Page 29 of Forbidden Deception

What did I do to be left like this?

I spent countless days and nights crying my eyes out, I tried to break things, I tried to destroy everything; and when all emotion drained out of me, I just couldn’t care anymore.

A week later, I move into the boarding school in Bristol. It’s the same routine of guards all around me, private transport, and isolated areas. Years pass, and the girls around me start to act hostile towards me for some reason, despite not having ever talked to me.

My mind starts to spiral out of control with anxiety and depression, and soon I find myself staying inside my room.

Three years later, I get called into the office.

“You are moving to a new boarding school,” the headmaster, Mr John, says in a cool tone.

This is the second time I’ve changed schools. What is going on? I thought Mother and Father didn’t want me anymore.

This time, I make sure to note the number plate of the car sent for me, the route, and how far away from my previous school I am.

The new school is in Edinburgh. The guards stand closer to me, and instead of one, now two shadow me.

That is when my life unravels and my world shatters. And everything spins out of my control.

10

It’s not raining today. I step out into the cold air of the city and look up at the dark clouds covering the sky.

“Let’s go.” Rafael breezes past me into his awaiting Rolls Royce Phantom, which is quite literally pitch black.

“What? Who? Me?”

“Yes, Venezia, you,” he calls out over his shoulder as he slides into his car.

I rush after him. I can’t miss a chance to get closer to him.

“I’ll drop you off. I have somewhere to be in that area.” He’s looking out the window while talking to me.

Why does he do this? He doesn’t look at me when he talks to me in his car. Having said that, I have only been in his car a total of two times.

“Is it okay if we stop somewhere on the way?”

He nods.

I try to discreetly look for his phone and spot the outline of it in his trouser pocket.

“I need to grab food for dinner. I really feel like pizza.” I don’t, but I want to delay him dropping me off at home. I’m barely able to do anything during work hours to get him to trust me, and this might get him to finally relax around me.

“Can you take me to that pizza place near my apartment complex? It’s down the road,” I ask the driver, who nods and turns the car.

Once we get there—in complete silence, I might add—I get out to order. When I come back to the car, holding the pizza box, an idea hits me. I go to get in the back of the car, but the tinted window rolls down.

“Get in the front,” Rafael says from the driver’s seat.

Biting my lip, I get inside and settle the box on my lap.

“I have a suggestion, and please don’t say no. You will be breaking my heart.”

Rafael starts the car but doesn’t put it into gear.

With one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the console between us, he turns to me. My thoughts falter for a second.

Focus.

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