CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

ELLIS POV

I stare at the name displayed on my phone and my heartbeat races.

I set my coffee down the second cup today and let it go to voicemail. took three seconds of silence before it starts ringing again and I finally press the answer button

"Ellis." Her voice cuts through the speaker coldly. Exactly as I remember.

"Mother."I answered

"I saw the news,your father needs you to come home tonight.”

Of course she did. Not how are you,not are you alright. Just straight to the point.

"I can't,I have a lot to do…”

" Do not make me stress myself,Ellis"she cuts in sharply and the line goes dead.

I sit there,the phone still pressed to my ear in the silence.

Home, she wants me home.The place I have not stepped foot in for two years. The place I swore I would never go back to.

I should refuse and ignore her completely.But if I don't show up, she will do what she does best.

And right now, with the scandal plastered across every news site,getting involved with her is the last I want.

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The drive to Westfield takes about forty minutes.

I know these streets the way you know a place you have spent a long time resenting. The trees line up perfectly maintained and trimmed which means someone is paid to make it look effortless.

The mansions are the same, built so far away from the road with big gates.Houses in this area simply lets you know the difference between a guest and someone who wandered in.

The Valmont estate comes into view, the big Iron gates are the same as it was and the house stands there patiently like it knew I would eventually come back.

Two years of putting distance between myself and everything that name represents but here I am again.

The gates are already open.I pull through slowly,the gravel crunching under the tyres.Of course she knew I would come.

I park in the drive and cut the engine.I sit with my hands on the steering wheel and stare at the front door.

The front door is about thirty feet away if I remember correctly and that might as well be thirty miles.

I checked my phone,7:01 PM.

No new threats from the contact. Just the time blinking back at me on the bright screen.

I get out of the car and walk towards the main entrance.

The door opens before I could ring the bell

Henderson, our butler, stood straight, his blank face perfectly on except there just at the corners of his mouth hid a faint smile and somehow that felt like the warmest thing about this house.

"Mr Valmont," he nodded, closing the door behind me."Your parents are in the study.”

I walk past him towards the stair and look at the portraits that hang on the wall upward.My great grandfather, grandfather and my father as a young man.None of the wall has mine hanging on it.

My footsteps echo as I pass through the silent hallway, the marble floors are so polished that I could see my reflection and chandeliers remain as it was.

I stop in the doorway of the opened study door.

I see the mahogany desk first wide enough to make one feel like it's a court session.There is a pen holder on the left side and a reading lamp.

I entered the room and saw my father sitting behind it.I was ten the first time I stood on the other side of it and learned what disappointment sounded like in a calm voice.

My mother stands by the window with a champagne glass in hand,her back turned to me.

My father glanced up at me,his reading glasses slightly tipped on his nose.

"You're late."

I check my watch,"It's only four minutes past seven,father"

My mother turns towards me, "Sit, Ellis."

"I would rather stand."I replied back

My father removes his glasses,folds them carefully and sets them on the desk.

“Sit down” he commanded

My fingers curl around my jacket hem as I drag the chair out slowly and sit.

My mother sets down her wine."Care to explain this?” She slapped down a bunch of newspapers in front of me.

"Someone leaked confidential materials from a business collaboration, it's quite common for that to happen" I said looking at her

"With Alex Hawthorne”My father interrupts flatly.

"Yes."

My mother takes a sip of her champagne. "The same Alex Hawthorne you were involved with years ago."

My head snapped up in shock

"We have connections, Ellis or did you think we live underground?"she rolled her eyes

My father leans forward placing his elbows on the desk "Is this a sort of revenge? Did you sabotage his company because of your... personal feelings?"

I look down on the desk swallowing past the lump in my throat.‘Personal feelings’,the words almost made me laugh.

"No, besides no evidence points at us either."I said hoarsely.

My mother laughs coldly. "You dare say you don't know?You have built this fashion hobby thing of yours and you can't even protect it from this little scandal."

"Velles is not a hobby." I frowned at her

"Is it not now?" She sets down her glass. "A distraction from your real responsibilities."

“What responsibilities?” My grip tightens around the edge of the desk."You cut me off two years ago,or did we forget that part?”

"We gave you a choice," my father answered,"but then you made your decision."

"The choice to be honest about who I am?!" I snapped

"The choice to embarrass this family." My mother's voice rises, "To throw away everything we built,everything we gave you."

"You did not give me anything. I built Velles myself with no help from either of you."

"And look where that has gotten you." My father gestures at me.

“You got careless mixing business with... whatever it is you do."My mother crosses her arms.

I look at the disgust on her face, take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Why did you call me here?"I asked

"We are hosting a charity gala this weekend," she says "Saturday night,you should attend for publicity."

No. What’s the point? It’s not like we are a family, mother.

"We will be together for one evening." She picks up her glass again. "Unless you would prefer I make a statement to the press distancing the family from your current difficulties."

"You would throw me under the bus,again."I laughed

"I will protect this family's reputation as I always have."she replied

"And showing up at your gala will?"

My mother moves closer "It's a start,people are asking questions, Ellis. About you and us,about why the Valmont name might be mentioned in the same breath as a courtroom.”

"So this is about you and your reputation." I look between them and neither of them denies it.

"And if I don't come?"I stand ready to find my way out

"Then you don't come," she says after a moment "And we will know exactly where you and your little company stand with the family”

"Ellis" My father's voice stops me. "This does not have to be difficult. Come to the gala. Play your part. Then you can go back to your life."

"You have until Friday to confirm your invitation, don't disappoint us again" My mother's voice follows me down the hallway.

I get into the car,pull the door shut and just sit there numbly.My hands won’t stop shaking and I press them between my knees and stare at the dashboard breathing heavily.

I start the engine and slowly drive through the gate.when I hit the main road I press the accelerator down and keep my eyes ahead without looking back,not even once.