Chapter 4


As Courtney's mother gracefully dragged her through the living room doorway, a man—decades younger than she'd been expecting—rose from the leather couch. Back straight and chin held ridiculously high, he smiled. Even in the dim lighting, his teeth were blindingly white. He extended a hand in greeting, but Courtney, still rather disoriented, just looked dumbly between his overly-friendly smile and the outstretched appendage for a moment. She tried not to squint. Hesitantly, she shook his hand. It was soft, smooth, with no trace of callouses. She guessed he had a manicure every Sunday.

She held back a snort at the thought.

Without turning around, Courtney sensed her mother's reproachful gaze. She had wavered too long, revealing herself as indifferent and awkward. "Courtney," the older woman began, addressing her daughter but smiling warmly at their guest, "This is Jacob. Jacob Caldwell." Staring meaningfully at her daughter, she went on. "One of the youngest and most promising defense attorneys at our firm, Jacob is son to Harrison Caldwell, who, as you likely recall, is co-founder of Markson & Caldwell LLP. Jacob, this is my daughter, Courtney."

Recovered from her daze, Courtney batted her eyelashes at the young man and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Caldwell," she said sweetly, though on the inside she was rolling her eyes. Typical. It was just like her mother to set her up with the son of some ridiculously wealthy businessman for the sole purpose of promoting herself in the legal world. Granted, it would provide Courtney with solid connections for when she took on a career of her own, but she could be pretty definite that that was just a fortunate consequence. She knew her mother, and there was only one thing the woman cared about: herself.

When her suitor leaned down to kiss the back of her hand, Courtney had to struggle to keep a sneer off her face. The tips of his blonde hair brushed her forearm lightly, his hazel eyes looking deeply into her own. In the farthest corners of her mind, she couldn't help but notice how his pretentious stare paled in comparison to the forceful gaze of the stranger in the parking lot. An involuntary shiver ran down her spine.

Completely oblivious to the muddled thoughts running through her head, Jacob smiled winningly as he straightened and released Courtney's hand. "No, Miss Mann, the pleasure's all mine."

If her mother hadn't been eyeing her like a hawk, Courtney would've gagged. What a cheeseball. But because she was indeed being watched, Courtney forced a blush and averted her eyes as if flattered by the statement. A nearly imperceptible quirk of her mother's lips conveyed her approval.

Jacob (or Mr. Caldwell, as Courtney supposed she should continue referring to him) retook his seat on the sofa, motioning for Courtney to do the same. Grudgingly, she did. Her mother snapped her fingers and immediately excused herself, just as her daughter had been expecting, to "gather some refreshments" from the kitchen. In reality, she was planning on eavesdropping from the other room to see how Courtney behaved while not being monitored. Well, supposedly not being monitored. The girl wanted to roll her eyes at the predictability, glaring as her mother scurried away with a smirk only the younger of the two could see.

The silence in the living room was heavy. Courtney fidgeted to get more comfortable; the furniture was stiff from years of disuse, and she sensed Jacob's eyes on her again. She pressed her lips firmly together. She despised small talk. Honestly, what more could she say to a man she'd met little more than 90 seconds ago?

Apparently, the young man next to her didn't share her mindset. And she had an ominous feeling she wasn't going to like what he had to say.

There was a pause before he spoke. "Your mother tells me you want to be a lawyer." Courtney turned her head to him. After considering his expression thoughtfully for a moment, she nodded affirmatively. A polite smile rested on her lips.

"Yes, that's correct."

Jacob smiled as well. But this time it seemed far more condescending, smugger than his earlier charming grin. He looked her up and down critically, quirking a golden eyebrow in a haughty fashion that made her blood boil—and not in the good way. "Well, do you think you have what it takes?"

Courtney pursed her lips. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

That was a lie of course. She wasn't stupid.

But it seemed Jacob wasn't either. He went on baiting her. "Oh, I think you do." His grin widened, morphing into one of those conceited, I'm-better-than-you'll-ever-be kind of expressions. She wanted nothing more than to punch it off his pretty-boy face as he crossed his arms across his chest, saying patronizingly, "Your mother is a very influential person at the company. But just because you're her daughter doesn't mean you'll automatically get a position. You're aware of that, right?"

A low growl rumbled in the back of the girl's throat. She bit her tongue to prevent it from slipping out, but was unsuccessful in keeping a look of pure dislike from replacing her previous smile. Her hands balled into fists at her sides. "Excuse me?" Her nails bit into the skin of her palms as she tried her best to keep her voice level. "Are you insinuating what I think you are?" She ignored his mouth opening to respond, cutting him off before he could get a single word out. It was a rhetorical question anyway. "I'll have you know, I am one of the hardest-working, most independent people I have ever met! Even if my mother didn't work at the firm, I'd get hired in a heartbeat. I don't need special treatment to compete—and win." Her eyes gleamed with a ferocity usually reserved for incompetent store clerks. Too late, Courtney realized that she might have just blown her mother's entire scheme to bits.

A moment later, she decided she really didn't care.

The blond, surprisingly enough, didn't flinch at her aggressive tone. He actually appeared rather amused. He replied to her accusation calmly, "Oh, I'm sure you would. I'm simply making a point. We can't go around giving out favors all the time; it wouldn't be right." His tone oozed scrupulousness, but the effect was ruined by the smirk on his lips and mischievous gleam in his eye.

Courtney narrowed her eyes at him. She wanted to point out that he was the last person who should be lecturing her, given that he almost certainly got his job because of his father, but she figured keeping her mouth shut would do less damage. Furious, unfounded allegations wouldn't bode well later on. She settled instead for huffing loudly and crossing her arms.

Sensing she wasn't going to talk anytime soon, Jacob chuckled and leaned in, unfolding his arms to brace his hands on his knees. Her lip curled slightly in disdain, but she didn't let herself lean away as his face neared hers. Though the guy was indisputably an ass, that didn't mean she couldn't at least try to be professional.

"So... Now that that's out of the way," he flashed another pearly smile, "tell me about yourself."

Courtney grimaced.

As much as she hated to admit it, the man in front of her was disgustingly reminiscent of Alejandro. Ignore the contrasting skin and hair colors, the two- or three-year age difference, and the fact that Jacob's net worth was easily twenty times as much as Alejandro's, and they were practically the same person! Handsome, confident, manipulative, conceited little pricks. Courtney's eye twitched.

Good lord, this was going worse than she'd hoped.

She cleared her throat, stalling for a moment, then asked reluctantly, "What would you like to know?"

Jacob only grinned wider at the curt response. He pretended to contemplate it. "Hmm... Well, your age, first of all. Perhaps your activities, interests? Your school, maybe? Just the basic things."

Holding back an irritated sigh, Courtney conceded. "Uh. Okay. I'm seventeen years old, a junior at Fraser College Prep, and—"

"Fraser? That's where I went for my freshman year of high school."

A tight smile took over her lips. She hated it when people interrupted her. "Really? How nice. Anyways, as I was saying—"

"But my father took me out after the first year. Said the academic standard was far too low for a boy of my standing, not to mention most of the other students were complete invalids. He sent me to Meyers instead. Have you heard of it? Surely you have. It's one of the top schools in the country."

Heat filled her face. Despite the fact that she often thought the same of her fellow classmates, it angered her to hear the words coming from someone else. Especially when they insinuated that she was among the moronic ones. "That's...unfortunate. For me, Fraser seems to fit just fine. And, yes, I have heard of Meyers before," she quickly added before he could interrupt her a third time. "A very prestigious school indeed."

And snobby as hell.

Jacob gave a contemptuous little "Hmph". She could tell he was about to say something—more than likely something offensive or derogatory—back to her, but her mother strolled in before he could, carrying a plate of biscuits and a coffee pot in her hands. As terrible as it sounded, Courtney couldn't remember a time when she was happier to see the woman.

That said, her mother looked anything but happy to see her. "Jacob," she addressed the blond amiably, setting the items down on the coffee table, "Why don't you help yourself to some coffee and treats? Enjoy them while they're still warm." Pleasant tone never faltering, she turned to her daughter. "And Courtney. I need to speak to you for a moment please."

Obediently, Courtney stood from the couch and followed her mother out of the room into the kitchen. On the outside she acted unconcerned, indifferent, but inside her stomach turned with apprehension. She was in for it now.

Her mother braced her hands against the kitchen sink, back facing her daughter. "Close the door please." She didn't turn around, but Courtney did as she was told anyways; she could already hear the woman's pent-up anger leaking out from beneath the calm, controlled facade. As the wooden door settled back into its frame with a dull thud, Courtney mentally prepared herself for the verbal abuse that she was sure was to come.

Seconds ticked by as she waited for her mother to speak. "What was all that about?" The question was quiet, but the girl could feel its venom as it echoed in the empty room. Her throat was dry as she replied.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't play ignorant with me, Courtney." The woman made a slow turn, lips pursed much the same as Courtney's earlier. Her brows lowered above slanted eyes, and the volume of her voice rose slightly. "What compelled you to behave so inappropriately around our guest?"

Courtney couldn't bring herself to meet her mother's gaze. "I don't know," she mumbled.

"You don't know?" The mocking laugh that followed chilled her daughter to the bone. "You don't know what? What you did? Or why you did it?" Courtney didn't speak. "Well, you might as well forget about your dreams of becoming a lawyer then. I'm sure it will take quite the apology to make up for that performance. You might have just ruined your prospects out there, you do realize that?" The silence was deafening. "Don't you?"

As if in slow-motion, the girl nodded. She worried that if she opened her mouth, she might say something she'd regret.

Her mother wasn't satisfied. Slamming her fist down on the marble counter, she practically yelled, "Then why on earth did youdo it?!" Her voice dropped back to that dangerous whisper. "I risk everything to get you these kinds of opportunities! I could get fired for this kind of thing! Fired! And this is how you repay me? By making me clean up the messes you create? You ungrateful little bitch!"

The words stung, but Courtney didn't flinch. It was nothing she hadn't heard before, and concealing her emotions was an art she had mastered long ago. With a carefully crafted look of indifference, she watched as her mother breathed in and out, running her fingers through her dark hair, the red gradually receding from her face. By the time her breathing had evened out, the woman was just calm enough to spare another scornful glance at her daughter. She opened her mouth as if to continue her rant, but abruptly closed it again.

"You know what? I'm not even going to waste my time." Spinning on her high heels, she pushed through the kitchen door and strode away.

Courtney made no move to go after her. Just watched as the door swung shut on her mother's retreating form.

She felt numb, as she always did after she and her mother had a fight. She wasn't sad though; Courtney was too exhausted to feel sad. As she sunk down onto one of the high-backed lacquer chairs surrounding the kitchen table, she let out a sigh that strained against the bare walls. This morning the idea of someone following her every move had her thoroughly freaked out, but now she would have given anything not to feel so alone.

Closing her eyes, Courtney imagined herself anywhere but home.


A/N: (Edit) 12/18/20

Still going strong :). Thanks for reading and I really appreciate any feedback, positive or not!

-Scraps