Chapter two
Rayna
"what's that pathetic orphan doing here?" I heard someone sneer.
"Ewww, what is she wearing?"
"They shouldn't keep on letting her in here."
"Can't she make an effort to wash her uniform?"
"Wash? Ugh, she needs to throw those rags away and buy new ones. She looks like something they dug up from the trash. Yuck."
Keeping my head down, I ignored all their snide words as I walked past the rows of desks and settled in my lone desk at the very back of the class.
" You're late!" Mr. Ivory barked at me, "If this continues to repeat itself, you'll have to face detention."
My heart began to pound in my chest. Detention was the worst thing they could do to me because the one time I hadn't come home on time, my mother had locked me in my room with no food or water for three days.
"I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again."
"I've heard that before," he rolled his eyes and turned back to the board, "Now, on the topic of differentiation_"
I tried my best to listen but not only was I very familiar with the terms because I had done this class before, but my stomach was growling with hunger and it kept me distracted.
"Hey, creep," someone whispered. I turned to see a golden haired girl smirking at me, "Did you crawl out of the dumpster this morning?"
I shot her an unamused look. I had heard different variations of that insult all my life and I had grown a thick hide to it.
None of the kids at school understood me. None of them had bothered to get close enough to know why I showed up in dirty and tattered uniforms. I didn't owe any of them an explanation either.
They could go to hell.
"Did your lady's maid not advice you to not pair pink with lemon? You look like a fruit basket," I sassed back.
"Ignore her Maggie," the girl on her other side glared at me, "She wouldn't know fashion if it hit her in the face."
I raised an eyebrow at her, "Then I guess we have a lot in common."
" You bitch! " Maggie hissed.
"Is there a problem?" Mr. Ivory's cold voice cut in and the three of us jerked our heads up to the front of the class, "Do I need to excuse you girls so you can carry on with your conversation?"
Maggie immediately poked her bottom lip out in a pout, "Mr. Ivory, Ryler called me bitch."
First off, my name was Rayna not Ryler, second, she was the one who called me a bitch.
"I've had enough of your attitude, miss Giancarlo," the teacher snapped, "Get out of my class, you're now on detention."
I immediately leaped to my feet, hands curled into fists at my sides, "That's not true! She's lying. I didn't call her a bitch."
"I heard it," the brown haired boy in front of me said, "She said a bunch of other really mean things too while Mags was just trying to mind her business."
I opened my mouth to refute the accusation, but the older man held up his hand, his expression forbidding.
"Not another word from you young lady, unless I'll serve you with a suspension."
I sucked in a breath, and then turned to glare at the blonde jerk before grabbing my ratty school bag and marching out of the class. As I made to step past someone's desk, she put out her leg.
I was moving too fast to be able to halt and I ended up tripping and falling to the ground.
With a scream, I banged my head against the leg of someone's desk and the contents of my bag came spilling.
Someone tittered.
"Serves her right," a girl's voice whispered.
"That's where she belongs, at our feet."
"I hope this will teach her to stay where she belongs, in the gutters with the rest of her kind."
Tears filled my eyes and I climbed to my knees and began to frantically gather my books into my bag, only to discover that the fall had caused the remaining hand of my bag to break.
My lower lip trembled in dismay as I hugged the backpack to my chest and fled the class.
Just as I reached the door, Mr. ivory's voice stopped me, "Giancarlo, wait."
I turned slowly, heart soaring with the thought that he had decided to let me stay in class, but unfortunately, that wasn't what happened.
As if my humiliation wasn't enough, he bent and picked something from the floor before approaching me and tossing it at me.
With mountain horror, I realized it was the spare underwear I had tossed into my bag earlier today.
I jumped up and snatched it from the air but in the process my bag slipped from my hand.
"Oh my freaking God, is that her underwear. Can she be anymore disgusting?" Someone hissed.
"I have to speak to my father about getting that gutter rat expelled, I can't continue to share oxygen with her."
I heard someone giggle, "You mean you can even breath when she's close? You must be so lucky then. Her stench literally chokes me. I've wasted three cans of febreeze and all to no avail."
I wanted to snap at them that they didn't know what they were talking about, but I knew it was of no use. I would only get myself into more trouble by trying to protest now.
"One more thing," Mr. Ivory said sternly, "You're going to have to bring your parents to the school tomorrow."
"Haven't you heard, she's an orphan," Maggie piped up, causing the class to burst into laughter.
"You have to come with your guardians tomorrow or you won't be let into any of the classes," he continued, ignoring the laughter, "something has to be done about your lack of punctuality and your bad appearance."
I pressed my mouth into a thin line and nodded.
"Now get out, you're disrupting my class."
I raced out of the classroom and down the school halls, my heart feeling heavy in my chest.
My name is Rayna Giancarlo and I'm the ridiculed student.
But not for much longer.
Zane's POV.If anything, I'm quite sure that my father would be proud of me. Pun intended. Not only that, but he'll also be pleased to hear that I'm about to cut down the salary of every staff by fifty percent and if he isn't, then he can return to reclaim the position as the CEO. Oops! That's not possible because he already announced me and there's no way he can revert that. In the meantime, I lowered the screen of my laptop and then reclined on my chair. However, I'd barely done that when a call came into my phone. Picking it up, I glanced at the screen and the caller happened to be my father. Of course, I knew that he would call. In fact, I am surprised that he just called. If anything, I've been expecting him to do so since the middle-aged woman left my office. I'm sure I saw her name on the payroll register, but it's a blur in my head now. Considering the fact that he had eyes and ears all over the company, someone must have told him about my plans. Nonetheless, I answered the c
Zane's POV.I straightened the collar of my shirt as I ambled through the hallway, heading towards my office. Well, about the call with Aya last night, I was this close to deleting her number from my cellphone considering the way she spoke to me. If anything, I was only trying to surprise her, but it's quite obvious that things went south and the thought of it just makes me get angry. Perhaps, I was getting ahead of myself after all. But then again, after giving it a good thought, I realized that her number on my cellphone would help me in several ways than I thought. With that thought in mind, a smile pushed my lips to the side as I gripped the doorknob to my office and turned it open. Although, it was rather early and a few of my employees would have been surprised to see me. But then, I have to own this seat as the CEO else I'll just keep being a boy to my father. In the meantime, I settled on my chair, lifted the screen of my laptop and then pushed the power button. Waiting for
Rayna's POV.The almost deafening sound of my alarm threatened to tear my eardrums apart as it began to blare. Although, I'm not one to set alarms, but considering how knackered I was last night, I had no choice but to do so because I had this feeling that I might actually sleep past my normal wake-up time.Not only that, but also, because it was Ethan's birthday and I'd to finish my work at the office in a short period of time so that it would be possible to spend the rest of the day with him since I'd promised to do so. In the meantime, I reluctantly tossed myself to the other side of the bed, reached for my cellphone on the bedside table and then turned off the alarm. Letting out a heavy breath as the room suddenly became quiet again, I rubbed my eyes off its somnolent look and sat upright on the bed for a few minutes to regain my composure. After a few minutes, I got off from the bed, shoved my legs into my flip-flops and then proceeded to the bathroom to take a shower. Before lo
Rayna's POV.For one, I thought that it would be a good idea for Greene to join in the fun. You know, it would be a good opportunity for a perfect start with his son. But of course, I will in no way convince him otherwise. It is completely willingly. If he sees no reason to do so, and decides not to come, then good and fine. However, I only had Ethan's interest best at heart. In the meantime, the line went silent for a few seconds. It was as if I'd just asked of the impossible and his silence? Well, it was loud enough for me to know that he wasn't interested. Or perhaps, he was, but his ego wouldn't allow him and I could understand that. But then, if Ethan's mom would want to spend the day with him, then I don't think it should be different with him as the father.“I do hope that you can understand—” “The fact that you won't be able to come, right?” I asked, stealing the words from his lips as I cut him off. “Well, it is rather obvious and there's nothing to worry about. I just want
Zane's POV.I had no idea it felt this good giving people a piece of your mind. I'm sure Jess would stay away from me for the next few days except she's really desperate, and I do not want to believe that she is. However, what I don't want is to be controlled by the words of an old man. Not only that but I don't want my life to be dictated by the words of two old men who were only seeking for ways to strengthen their friendship and make good money even if their decisions put my emotions in jeopardy.“Who was that?” my father asked, with an edge to his voice. “I know it's a lady. So, tell me who is she?” I hadn't even shut the door yet when he threw that question at me. Was that how curious he was or wasn't he able to watch me from the window like he does should anyone show up at the gate? I guess the darkness wasn't helping matters.“It was, Jess.” I said, walking towards the sitting room immediately I shut the door. “She thought about something which would really benefit us, and so
Rayna's POV.I knew it was only a matter of time before they left. Talking about my mom and uncle. And, I was expecting it. I mean, who would decide to stay after everything I did. For one, they would have realized that they were never welcomed to begin with but then, I am still surprised they stayed that long regardless. In the meantime, Onyx walked past behind me.“Come here,” I called, with an edge to my voice. “What was that for?” If anything, she needed to understand her place as a worker in my house and not an opinion giver. And, for that reason she needn't join any conversation in the house unless she's asked to say something.“I don't understand ma'am.” she said, looking confused than she sounded. “Did I do something wrong?” “Really?” I asked, letting out a laughing scoff. “Are you asking me that right now? Or have you suddenly forgotten what you did earlier? Did I ever ask for your opinion while I was discussing with my neighbor as they called themselves?” I did the air qu
Zane's POV.I knew that her reason for coming had something to do with the marriage arrangements. But then, I don't think I was speaking a different language when I made my intentions about it clear to her the last time. If anything, I made sure my words were easy enough to be understood even by a toddler. So, why is she here again after all the explanations I gave concerning the reasons why it wouldn't work out anymore?“Jess, I made it clear to you the last time that I want no part in the marriage anymore.” I said, shaking my head. “There is no point revisiting that issue because I won't change my mind. Look, I don't know what our fathers discussed but that marriage isn't going to happen.” “You can't do this, and you know that right?” she asked, narrowing her gaze at the words.“Why not?” I asked, with a shrug of my shoulder. “My father isn't the one who's getting married here. I am. So, I don't see any reason why I can't say that I'm not interested in this anymore.” “My father ha
Zane's POV. Giving my father a piece of my mind is one of the few things I've always wanted to do. Perhaps, he must have felt a fraction of the pain I feel whenever he calls me a boy. But then, that's just the beginning of things yet to come. Should he keep disregarding my capacities then he'll be surprised to see what his doubts will turn me into? In the meantime, I gripped the doorknob, turned it open and then stepped into my room. All I had in mind to do was just to close my eyes and get some rest because I've had enough for the day. Standing in front of the mirror on the wall, I loosened my tie, took it off my neck. And, just as I began to undo the buttons on my shirt, my phone rang. I picked it up from the bedside table and glanced at the screen to know who was calling. It turned out to be Jessica. For one, I thought I made myself clear the last time we met that I want nothing to do with her anymore so, why in the world is she still trying to reach out to me?“What do you want
Rayna's POV.I have no idea who assured them that I'm their neighbor. However, for all I care, I don't have anyone as a neighbor. So, wherever they got the idea from, then it's not too late to discard it. But then, it was rather obvious that they couldn't recognize me and well, I don't expect them to. Meanwhile, it's been over ten minutes since they arrived, but then, they'd been standing, expecting me to offer them a seat. Left to me, they would stand till we were done with whatever discussion they brought to me because I didn't ask them to come in the first place. And, I didn't tell them that I was in need of a neighbor. Perhaps, when they realize that they weren't welcomed, as adults who know what to do, they'll leave on their own.“You are still standing?” Onyx asked, crinkling her face in surprise as she held a long broom and dustpan in her grip. “And how is that any of your concern?” I shot back, with an edge to my voice. “You should focus more on your job. However, I need you