2: LET'S TALK BUSINESS

PEBBLES' POV

AUGUST 10TH, 1999

He yanked my hair and wrenched me out of the bed. The force of his actions sent me plummeting to the floor. I caught a glimpse of my frightened reflection in his shiny leather shoes.

My body was still tender from the beatings it endured three days prior. "I specifically told you yesterday that I needed everyone ready by 8 am today," he raised his foot and attempted to kick me. I closed my eyes and curled in a fetal position as I waited for him to attack." Get up and get ready, you negro bastard." I peeked through my lids and I saw him adjusting his gold-plated cuff links. "You have me working up a sweat and I haven't even had breakfast yet, " he sighed. "Get up."

I slowly got up and wobbled to my feet. My soft grey eyes locked onto his icy blue ones that were filled with pure hatred and resentment. His dark blonde sideburns had streaks of grey. His moustache was neatly trimmed and sat perfectly above his thin pink lips. "I-I'm sorry. I fo-forgot to set the alarm, " I stuttered.

He ran a hand over his slicked-back grey locks. For a 54-year-old, he had a muscular frame; well-built and firm. He also had a way with the ladies because he cheated on his wife every chance he got."You have 5 minutes, little girl. Don't let me come back in here, " he warned.

I held my breath, my eyes followed the devil as he exited my tiny bedroom, if you could call it that. It was more like a cage; cold and restricting. There was only one window, and that one window was my only source of light. It allowed the sunlight to illuminate the moss-filled walls during the day, and then the moonlight would peek in through it at night.

I carelessly spread my bed and then I discarded my nightgown replacing them with simple blue jeans and a long sleeve sweater. I decided against taking a shower. Who knows what would transpire if the devil had to come back in here.

I went to the small bathroom, filled with limescale and rust. Grandma tried everything to get them out, but she said that the bathroom needed remodelling.

I quickly cleaned my teeth and styled my thick curls in a bun. I noticed tiny black and blue bruises under my chin and neck, so I opened the cabinet and took out the tube of makeup that Bianca got me, particularly for this; to cover up the marks of the devil.

Tears spilt from my eyes as I conceal my abuse.

A knock at the door startled me and my body immediately froze. It couldn't have been 5 minutes already.

I heard the door squeak open, and I peeped from the bathroom. I released my breath when I saw that it was my mother. "Pebbles, are you in here?" she called before she entered.

"I am right here, Bianca." Yes, I addressed my mother by her Christian name. It was not by choice, she told me to do so. She had me when she was 18, and she resented me for it. She hated the idea of having an 8-year-old at the young age of 26.

Her tiny size 2 frame came into view as I sauntered closer to her. "Father sent me to accompany you to your special hiding place."

Right! It was silly of me to think I would have breakfast with my family today. I pouted and Bianca's sky-blue eyes softened.

"Let's go," she swerved on her 12-inch red-bottom heels and I followed behind her. I watched her tiny hips swaying in her red pencil skirt. Her heels clicked and clacked while we descended the stairs. She stopped on the second floor and I followed her to the end of the hall. She paused at the miniature door, and she used a key to open it. "Go on in, " she smiled. I hesitantly stepped inside. "Don't worry, I will be back for you in an hour, " she blew me a kiss, and then she bolted the door.

I listened as her footsteps faded and then I did what I always do when I was locked in the closet. I moved the carpet and exposed the tiny peephole I drilled in the floor a couple of months ago. If the devil ever found out, then I would not live to experience my 9th birthday.

The peephole hung directly above the dining hall. I could see the table perfectly. The devil was sitting in the head chair and grandma sat to his opposite. My mother sat next to her cousins, Blair and Blaine, the twins were a year younger than her and just as heartless and shallow.

Adjacent to the trio sat the guests, I presumed. A couple who looked to be the same age as grandma and a young man, whom I assumed to be their son.

"Let's talk business, " the devil announced.

I watched as Bianca and Blair fought to gain the young man's attention. They would giggle and bite their lips, hoping they would get an effect from him. But he just kept his head down with his arms crossed at his chest.

"I knew this was not a friendly invitation, Sinister. What can I do for you?" The older man flashed the devil a smile, but before he could answer, the man's wife spoke up.

"Settle down, Thomas, I already made the deal with Sinister."

Thomas' eyes went wide. "And what deal is that, Mary?"

"We have decided on Bianca's and Bradley's nuptials. And before you can argue, I had already announced it to the press. It is front-page news today, " Mary snickered.

It was quite the norm in West Palm Beach for wealthy families to arrange for their offspring's marriages.

"Sinister, how come I am just hearing about this?" Grandma asked.

"Kathy, I did what I thought was best. This will be good for our businesses. Both Hemington's Enterprise and Dickson's Corporation will gain if we merge. This arrangement is just to seal the deal."

"Bianca, are you ok with this agreement?" Grandma asked my mother.

"Yes, mother. Father informed me about it from last week, " she moved her hair behind her ears and kept her flirty eyes on Bradley, who was still sitting with his head down.

"Son, how about you — are you okay with this?" Thomas asked Bradley. He lifted his head and met his father's gaze.

"Dad, I already told mother that I will not go through with this. I don't know why she even insisted on coming here, " Bradley said through gritted teeth.

"Listen to me, Bradley Dickson. You will marry this girl because you owe me and you owe it to your son, " Mary grunted.

"You will leave my son out of this, mother."

"Look, you broke my heart when you ran off and married that filthy trailer trash whore. Though, I was not sorry when I heard that bitch died while giving birth to my grandson. I will always love him for that-"

"Mary, that's enough!" Thomas yelled, slamming his fists against the hardwood table. "You will not speak of our late daughter-in-law like that. Our son is still grieving. He is still in love with her, why can't you see that?"

"Love? Pfft, " she scoffed. "Bradley wouldn't know love if it bit him in the ass. He was just fascinated by her cowboy boots and her skimpy clothing. I bet it was all about the sex."

"I am so ashamed of you, mother. How dare you talk about Daisy-Mae like that? I am sick and tired of you always breathing down my neck. That's it, mother, I'm taking my son, and we will leave in the morning."

"And where will you go? You're broke and you have a 10-year-old child to feed."

"Mother, what do you call broke? I have a Master's Degree and 4 million dollars sitting in my bank account, which I earned over the years. No help from you and no help from dad."

"Exactly! Broke. 4 million dollars is chump change for us. Stay and work for me. Let me show you how to run the business. You could make 4 million dollars every month. Think about the life you could have here for your son."

Bradley rose to his feet. He gave his mother one last look of disgust before turning to his hosts. "Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Hemington for your hospitality, but I shall take my leave now, " he bowed to my grandparents and headed for the door.

"6 months, Bradley Dickson. 6 months and you'll be crawling back to me like you always do, " Mary shouted in defeat.

"Mary, I love you, but you can be so heartless sometimes, " Thomas' voice had a bitter stain to it.

"The girl died 10 years ago. Bradley is 29 now. He should have moved on a long time ago. Do you want our son to die alone?"

"He is not alone, Mary. He has us and his son. You just could not stop until you pushed him away." Thomas also got up from the dinner table and bid his farewells.

"Well, that went smoothly, " Blair giggled.

Grandma gave her husband a disappointed look, and then she too left the table. Bianca and her cousins left without finishing their meals. They said something about going shopping.

Sinister and Mary ate in silence, and I again spent the entire day and night locked up in the closet.

No one came for me until the next morning.