Page 6 of Deadly Secrets

I’d never been so grateful for being in a soundproofed basement. Over a hundred people were probably at this party, and the walk of shame would have been dreadful.

We stayed in the same position momentarily, trying to catch our breath.

“You’re something else, Sienna. Fucking hell.”

“Fucking hell, indeed.”

Chapter 3. TURNING POINT

(Sienna)

“You’re late.” My father, who had been waiting for me since 9 a.m., had his jaw clenched and nostrils flared. His gaze was so intense it could melt ice, and the way he clutched the arms of his chair suggested he was on the verge of losing his patience.

Last night, I went out again with Jake and Caroline and arrived home around 5 a.m. I had barely slept for a few hours when I woke to the sun blazing through my window. I had completely forgotten to close the curtains and set the alarm.

Jake stayed over, just like he’d been doing every night since we met last week, but when I opened my eyes this morning, my bed was empty.

Did he leave just after I fell asleep?

I liked Jake, but we both knew we were just friends with benefits. It worked for me and, apparently, for him too—a perfect match. I’d be leaving for Stanford soon, so getting attached to him wasn’t an option. Truth be told, I was having a good time, so I’d decided to keep hanging out with him until I left, as long as he was okay with that. The last thing I wanted was for him to start catching feelings, so I needed to limit our interactions and follow my go-to rules. No dates. No flowers. Nothing. Parties, enjoying the outdoor pool, and good sex. That was all I wanted for my summer. I wasn’t asking for too much. Was I?

“I’m sorry. I went out last night and didn’t hear the alarm on my phone. Sorry,” I lied.

“Your mom told me you’ve been going out every night since you returned. Is that all you’re going to do this summer?” I could hear the reproach in his voice.

“Well, that and the internship,” I replied.

“I trust you’re taking this internship with the seriousness it deserves. Many people would kill for this opportunity. I won’t tolerate you showing up late at the lab or smelling like a cellar. Do you understand me?” His voice was calm, but it carried a heavy warning I couldn’t ignore.

“Of course. I wouldn’t want to ruin your reputation, Father.” I emphasized the word “father” more than necessary, but at this point, I didn’t care for his approval. He lost his right to care the moment he forbade me from hanging out with my best friend and shipped me off to Europe without a single warning.

He sighed.

“Sit down,” he said, pointing at the chair he’d placed next to his. “Let me walk you through the program I designed for you.”

Over the next two hours, he explained the four-week plan he’d prepared for my time in the lab. He’d organized a rotation of tasks across various departments at Cos Pharmaceuticals, intending to provide me with some level of experience before starting college. I wondered if he’d noticed how little I was interested in working for him. Since I arrived, he never bothered to ask me about my final exams or my trip with Sarah. When I mentioned going to Ibiza with her for three weeks, he stayed quiet and said nothing about it. I knew he liked Sarah and thought she was a good influence even though she was the troublemaker between us.

“I want you to go through everything, and I want you on Tuesday at nine o’clock, not nine thirty or ten, in my office to go through any questions you might have. Your mom and I are leaving for Cabo next Friday morning, so you’ll be on your own until we return. Peter will be available via email if you have further questions while we’re away.”

“Sure thing. Would you prefer that I email my questions before our meeting? I’ve heard it’s a standard business practice.”

“Don’t be a smart-mouth, Sienna. My patience is limited.” I was well aware that I pushed boundaries by speaking to my father in such a way, but I couldn’t help it. Sarah often claimed that I enjoyed challenging him to gain his attention. Even if that were the case, it had never worked.

“I’ll see you on Tuesday then.”

I walked toward the door and pushed it open.

“And Sienna.” I turned around. “It’s the last time I see someone sneaking out of your room in the middle of the night. This isn’t that kind of house. Understood?”

I slammed the door on my way out.

* * *

It was Friday morning.

My parents would be leaving in half an hour, and I had grand plans for the weekend. With them gone, I would have the house to myself. I’d already arranged for Caroline to invite a group of friends over on Saturday, including Jake, obviously. I was determined to host an unforgettable party that would be the talk of Port Chester. All I had left to do was purchase the alcohol, pick up some snacks, and curate the perfect Spotify playlist.

Footsteps approached the living room, where I sat enjoying breakfast. Mrs. Bishop had thoughtfully made a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon and two slices of sourdough toast topped with avocado. She knew of my love for coffee and had gone the extra mile to procure some capsules for my favorite drink, pumpkin spice latte. Her thoughtfulness had always been remarkable. In this household, she appeared to be the only individual who genuinely cared about my preferences and had the keen attention to detail required to recognize when I craved Starbucks. It wasn’t like that before. I had a fantastic childhood, but everything changed six years ago.

---