up hitting big.
He owned businesses in retail, culinary and (to keep up his image) homeless shelters. He met Paula while planning the groundbreaking in Africa. She was there doing the same. They ended up in a bidding war on the property before they both decided to cut their losses and work together.
Paula Smith was born in a small Christian town in Ohio. Her parents had her on a strict schedule, waking up at dawn to milk cows and feed chickens. She absolutely hated it. At the age of 15, when she started getting noticed by boys, she knew what she wanted to do. She wanted to own a business and be in charge. She often practiced on boys at school. She made them beg (sometimes cry) to get her attention. She was aware of her looks and used it to her advantage.
When Paula had gotten off her feet, she felt the same Arthur had. She wanted to impress people. She traveled to Africa and met her nemesis and greatest ally. They joined forces and used their images to boost popularity. They both thought it was perfect. Charity work (even though they were both getting paid) was the perfect scheme. It helped both of their business careers.
Paula was the lighter and Arthur, the gasoline.
They were the perfect couple (they thought).
They had the same needs and wants. They celebrated their success by drinking top shelf liquor. They went home and went wild.
Cue in the pregnancy of Spencer.
They married as soon as Paula found out she was pregnant. Even though they didn't want or plan for the baby, they used it to their advantage. They wanted to be the perfect couple so they took a lot of pictures with the baby.
Their plan worked and they hired the most expensive babysitter to take care of baby Carlin. Spencer was raised by a maid that lived in the house more than her own parents. The maid was very fond of baby Carlin and (since she was too old to have a child of her own) tried to care for her the best she could.
The caring and loving maid eventually got fired, so the Carlin's wouldn't have to pay for healthcare and hired a new caregiver. The new caregiver absolutely hated the Carlin's scheme and used baby Spencer as a way to show it. She intentionally left bruises on the baby and blamed it on the parents.
Unfortunately, the Carlin's had enough money to get out of these predicaments and the baby didn't get taken away.
So baby Spencer spend her early life going from nanny to nanny and eventually, therapist to therapist.
Spencer Carlin learned early on that people care more about money than they do others. It enraged her to no other limit. Therapist number three, (she had lasted exponentially longer than the other two), had actually cared about her. She was the only one who was ever there for her. She really adored Ms. Davies (she'd never admit to it). She was the only person she could remember to show her affection.
She wished that Dr. Davies had been her mother. She might actually be happy.
See, Dr. Davies had helped her a lot. Without her, Spencer thought, she might have resorted to suicide. Spencer hated herself, hated how she'd grown up, hated the world and hated everything else. Except Ms. Davies. She was the only hope Spencer had ever remembered having.
After their initial meeting, Davies had calmed Spencer down. Spencer didn't open up (she never would), but she had given Spencer a lot to think about. That's what Spencer loved about Dr. Davies. There was never any pressure. Spencer always thought greatly of Davies. She made sure her parents kept her around. She was Spencer's solace. Even though she could have, she never doped Spencer on medication.
Dr. Davies PHD had remained Spencer's therapist until the age of 18. Spencer was surprised she lasted that long. High school had been rough. All Spencer had gained was alcohol addiction and low self-esteem. She had pushed Davies away like a plague.
Spencer was 15 when she realized she was gay. She and Davies (ever understanding) had talked about it over many sessions. Spencer had her first encounter with a girl at a party. She was scared and nervous so she got drank up her confidence. She made a move on a friend of a friend and as far as she got was some tongue action and she might have copped a feel. It was almost the best thing of her short life.
Dr. Davies didn't approve and had tried to talk her out of this. She loved the rush and the high of party life. She hated it as well.
Spencer Carlin was smart. She was cold and calculating. She could read people like books and use them how she pleased. She graduated fifteenth in her class with little effort on her part. She understood math, history and science. She could memorize anything within a few minutes.
She still didn't understand why her parents would stay together if they hated each other so much.
She knew she was becoming just like them and she hated it. She hated it so fucking much.
So when Spencer turned 18, she moved out. Her parents happily let her, even paid for it. She got a large two bedroom apartment, (Spencer only wanted a one bedroom but her parents insisted). She stopped drinking and began working out. She began working at a local coffee shop. She loved the smell and could people watch all day.
She met a lot of people through her job. A lot of regular customers often chatted her up. She felt her life changing, herself changing. She knew she wouldn't be happy but she thought she might be becoming a little less sad.
Spencer was having a normal day, like all of the others. She was wiping down the counter when she heard the jingling bells, signaling a new customer. The coffee shop speakers were playing an older Death Cab for Cutie song, when soul meets body. She had been humming along with the music. There were six other people in the shop, sitting at tables. It was exactly 12pm.
Spencer put the towel and disinfectant spray away before she looked up to greet the customer. She straightened out the apron she was wearing and cleared her throat. She put on her best (fake) smile and looked at the waiting guest.
Standing before her, returning her (fake) smile was a young brunette with eyes to match. Spencer instantly took in everything she could. She memorized the lines on the woman's face when she smiled. She memorized how there were a few stray curls of hair that would suggest she didn't look in the mirror before entering the shop. She memorized the exact shade of lip gloss and eye shadow. She memorized the shape of her eyebrows and noted that this woman had damn near perfect teeth.
Spencer did all of this within a few seconds and didn't miss a beat when she said, "Hi, can I take your order please?"
When the woman ordered a large black coffee, Spencer smirked. She might have pegged this woman for a cappuccino drinker, but Spencer held firm her belief that assumptions are never right. So Spencer wasn't surprised about that. She also expected to hear a sweet, if not innocent voice, but she was wrong there too. The voice seemed to fit the young woman in front of her. It was raspy and sultry.
That voice almost made Spencer shudder, almost.
So, Spencer poured the coffee into an insulated cup, put a lid on it and sat it on the counter. She hit a few buttons on the cash register and looked up into the already memorized face.
"That'll be 2.95, please," she continued to hold out her (fake) smile.
The woman handed her a five dollar bill and told her to keep the change.
Spencer watched her as she took her coffee and made her way out of the shop, bells jingling again. Spencer didn't miss the glace the young brunette threw back at her either.
Spencer didn't take a breath until the woman was out of sight. It wasn't until that point either, until Spencer realized that her fake smile wasn't so fake at all.