Page 3 of Deceit

“The only reason I allowed you to live off-campus was because of Stephanie’s insistence and my disinterest over the subject. However, Gallows Hill University is my alma mater, all eyes will be on the both of us and it is crucial that we do not disappoint,” he says, his meaning clear.

Thatyoudon’t disappoint. Henry Parris could never disappoint anyone, he’s perfect. I’m the daughter he’s practically hidden away since birth.

I’ve done enough research on Gallows Hill to know that it is an elitist school. Invitation only and it churns out some of the most influential and important people to America’s society over the last three-hundred-years. Two presidents, five governors, one tech mogul and countless prestigious judges, lawyers, scientists and doctors. All circling back to this university. It’s the best of the best and I have to go there. No,getto.

“I won’t disappoint you,” I promise, lowering my eyes as a form of respect that he seems to enjoy.

He nods, reaching his palm out and patting the back of my hand twice.

“Good. Be the respectable young woman you were raised to be, get to know your fiancé and trust no one else. The Putnam men are good people. They will protect you.”

Nodding my head, I turn to look out the window. I assume he means Asher’s father as well, since this is very clearly an arranged marriage. I don’t know why I’m so surprised. He has hinted at the idea of an arranged marriage for quite some time. I just always thought he was joking or at least I had hoped. The man doesn’t have a joking bone in his body, though, so this is really on me.

My cage must look so pretty to others on the outside, all gilded and shiny. Make no mistake, though, bars are bars. I’ll never be free to make my own choices, to live my own life. My fate was sealed the moment I was born, and my birth certificate signed with the last name Parris.

I’ve talked with Steph about it for years, spoke about running away, begged her to come with me. Each time I did though, her face would pale, and she made me promise I would never say those things again, that I would never do those things. If it wasn’t for her, for fear of never seeing her again and maybe for fear of what my father would do to her if I did disobey him, I’d have been gone a long time ago.

So instead, here I am flying away from the only home I have ever truly known, to an unknown man and an unknown place.

I’m thrilled.

Chapter Two

Skyla

Istayed at my father’s home last night when we landed, but first thing the next morning, my bags were packed in the car and I was being chauffeured across the city to my new home. As soon as we arrived something rippled through me. It wasn’t necessarily fear. It was almost something… foreboding. A feeling of being unwelcomed. Then again, that could just be my unease with this entire situation.

The campus is breathtaking, though. Large grand buildings that look more like cathedrals than university buildings line either side of the courtyard. Large pillars stand on either side of each entrance, an obvious display of wealth and history. My eyes skate up the sharp peaks and steep rooflines of my dorm building, practically black stained glass windows adorning each ridgeline.

My father assured me that Asher would be waiting in my dorm to welcome me and introduce himself. I can’t lie that as I stand in the elevator, watching as each level lights up, my anxiety ratchets. What will he be like? Is he kind? Does he want to be in this engagement or is he being forced like I am?

When the elevator reaches the last floor, level seven, I step out of it and walk until I find my room. The door is wider than others and it’s at the very corner of the hallway. Taking out the keycard that my father gave me this morning at breakfast, I wave it against the card reader much like a hotel before pushing it open.

My eyes widen and my mouth drops at the sight before me. I expected your average dorm room with a few extra amenities inside. After all, my father went here, as well as my mother and aunt Steph. She told me a lot about the school, how it was grand in ways other schools could never be. I assumed she meant the historic gothic architecture of the buildings outside that more closely resemble a castle, or maybe the sprawling land it sits on that seems to go for miles. I had no idea she was talking about plush leather couches, full kitchens and what looks to be an en suite to my left.

I also didn’t expect to walk into my new dorm and find a naked woman bent over a queen sized bed as a man’s bare ass thrusts into her savagely. The noises she’s making has me shifting uncomfortably as he slaps the side of her ass and continues. I’m not a prude by any means, but I’d also be lying if I said I was experienced. Being forced to attend an all-girls boarding school and not being allowed out of an adult’s supervision at all times made the whole engaging with the men thing virtually impossible.

The girl turns her head to look around the man, giving me a satisfied grin that makes my stomach turn. I spin on my heel as I head for the door. Obviously I was given the wrong room number. I’m stopped in my tracks almost immediately though, when a deep voice calls out to me.

“Where are you going?”

I don’t turn around, continuing to stare at the doorway as I speak.

“Sorry. I must have the wrong room. I’m Skyla Parris.”

I hear a deep groan and a breathy whimper come from behind me and I take another step to leave when he speaks again.

“Stay,” he practically commands. “You,” he says, as I glance behind me only to find him staring at the girl beneath him. “Get dressed and get the fuck out of here.”

She does as he says happily, smiling the entire time she slips on her dress and heels. Running a hand through her hair, she leans in to press a kiss to his lips, but he easily dodges her, gripping her arm in his hand as he escorts her to the open doorway, slamming the door in her face.

Wow, harsh.

His pants are securely fastened by now, and his forehead is dotted with small beads of sweat as he turns to look at me. His short dark brown hair and matching brown eyes are nearly the same color, his sharp jawline looking like it was carved from marble.

I watch as his full pink lips twist up into a scowl as he speaks.

“Why are you staring at me?”

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