Page 79 of Saved By A Dark Billionaire
"Dad and Mr. Darius became close business acquaintances, allowing John and Leo to come over often. Their home became my second house. I found myself going over as often as I could to get away from Dad. I didn't know at the time he was hurting my mom. She didn't show it, and neither did he. He kept it hidden behind closed doors, even from Lisa and I. Lisa would go with me to John and Leo's often as well. Even though she was the only girl there and two years older. Anything beats being home with Dad. Around the time I turned 12 Dad's fists found me any time I didn't meet his expectations." I couldn't look Rose in the eyes as I told my story, keeping them fixed on the sky outside my windshield.
"He hurt Lisa one night when she missed curfew by 1 minute. I yelled at him, knowing I'd get it twice as bad, but it would make him leave her alone. It was the only time I ever let him hit her. Any time she'd do something wrong in his eyes, I'd be sure to do something worse to keep his anger fixed on me. Sadly, I couldn't keep mom safe. I'd hear him rape her often, leaving her in tears and bruises, which I'd end up tending to. Dad began to train me to take over his business when I reached high school. He had me on a set path, and there was no getting off it. I didn't mind as much because John and Leo were on the same path, which meant we had a lot of classes together. They were the two who made life barrable." I remembered the stupid shit we'd get into when we were out together.God, I miss John.
"John and I got onto the soccer team at school, making me have games and practices kept me out of the house. I made sure Lisa would come with me to every practice and every game so she wasn't left alone at home. I enjoyed soccer, still do actually. I played all through highschool and into college. My freshman year of college, I decided I would not take over my father's business. He could go screw himself. Work until he dies. He was furious and beat the ever living shit out of me when I told him. He didn't say anything again, but only because he was scheming behind closed doors. I found a contract on his desk a month later. I felt like I was reading some kind of contract which sold Lisa off to some businessman's son. Dad was trying to marry Lisa off, and get himself someone else to take over the business." I shook my head in disgust about the contract, about all of it.
"He can't do that!" Rose interjected, causing me to look at her for the first time. She had tears in her eyes, crying for me and my past. I leaned over and wiped away at it. The swelling on her cheek had gone down, and she'd hidden the bruise beneath makeup.
"You'll find when you have billions of dollars, there's a lot you can do you shouldn't be able to. I promised him I'd take over the business if he left Lisa out of it. We made an agreement and he even made a contract for me to sign. Words of mouth are not good enough for this man. I'm stuck with his business whether I want it or not. I started dating Ivy around this time. She was like this large light in my life, keeping me from drowning in darkness. She took up every moment of my life in college, supporting me and lifting me up when I was down. She was studying business too, and she swore we would run my dad's business together so all that work wouldn’t fall on my shoulders." Tears stung the back of my eyes as I pictured her bright smile, the one that always wrinkled her eyes on the side. I loved her so much.
"She came to all my soccer games. She helped my mom get away from my dad. Her heart was so pure and her spirit was unbreakable. She stood up to my dad countless times, not worried for one second if he would hurt her. He never did. I guess his fists were only reserved for his family. When mom left him, he spiraled. He began to get easily angered. Thankfully, neither Lisa nor I lived with him anymore. Still, he'll call from time to time and make us do something for him. Usually attend some kind of business dinner or meeting. That's about as much interaction as we will have with him. Lisa is frightened by him to the point she follows every one of his commands. I can't shake her out of it either." This last business dinner dad tried to pawn her off on the businessman's son, almost allowing him to date her. I, in not so many words, reminded him of our deal. He liked to remind me of the control he held over Lisa often, as if to make the point that I am controlled by him, too."
"I was planning to propose to Ivy when she died in that car accident. The truck driver was tired and on a strict timeline. He had fallen asleep behind the wheel of his semi and killed John and Ivy upon impact. Mr. Darius was the only to survive the crash physically, but he was brain dead the moment he arrived at the hospital. The news hit Leo and I hard and we wallowed for months on the ground, quite literally. I am not sure how I managed to graduate. I stopped playing soccer, stopped seeing my friends, and pushed everyone away, even Leo. Lisa had brought us back together, and that's when all the shit with Francesca started. Then came the party, and after came the countless one-night stands. The business I started made its first million in its first year, too. It's been a blur of alcohol, work, and different women, until I met you." I turned to face her again, holding her gaze for this next part. The part where she saved me.
"You pulled me out of my stupor. Everything about you enticed me, not just your beauty. The more I got to know you, the more I wanted you. The more I wanted to better myself for you. Rose, you make me want to be a better man, and I haven't felt this way in a while. You've saved me from myself. So here we are sitting in my car with me pouring my life story out to you, because I fucking love you already, even though it has barely been a month since I met you. I've fallen hard and fast for you, and I hope you know I don't plan on letting you go ever again."
Rose stared at me with wide eyes, tears still streaming down her face. In seconds her arms wrapped around my neck and pulled me towards her. She held me close before she brought her lips to mine with such intensity you'd think we'd both burst into flames. I felt all her passionate and unbridled love for me at that moment.
"Be mine, Rose. By girlfriend and no one else's."
"Thought you'd never ask." She smiled, kissing me again. "I'll be yours for as long as you want me. Only yours." She nodded. I rested my forehead against her own, closing my eyes and focusing on this moment before us.
She's everything I need in this world.
Chapter 28
Olive's P.O.V.
Lucas' story was sadder than even mine. I knew he didn't like his father, and I knew he had abused his mother, but I had no idea he had abused Lucas, too. I couldn't believe the way his father is using Lisa to control him. I need to find a way to help them both. This isn't right, and he shouldn't be able to get away with this kind of shit.
Lucas and I couldn't keep our hands off each other after he asked me to be his girlfriend. He took me to his apartment, which was closer than my flat. We had a quick round of the most passionate sex before he brought me back here for my next class. My mind was riddled with him, his story, and the feel of him on me less than an hour ago now.
I heard the way he spoke about Ivy and it hurt my heart to know he had lost someone he was so madly in love with. I'm not so insecure that I would compare myself to a dead woman. I do, however, hope one day he will talk about me with as much love. The way he described her was incredible. I need to learn how to run a business so I can help him too. I won't let him hold that burden alone.
I also need to remember how to play soccer. I'll play with him if he wants. My high school had a soccer team and I was a part of it. I wasn't the star player, but I was decent. I need to remind him of his passions and help him get back to himself. He's saved me and I'll save him, too. We'll keep lifting each other up until we are back on our feet, and then we'll support one another, so we never fall again.
"Ms. Brewer." The professor addressed me as I handed him my exam. I was the first to finish and he looked at me with uncertainty. "Are you sure you don't want to double check your answers?"
"I already have, but thank you for asking."
It always annoyed me when the teachers thought I rushed through a test. I know my shit, so it doesn't take me a million years to get it done. I know my answers are right and he'll bite his words later, or accuse me of cheating. Either way I'm done for the day now.
I headed out, finding Lucas laughing with Leo on a bench near my building. The sight made me smile. I was happy to see them bonding. I had begun to worry their relationship had strained after they both tried to go out with me. Lucas spotted me first, his smile only widened as I approached.
"Hello my beautiful girlfriend." He greeted me, to my surprise. Leo arched a brow at him.
"Girlfriend?" He asked.
"Shit, I'm so sorry." Lucas turned to Leo. I guess in his head I hadn't spoken to Leo yet. "I didn't mean to blurt it out. I wasn't trying to rub it in or anything. I was excited." Lucas panicked as he explained. I could see he was worried about possibly hurting Leo. Leo laughed at Lucas, amused by the way he was flailing about.
"Don't worry about it. She and I have already spoken. I had told her not to tell you yet. I wanted you to worry about it for a little while longer so you'd keep bringing your A game for her. I wanted to make sure you'd ask her out, but I guess you didn't need the extra fire," Leo explained, causing Lucas to turn and look at me.
"I chose you the very afternoon after my surgery," I informed him, only causing him to smile more brightly.
"I'm happy for you, Lucas. I mean it. Liv and I were never meant to be. I can see that now," Leo added, patting Lucas on the shoulder. "I'm fine, and I'm not bitter either."
"Thanks." Lucas nodded at him, then pulled me down to sit between them. We were all talking, and joking around like close friends.
"Okay, so is this a thruple thing? Are you both sharing her?" Franny's voice cut the moment like a sharp knife.
