CHAPTER 4 A Pretender

The living room was quiet since Tamsin went upstairs. Dacio stepped back in after his "important business call." Teal sat stiffly on the couch with a wine glass, staring at nothing.

Dacio paused at the doorway watching her. Then he sat on the opposite couch, keeping a careful distance.

Dacio: "Teal....can i ask you something?"

Teal looked up with tired eyes. "Yeah. Anything wrong?"

He leaned forward, voice careful. "Can you tell me....what happened to Alaric?"

The name hit like a slap. Her grip on the glass tightened.

Teal: "What about him? Why do you want to know?"

Dacio: "Teal please. I'm not trying to hurt you. I want you to let me in so we can deal with this grief together."

Silence. She looked down at her wine. Debating. Finally her voice went lower with a distant almost invisible smile on her face.

Teal: "Everyone in NYC knew Alaric. A good father to Tamsin. A good husband to me." she sniffled. "He always came home early for dinner. Me, him, and Tammy. Every night. That was our thing."

She took a shaky breath.

"But that night...he didn't come home. Not at 8. Not at 9. By 12 i was panicking. So I called the police."

Dacio didn't interrupt. His eyes sharpened .

"Because of who he was, they moved fast. The first place was his company. They got there by 2."

She paused. Swallowed.

"When they got to the company everything felt wrong. The office was locked from the inside so they broke in. And inside.....it was a mess. Papers everywhere. Documents scattered. The windows were broken. Coffee spilled on his desk. It looked like hours of struggle."

She sniffled again.

"And he was still in his chair. Head on his desk. Dead.

A tear slipped. She wiped it fast.

"He wasn't waking. Never again."

Dacio watched her. On the outside: sympathetic. Concerned. On the inside: something lit up behind his eyes. A small sharp thrill. Like her grief was entertaining. He schooled his face back to concern in a second.

Teal didn't see it. She stared at the floor.

Dacio: "Teal... I'm so sorry. You shouldn't have gone through that alone."

"I didn't. Not for long." She smiled at him. "You're here now. I won't be lonely anymore."

Dacio smiled. "I promise to never leave you alone, Teal."

The room went quiet. Then footsteps. Tamsin stormed in looking upset.

Tamsin: "Mom we need to talk. Seriously."

Teal forced a smile. "Sweetheart what's wrong?"

Tamsin paced. "What's wrong is Hugo. You sent me to call him for tea even when i declined. Fine, i went. I knocked. He opened the door and glared at me like I set the house on fire. 

Teal: "Okay baby calm down----"

Tamsin: "No. He called me a brat. Told me never to come to his room again. What a jerk. Mom, we can't get along. I hate him already."

Teal frowned. "Tamsin Zora Alaric Dawson! How many times have I told you to watch your language?"

Tamsin(sulking) "Sorry. Won't happen again."

Teal: "Now tell me what's going on?"

Tamsin glared at the floor. "So I told him that I'd never go to his room again either. We're even. And I'm telling you now. We'll never get along."

Teal: "Baby lower your voice."

Tamsin: "Why? So he doesn't hear? If he keeps on cursing at me, then there will be trouble."

Teal: "I know you're angry. And I'm sorry he spoke to you that way. But sweetheart.....you two have to try."

Tamsin scoffed. "Try? With him?"

Teal: "Yes. Because starting next fall you'll be attending IE University alongside Hugo."

Tamsin froze.

"WHAT THE HECK!!"

Teal: "TAMSIN! Language—"

Before she could complete the sentence, footsteps descended the stairs. Slow and deliberate.

Tamsin turned. Hugo was there. Arms in pocket. Face blank. Cold.

"What's going on here?" 

It wasn't a question. 

Dacio stood with a smile, walking to him. "Hugo. Son. Glad of you to join us." He clapped a hand on Hugo's shoulder.

"There's been some new developments. Starting next fall, your sister will be joining you in IE. So you too should try getting along."

The room went silent.

Hugo: "What the— No. I'm not doing that. I can't be seen with this spoilt brat."

Tamsin: "Mom did you hear that? I can't stand him. He's really rude."

Hugo's eyes locked on her. "And you are a  spoiled and loud bitch."

They glared. Neither blinked. Dacio opened his mouth but said nothing. Teal just stared. 

                                  ★

The Madrid air had a crisp bite to it now.

Fall.

The kind of morning when the sun is up but it still feels cold. 

It reminded Tamsin that she wasn't in New York anymore. No more central park dates. No more Alaric's forehead kisses.

Upstairs, two doors opened at the same time.

Tamsin.

Hugo.

They met on the staircase. For half a second, neither moved. The mansion held it's breath. 

Hugo looked down with that same familiar glare. Jaws tight. Eyes dark.

Tamsin didn't flinch. Chin up. Eyes sharp. Then she moved first.

"Rude jerk," she muttered, brushing past him. Their shoulders almost touched. She hated that she noticed the heat.

He didn't answer right away. Then his voice was low.

"Malcriada."

The Spanish word slid down her spine but she didn't turn. If she did, then he won.

Her heels echoed down the stairs. Angry.

Hugo wasn't planning on looking. He really wasn't. But the sound made him glance down.

Silver hopped earrings. Shades. Light makeup. A thin silver necklace with a tiny pendant. A gift from her dad. It caught the light.

Something twisted in his chest. 

White long sleeves under a sleeveless cardigan, with a short leather skirt. She looked put together and gave of "don't mess with me" vibes. 

He looked away. Face void of emotion.

A minute later, he followed down the stairs. Calm aura. Like he hadn't noticed anything.

But he could still smell her perfume. Light. Intoxicating.

                                ★

The dining room smelled like coffee, warm bread and eggs. 

The table was full. Eggs, toast, cereal, berries, fruits. Tea steaming. 

Everything looked too perfect.

Tamsin walked in first. The second she saw Teal, she softened and placed a kiss on her cheek.

Teal smiled and pulled out a chair for her. 

Tamsin sat and ate. Pretending her heart wasn't still racing from her encounter with Hugo.

Teal glanced at the door. "Where's Hugo?"

Tamsin shrugged. "I don't care. That's not my problem."

Teal frowned. "Tamsin!" But she was already wiping her hands, going to call him.

Outside the air bit at her skin. Hugo was already heading to the garage. Keys in hand.

"Hugo darling," Teal called, grabbing his arm. "Come eat before you go."

He jerked away, glaring daggers at her. "Don't. Ever. Touch. Me. Again."

His voice was low and furious. "I hate pretenders like you. Let this be the last time you ever touch me. You might be Bruno's fiancee but that doesn't give you the right to touch me. Stop pretending you're not after his money. It's disgusting."

He got in his car. The Bugatti roared to life. 

Tamsin sat frozen inside. She'd heard everything.