You Have A Deal

Theron’s Point of View

I dove into the pool once again, going my tenth lap, even though it was fucking freezing, and it was almost two am in the morning. I was desperately trying to outswim the thoughts that attempted to drown out my sanity.

I splashed through the water, almost laughing at myself.

Sanity… sounds like a joke. I know I am fucking insane.

But at least, I could pretend; I was always in perfect control of myself, but those honey brown eyes that glanced at me fearfully, triggering something so beastly and primal inside me was all I could think about.

I reached the edge of the pool again, and I came up for air, sweeping away my wet hair that covered my eyes.

A pair of polished shoes came into my vision, and a familiar scent hit my nose, my eyes trailed up to meet the pair of silver eyes that narrowed at me.

“Theron, get out.” Father ordered, and I scoffed, falling back into the pool, this time with a back stroke, smirking at my father mockingly as I swam away from him—my legs kicking the water intentionally letting some splash against him.

He should know better than to give me orders.

“Theron, it’s late and that water is cold.” There was no fakeness in the concern that laced his voice, he wiped some of the water that got on him and he walked towards the other end of the pool, trying to be the closest to me.

I just stayed afloat in the center of the pool. “You might have some problems comprehending the human emotions, I am pretty sure you can feel physical pain—You’re going to catch a cold.”

“What do you want?” I asked, finally getting out of the pool, I wasn’t in the mood to have my father mansplain, what it is to be a psychopath, when he has never been one before.

“I wasn’t home yesterday to give you my piece of advice.” He drew nearer, I could smell his cologne, mingled with sweat, and that was when I realized that he was still fully dressed, and holding his briefcase—was he just coming back from work? So late.

“You can’t mess this up again.” His voice was soft, almost pleading as he looked at me earnestly.

I sighed, dragging the small towel through my wet hair, squeezing out the dampness before tossing it back onto the lounger.

“You’ve said that a thousand times,” I muttered, reaching for the bathrobe draped over the chair. “I hear you.”

“No, Theron—I don’t need you to just hear me, I need you to understand.” He stepped closer, stopping just a few inches away. “This is the last chance the society will ever give you. The first mistake was because you were young, and the situation is understandable, if you do something like that again—there will be no place for you. You know how hard I tried to get you into another school, but no one was willing to take you, no matter how much I offered them.”

I stifled a laugh. “Is this because of Thorne?” I asked curiously. “If you’re trying to protect your son from me, then I am not the one you should be talking to.”

“Theron…”

“I meant it, Father.” The smile slipped off my face, leaving nothing behind. We stood there, locked in a silent standoff. “I will kill him.”

He sucked in a deep breath, his shoulders sagging.

“You should tell him to stay away from me,” I continued, my voice low and steady. “Because the next time I put him in a coma, it will be permanent.” I promised him, and father knew too well to take my threats as just empty.

“I have wasted two years of my life locked up in that hell hole, you have no idea what I went through in there, all because of your ‘normal’ son. Three years of therapy and anger control, when all I did was defend myself?” Talking about it, makes me even angrier.

“I know,” He sucked in a deep breath. “There was no evidence to support your claims, and my stalling felt like I was trying to cover up the truth. The backlash on the company which wasn’t only affecting the sale but the general image.”

“So, I was the perfect scapegoat.” I smirked. “A psychopath’s life has no value to you.”

“You know that’s not true.” Father’s thick brows fell over his eyes guiltily. “I care about you, Theron, you are my son. And I was only trying to help you.”

I nodded my head continuously, sure. Whatever.

“Right,” I slipped my hands in my pockets of the bathrobe, because he was right about the cold. “I can promise you, while I am in the school, I am not going to hurt anyone, so don’t bore me with your nonsense.”

How could I hurt anyone?

When something has already caught my eyes.

Something that seems like the stark opposite of me.

Eden.

Beautiful.

Perfectly beautiful. I began walking off, calling it a day.

“Come work in the company.” He offered, and my feet stopped in my tracks. “I will let you move out of the house, give you a car, and you work with me on the weekends, and whenever you’re not in school.”

The corner of my lips lifted into a smirk. “I will give you a driver, so he can drive you to work from school, and of course, you will be paid.”

“Is this your way of trying to control me?” I asked, and he couldn’t deny it, because we both know it is true.

He was giving me freedom, but only to protect his son, all while keeping tabs to make sure I didn’t get into trouble as well. “Deal.” I answered. “I get to discuss the terms and conditions of my employment, I will be given days off, and travel leaves—all fully paid by the way.”

“I will have the lawyer draft the agreement.” He answered. “And I will send the driver to pick you up tomorrow.”