Permission to Love

Chapter Two

"I want you to be on your best behavior, do you understand? None of your funny business tonight, young lady. You were born into a family of high status and it's time you started acting like it."

Kathryn turns her attention away from the outside world passing by through the car window and looks at her mother with disinterest. "You mean I don't come off as rude and pretentious? How dare I." She gives her a slight eye roll before turning her attention back to the world outside her window.

Her mother lets out a puff of air and shakes her head in disapproval. "You see? This is exactly what I'm talking about; you don't take your role in society seriously. You are held to a higher standard, Kathryn and it's time you start holding the people around you to a higher standard as well." She looks over at her daughter with intense eyes. "I think you know who I am speaking of."

She keeps her eyes focused out the window and clenches her teeth together, trying her best to keep her mouth closed. She had talked back before and she knew how it would end. Suddenly she feels a rough hand across her face, squeezing her jaw line and turning her face back ahead. "Hey! You listen when your mother is talking, do you understand?" She stares back at her father with frightened eyes as she nods slowly. Relief comes when he eventually releases her mouth and she begins to feel a pain rising where his hand once was.

The limousine couldn't come to a stop soon enough for Kathryn. She was the first one to exit and make her way up the steps to the mansion. She never understood why one family needed such a large house. Her family's house was about the same size, maybe bigger and it was sad to her; how some people had so much and others had so little. If she could, she would give everything she had to James; her money and so much more. He needed it far more than she ever did.

"Hello, Ms. Lexington. How are you this evening?" Katherine looks up at the doorman with a small smile and nods once.

"Just fine, thank you." She gives a polite smile as he opens the door before walking inside. She is immediately engulfed by the sound of a piano playing along with a hushed silence. She walks further into the house as someone takes her coat from her along the way. She steps into the living room and sees a curly haired boy playing the most beautiful song she has ever heard, and Kathryn has never been one for soft instrumental music, but there was something about his playing. It was different. It was alive. She smiles and watches as the boy picks up the tempo and begins playing at a fast pace. She stares in fascination as her parents come up behind her. Her mother leans down and whispers in her ear. "His name is Alexander."

Kathryn's eyes widen immediately at the sound of his name and she turns back to her mother. "He's the Weston's son?"

Mrs. Lexington nods with a small smile. "He just returned from boarding school."

Kathryn turns to watch Alexander with curious eyes as he plays the piano. She had heard about the famous Alexander Weston for years now. Their parents were good friends and any time one of them had a party or celebration, they would invite the other family but through all these years she had never met him. She knew almost everything about him, but she had never seen him until now. Her thoughts are eventually torn away from Alexander when she feels the presence of someone standing beside her she turns and sees a man with a mask covering his eyes, just like everyone else. He looked very familiar but he was wearing a nice suit and a dark black mask and Kathryn never would have guessed that the boy behind the mask was the love of her life.

Before she can say anything, the music stops and she is dragged away by her parents. She follows reluctantly beside her mother and stands in front of the boy with curly brown hair. Her mother smiles at the young man and gives him a small kiss on the cheek. "Alexander, it is so good to see you. Eddie and I have heard nothing but good things about your schooling from your parents."