Page 104 of Strings
“At age thirteen, she sold marijuana after school on street corners. By fourteen, she was into cocaine. At sixteen, she was arrested for suspected prostitution.” She crouches down next to me at the table and watches me for a moment. I look her directly in the eyes and my blood boils.
“I think calling your father a small business owner in pharmaceuticals was quite humorous, Summer. Kudos for thinking on your feet. However, let’s be honest. I know that’s a new concept for you, but shall we try? The fact is, you were really much better suited to follow in your mother’s line of work than your father’s. You really excelled using your body to get your way. I guess when sex is your only talent, you use it to the best of your abilities.”
“Mother… stop,” Sebastian pleads. His voice is low. He’s begging.
She ignores him as she stands and walks around the table. She doesn’t read from the folder. She has it memorized. She must have studied me well. Does she think she knows me based on this? This isn’t even half of the truth.
“Shortly after her arrest, she became a ward of the state. Five days after being placed in foster care, she ran away. No one knew where she was until she showed up for court to declare herself an emancipated adult. For the next few years, Summer lived in a back room at a seedy bar called The Rabbit Hole, where she illegally tended bar. Then one day, an anonymous tip came in to the police that led them to arrest Silver and Rusty for drug trafficking. Summer Winters disappeared without a trace, but Natalia Pearson was born. She avoided arrest of association by fleeing. Oh, and she never worked for an actual orchestra, although she’s been orchestrating cons her entire life.”
Lifting my eyes ever so slightly, I see everyone staring at me. I squeeze my eyes shut tightly to avoid letting a tear slip down my face. But I’m not sad at this moment. I’m pissed off. I push up from the table. “You don’t know anything about me, you bitch!”
Constance gasps and everyone follows suit.
“You can read my rap sheet fifty times and you’ll still never understand my life. Nothing was ever handed to me, unlike you. And yes, I’ve lied for most of my life, mostly because I was ashamed, but I never ever used your son for anything and I never ever will.”
Turning toward him, I reach out for his hands. “I’m so sorry, Bash. Please let me explain.”
“Bash? Did you call my sonBash?” Constance screams. “Get out of my house, you whore!”
“Stop! Don’t you dare talk to her that way!”
At first, I think Sebastian is yelling at me, but then he places his hand on my waist and pulls me protectively toward him. “You may be my blood, but she has more decency and kindness in a strand of her hair than you have in your entire body.”
“Sit down, Sebastian. You’re embarrassing our family,” Vladimir booms.
“All of you think you’re so much better than her? Why don’t we discuss the alleged crimes of someone else at this table?” Sebastian gazes at Derrick Mercer as he speaks.
Mercer immediately pushes up from the table. “I’ve heard enough. Young man, you need to shut your mouth right now before I shut it for you.”
“What does he mean, Daddy?” Bella asks.
Angelica places her hand on Mercer’s arm and he brushes her off angrily.
Sebastian grits his teeth. “You mother fucking piece of shit. You want to try to shut my mouth? I dare you to try. Let’s go. Right now.”
Mercer’s chair falls back and lands on the floor as he rushes past. “I don’t have to take this. I’m leaving.”
He rounds the table and marches toward the door. Sebastian follows him, grabbing his shoulder to spin him around. As he pulls back and makes a fist to punch him in the face, Vladimir grabs his arm and stops him. “You will not damage your hands!”
I run over to him and Vladimir turns to face me, standing between us. “Get away from my son. Do you see what you’ve done?”
Bella, Constance, and Angelica gather near the dining room doors. Constance starts to cry and they console her. She acts as if she’s been injured in some way.
Sebastian gets in Mercer’s face. “I know what happened in the elevator and you will pay for what you’ve done.”
Mercer laughs and shakes his head. He leans in toward Sebastian and groans quietly. “You think you know her, don’t you? Ask her how someone with no experience could get a job at the Sym. Ask her! If you say one word about me and anything you think you know, I’ll tell everyone how she fucked me to get the job.”
Sebastian stumbles back and turns to me. His eyes search mine. “Talia… please… he’s lying again. Tell him we know he’s lying.”
I shake my head as I back away from him. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse.
Mercer laughs. He steps closer to Sebastian and whispers, “See. She’ll spread her legs for anyone. We’ve all made mistakes, son.”
As Mercer places his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder, Sebastian immediately spins and punches him in the jaw. Mercer falls and Sebastian grabs his hand, dropping to his knees.
“No!” his father screams.
Everyone rushes to Sebastian and his beautiful, perfect playing hand. I gasp. I want to run to him, but I’m the last thing he needs right now. I’ve ruined everything. I run toward the front door instead, and Bella steps in front of me. She hands me my purse.
