Page 47 of The Muse
I climb the steps and open the door, but before I make a move to the stairs, I check if the coast is clear. There’s not a sound or sign of a soul, so I move to escape to the safety of my room.
“Persephone.” His low voice stops me on the second step. It sounds just like Father’s sometimes, the tone reminiscent of when I was a child being scolded.
“Landon,” I answer in frustration.
Turning to face him, I keep my chin high and look downwards. At least on the step, I’m nearer his height.
“Geoffrey told me about your outing today. You really shouldn’t have bothered. Scott Foxton will never touch you again.”
“What have you done?” I accuse. My eyes flash to his fists flexing at his sides. “Is he alright?”
“There’s a reason we’ve been feuding with the Foxtons for years. Don’t get in the middle of something you don’t understand.”
“I’m not in the middle of anything, Landon. What did you do?” Nothing comes back at me in response. He's like a wall of ice again, only the slight quiver in his hands still giving his mood away. “Landon, what did you do?”
He turns to leave, hands now balling into fists as he does. “Stay clear from now on, or I swear, I'llmakeyou behave accordingly,” he threatens.
I'm down the stairs and reaching for his shoulder to stop him before he gets the chance, but I'm nowhere near ready for the resulting temper that descends because of that one touch.
The sharp shove that sends me sideways makes me gasp out loud. “What the fuck did you do with him?” he seethes.
Shocked at his force, I regain my balance and hover in place, my hand holding the balustrade. But I'm still not backing down. “You’ll never understand. Because clearly, you don’t care about anyone but yourself. Have you ever stopped to think of my feelings? What I want?”
“What you want in this is irrelevant. You're being a fucking princess. He’s a Foxton. You damn well knew not to go there, and you did anyway.”
“What does that even mean? Why is there this family feud? We don’t even know. I betyoudon’t even know.” My own temper grows, my body vibrating with it. “Scott’s not like you, Landon. He’s not only after power or control. He’s kind, and... you know nothing about us.”
“There is nouswhen it comes to you and Foxton. Get yourself to your room before I lose my shit completely. I'm finished with your tantrums, Persephone. They end. Now.”
“Fuck you.” I won’t listen to this any longer.
And he can’t dictate to me like this.
I storm off upstairs and slam the door shut. I can’t cope with this. He’s a controlling arsehole that doesn’t give a damn about me. Well, fine. My eyes scan the room and try to think of what my options are. I yank at the closet doors and pull down the overnight case from the top shelf. In a rage, I open my drawers and dresser and start flinging in clothes. There’s no plan or coordination, just action. And in five minutes, the bag is full of what I might need for a few days. If this turns out to be longer, I can come and get more of my stuff when I know there won’t be such a hostile reception.
Where to stay isn’t the most obvious, but I pull up an app and search for a hotel around Scott’s address. There are plenty of results, and I quickly book a room in a smaller boutique hotel just around the corner. With the address, I order an Uber—there’s no way I’m travelling with Geoffrey again—and make a quick mental rundown of what I’ll need. I even grab my passport from my desk drawer. Just in case.
I circle around my room for the ten minutes I have to wait, but instead of calming me down, all it does is fire me up. I can’t believe Landon has done this. Sent me to my room like a child, let alone told me who I can and can't see of my own choosing. Screw him. And screw this house if that's what I'm going to have to deal with.
When the little car on the app is right on top of Earlwood, I grab my bags and take them downstairs.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Landon meets me on the stairs, blocking my exit. “I said room. I meant it.”
“None of your business, Landon. Get out of my way.” I barge past him, refusing to let him push me around any longer and head outside towards the drive. “And don’t even think about trying to stop me.”
He's on my heels immediately, one hand trying to catch my arm. I shrug it off, fury fuelling enough anger that this time it's him who looks shocked. “You can’t walk out, Persephone. Where the hell do you think you can go?”
“Believe it or not, I can take care of myself," I shout back as I descend the steps. “And if you treat me like this, then I certainly don’t want to stay here a minute longer.”
Thank God, my Uber is on time.
Slinging my bag in the car, I jump in. “Go. Now.”
Looking back through the rear window, I see Landon standing on the steps as we drive away. A moment of doubt creeps into my mind about my decision, but then if I back down now, he’s won.
That's not happening anymore.
~
