Chapter 6 

 Talia's Pov

I was boiling. Not just mad, I was completely furious. Nothing else ran through my head than the fact that I heard him bet on me. 

A bet. A freaking bet?

First, Maxton Carter makes me believe he wants to talk, like we were actually getting somewhere, like there was more to him than smirks and stupid ego. Then I hear him on the phone bragging to his little band of hockey monkeys that he was going to bag me for a damn car and bragging rights? I must have been so stupid for him to think I was easy.

To think he walked into class with Bambi—his ex, a walking, giggling nightmare and holds her hand like he didn’t just nearly kiss me yesterday?

What was I even thinking? Why wouldn't he kiss me? We hate each other! 

“Or wait, am I just a joke to him?” I blurted out,  “He must think that I'm a joke to stare at him for a moment like he actually had a heart.” 

I kept mumbling words enough to drain my saliva and walked down the streets away from the ice cream shop. My fingers trembled as I dialed the driver. “Can you pick me up, please? I can't find a taxi anywhere around here,” I clicked send immediately and he showed up a few minutes after I dropped the address. 

Everything was awkward, the way he stared at me like he was expecting someone else. 

“Maxton isn't coming with me, we don't have to wait for him. He's busy painting the town red with his ex girlfriend.” I said. 

I couldn't even tell if they were back together or she was still his ex. I was so confused and just made the driver uncomfortable. “Please drive” I said and didn’t say a word until I got back to the mansion. My mind was still racing, flipping between rage,  the embarrassment Maxton made me go through, and a heartbreak I wasn't even sure I was supposed to be having. 

I alighted from the car and was about walking straight into the room I slept in to pack my things but I couldn't. The first person I ran into was Mr. Carter.

Why was he in the house? He should be in the office or something, even my mother wasn't around. Why was he in the house? 

As soon as he saw me, a smile spread across his lips and he walked towards me. 

“Hello, Mr Carter.” I greeted, bowing my head respectfully. 

“Talia, I see you're back. Your things have been moved, so you don't have to worry about going back to that house. Remember, you'll be staying here” he said with a warm smile.

I couldn't even protest. It was like I cared about nothing else than the fact that Maxton was behaving like something who wanted death. 

Mr Carter patter my shoulder, “Go drop your things, I want to take you somewhere. You have ten minutes to get ready.”

I blinked. “Sir, I…I need to rest.”

“I know that but the driver said he was going to pick you up and I figured it'd to well since you're going to move in and would need new things.” 

“Sir,” 

“It's father for you, and I won’t take no for an answer,” 

I sighed. I couldn't say no even if I wanted to. I was stuck with the Carter now because of my mother. Worst crime Mr Carter could have committed was loving my mother. Now he wants to spoil her daughter a little.”

I bit my lip. I couldn’t say no to that. But he must’ve noticed my mood.

“Did Maxton cause trouble at school?” he asked, raising a brow.

I hesitated and didn’t need to answer. 

He sighed, “Well, don’t worry about him. He won’t be sleeping in the house tonight anyway. You and I can have all the fun we want.”

“Fun?” I echoed, narrowing my eyes. “Aren’t we going to the company?”

He laughed. “Just get in the car, darling.”

We stopped at the most luxurious mall I’d ever seen in my life. Everything sparkled. Every floor screamed money. And when Mr. Carter walked in, all the staffs bowed. Some nodded at me too, probably thinking I was some important heiress or model. It was paradise. And terrifying.

I usually shopped at middle range places, and that was only when I absolutely had to. My dad had left us something, but nothing like this.

And for a moment, just a moment, I forgot about Maxton. His stupid smirk. His warm hands. His fake compliments. His…

Ugh.

“Go all out,” Mr. Carter said, handing me a black platinum card. “New wardrobe for college and business meetings. I’ll be back in an hour. If I can’t, Maxton will pick you up.”

I froze. “Maxton?”

He grinned at my horror. “He’s not completely useless.”

He said and left. The whole room started to attend to me like it was an order to be carried out. 

I tried not to panic. I wouldn’t be needing Maxton. No way. I’d be long gone before then.

I picked carefully, sticking to basics, even though the display dresses were practically singing to me. Everything was laced with elegance, softness, and a kind of essence I didn’t think I could wear. But I tried them on. I wanted to wear them. I wanted to walk into school and make everyone including Bambi look furious 

My arms were full when I finally called the driver.

“I can't pick you up missz Mr Carter is in the car with me,” he said. “I’m driving him.”

My stomach dropped. “Is there any other driver?”

“No, Miss. But Maxton just left the gym. He’s on his way.”

I didn’t even say goodbye. I just hung up. There was no way I'd deal with Maxton now. I couldn't wait around for him to meet me there. 

I tried stepping out to take a taxi but someone shower up right in front of me.

“Hey, Angry Bird,” Maxton said with that crooked, cocky grin.