The day had started out early. As early as 2 AM I was already done packing my clothes into a single Louis Vuitton suitcase because my mum said that I needed to pack light and only pack the clothes that she had bought for me a week ago. I was glad, because that meant we were going to be coming back home sooner than I thought.
Whenever we went to visit Octavious, it was always a long dreadful journey. He stayed on a completely private island that he owned. What didn't make the journey there as troublesome as it really is, is that whenever we went to visit, which has only happened twice before, Octavious sends us a private jet and we don't have to worry about standing in long queues and all that unnecessary stuff.
Octavious' island is called Matlock and I don't know much about the place because the last time that I went there I had only been around 9 years old.
"Oh, fucking finally!" my sister groaned as the jet landed and I rolled my eyes, swirling my tongue around the straw of the mocktail that I had been drinking, "24 hours in the air with nothing but fish to eat has made me queasy," she complained as she stood up and immediately fanned her face, putting on her designer sunglasses as she fixed her sun hat and adjusted her simple summer cross bandage backless dress.
I watched as she bent down and put on a pair of Prada heels before she ruffled her hair up a bit to make it seem like she had looked this good throughout.
I knew that we were going to be on a long flight and I was dressed for traveling. I just wore a pair of short shorts, a Grey crop top and had a pair of heels tossed at my feet for when we landed which was now. There was nothing that my mother hated more than casual wear. She always preferred everyone to look their best and I knew she'd burst a vein if I stepped out dressed in this.
But she's been acting super sweet when it came to me, so I managed to get away with the attire. I didn't push it though, that's why I brought the heels with, to make it seem like an effortless laid back sexy outfit.
Jessalyn was the first to exit the plane and I was right behind her, wanting to breathe in some fresh air and step on the ground. The jet had been nothing but a luxurious and boastful show of wealth. It was very comfortable and opulent, but nothing beats stepping on the ground and breathing some real fresh air especially after 24 hours of flying.
I stood at the top of the stairs that led down from the plane and noticed that there was a long red carpet spread out for us, with a limousine just inches from the ending of the red carpet. I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face as my eyes immediately met with my godfather's.
"Octavious!" I squealed in delight as I sprinted down the stairs and pushed my sister aside, moving in a straight bee line for my Godfather who held a cigar to his lips. A trench coat hung on his shoulders but his arms opened wide and accepted my overly excited hug, "Octavious!" I repeated again as I inhaled his cologne that brought back memories.
He smelled so rich, masculine, addictive, like nicotine and scotch. He didn't wear a more natural scent like my father did, but instead his was very distinct and strong. Where he walked, he left his scent behind and everyone would know Octavious Bradford was here.
"My little star," he spoke up, his voice even huskier and rougher in person, especially since it was inches from my ear. His voice was so raspy and he talked slow- always taking his time to get his words out of his mouth and I always hung onto every word, anxiously awaiting what he would say next, "my, have I waited too long for you..."
I didn't have time to dwell on his words because Jessalyn had walked up to us, "hm, it's sad to see you well, Uncle Octavious," Jessalyn said bluntly as she glared at him. Jessalyn always liked Octavious, up until a short while back did her feelings change and I'm not too sure what brought it on.
Maybe she was going through this phase of hating all elders for some strange reason. I'm sure it's that no good use boyfriend of hers that's rubbing off on her.
"Ah, Jessalyn," Octavious said with a small smile that acknowledged both her and her sour attitude, "you look beautiful," he told her while he still held onto my body and didn't let me go.
Jessalyn looked at us, before she rolled her eyes and walked to the other side of the car to get into the limo, "my good friend," Octavious acknowledged my father and that's when he let go of me to embrace my father in a short hug.
Both men chuckled and I decided to get into the car because my feet were sore and I just wanted to get to Octavious' home and rest after such a long flight.
"Hey, are you ok?" I asked Jessalyn when I noticed that she's been very angry for some time and it might be something dangerous. Maybe she's battling with depression.
We've all seen what depression can drive people to do and I know I say I hate my sister, but I don't want anything bad happening to her.
She looked at me for a moment before she shook her head and was about to talk before the doors opened and my parents along with Octavious got into the limousine.
So quickly my attention turned from my sister to my Godfather who sat directly across from me. Like always when I'm in his presence, everything else falls away and I can't pay attention to anything except him. His eyes pull me in and the next thing I know, I'm floating in space with nothing pulling me back down to earth.
It's almost like I'm under a spell. Pulled in by all of the elements I'm attracted to my Godfather with. His dominant aura calls out my name, his smouldering gaze holds me in place and his confidence takes my breath away while a more sinister element dares me to try to break away and I lose every time.
There's something about my Godfather that I can't quite put a name on that's dark, so dark that everyone around seems to brush it off and act like it's not there. I've pointed it out to my parents and even to Octavious and all he does is chuckle and caress my cheek, before distracting me with something else.
After some time, I've just chosen to ignore it and move along like everyone does. It's of course only for a reason that everyone ignores it.
I'm just glad that I haven't been a part and will never be a part of whatever that evil is that exists in him.
When the limo pulled up to a massive structure that Octavious called his home, my mind was blown away like it always is when I set my eyes on the monstrosity built all for a lone man to live in. I've asked him several times if he ever gets lonely and he's told me that he welcomes the loneliness and that he enjoys the isolation from everyone else and the outside world.
"Could you just tell me what's wrong, Jessalyn?" I finally decided to ask my sister as my fingers unconsciously played with the brand new diamond necklace dangling on my neck that Octavius had put around me and told me it was a present that I could wear for the next few hours. I had no doubt that he would give me another diamond necklace. Or some pearls would be nice as well.
Shop was exactly what we did. That’s just how Jessalyn and I are, and that’s our love language and the only time we ever really get along. We could walk around and shop all day and never get tired of swiping any card as long as it was neither of ours. And this time it seemed that Jessalyn wasn’t holding back and it seemed like she was shopping with the intent of trying to max out Octavious’ card but it wouldn’t work because well, Octavious is worth billions.
I can't really explain why but the mood in the room felt heavy, very heavy, even though it was just my mum and I, and we were getting ready for tonight. Actually, she was the one helping me prepare for tonight because she was already dressed. She looked mighty flawless, in fact, she looked like she was the first lady with the designer pencil dress that she was wearing paired with white gloves which she had taken off as she attended to me.
There was no way that this was happening…There was absolutely no way that this was what Octavious said it was, I was sure he was pulling my leg. Maybe he didn't appreciate all those times I teased him, but did he have to prank me so hard?
I staggered back into my bedroom, unable to hold my body up anymore as the world began to spin uncontrollably around me. I clutched my chest, trying to calm down my racing heart. I tried to calm my erratic breathing by breathing in through my nose and out my mouth but it didn't seem to help. The world around me suddenly became blurry as I thought about what just happened.
After practically banishing my parents, I locked myself in this bedroom that was once my heaven. I slept on the floor in a foetal position and cried until I couldn't cry anymore. When the sun had risen, I decided to use the bathroom and take a shower to attempt to rid myself of this stench of pure sadness and heartbreak.
I sat upright in the tub. My back was rigid as I watched him casually stride into the room, ruining his shoes that I was sure cost hundreds of thousands because he never spared any expense when it came to his clothing. I watched as his hands covered in rings closed the taps, stopping the overflowing water before he walked to the shower and closed the water there as well.