Escape Route

Eleven

The rest of my work day went by excruciatingly slowly. I needed time to think things through and it seemed that closing time was the only ideal time for it. Luckily my parents encouraged me to go home instead as they believed that I did enough for today (after being locked inside for quite some time). Driving home, my thoughts were loud in comparison to the radio. I even received a few hoots from cars behind me for stalling at a green light.

The radio was turned off by the time I parked in the driveway of my house. My first reaction was to get inside, but instead I found myself comfortable in the car, in silence. My breathing was the only sound I was focused on. Watching my house...the way Emerson must have seen it. Pleading to speak the truth that I was too stubborn to listen to. Maybe catching my eyes peep from behind the curtain, wishing if only I could step outside. Without really thinking about it, my fingers locked my phone and swiped and clicked it's way to a picture in my gallery. 

Emerson in his backwards snapback gazing at the artefacts in the museum. How deep and quiet that look was and just to think within the silence he was aching to scream. To let it all out... and I stopped him. I understand him even better now. I too wish to scream.

The sound of my phone interrupted my flashback, bringing me back to reality. My eyes quickly fell on a text notification from a number my phone didn't recognise. I read the contents.

Riley,

I would like to discuss some important matters, if that's alright with you. Do let me know when it would be convenient for you. I will send my address shortly.

-Mr Pierce.

I read the text almost three times. Each time my emotion would change. First shock, anger and then curiosity.

My eyes stared at the garage door and mused for a bit. The sound of the ignition went on before I could even comprehend my full answer or back down. All I knew was that despite what Mr Pierce has done, I needed to hear his side of the story too.

*

My car was allowed in through the automatic gate before parking it close to the house. His house clearly didn't fit in with the neighborhood. Three words were enough to describe it: Big, posh and expensive.

Emerson's grey house had palm streets at every corner and some bay windows inside. The garden was trimmed and watered to perfection. Looking at it now, it didn't even seem like it suited him. It was too much.

After entering the carved wooden door and ushered into a study by the friendly housekeeper. I simply looked around the room and read most titles of books from the shelves covering one whole side of the wall. Nothing really stood out. I made my way to the dark brown leather couch, in front of the shelves and sat down.

"Welcome, Riley." a familiar voice spoke from the left-hand side of me and slowly walked a bit further away.

My eyes fell on Mr Pierce in a white shirt under the navy sweater. His one hand was tucked in his trouser pocket. His greyish hair with a hint of brunette didn't quite match Emerson's, but I could see the resemblance in the way they both stood and the way they stared. I'm sure Emerson looked more like his mom.

"Mr Pierce." I answered dryly. There was no need to be friendly. What and how we felt about each other was evident to one another. "You said there's something important you'd like to discuss."

He snickered softly. "I must admit, you know how to pick them. You managed to get the one who would take you overseas and spend all his money on you. That's an achievement right there." Mr Pierce taunted.

He walked closer until he sat behind his desk playing with pen in his fingers. "A little bird told me that you were in flight school, is that so?" 

I didn't answer. Emerson's father raised his eyes from his pen to meet mine, raising an eyebrow. Realising I wouldn't answer, he continued.

"Well, we all know how much colleges costs these days." he shook his head slightly. "Imagine finally having it all paid off. What a relief would that be on your parents-"

"What does-"

"And it can become a reality," He continued with a glare "If only you remove yourself from my son's life." 

My eyebrows frowned as I was taken a back by his audacity to speak to me in such a manner. It sounded all too familiar. "Seriously? Mr Pierce-"

"I'm sure it wasn't easy getting into that school." he interjected, eyebrows raised and back straight. "Think about all the sacrifices you made and let's not forget about your parents."

The tension was evident in the room. I had to bite my tongue in order to not absolutely lose myself in anger.

"The choice is yours, Riley." he coaxed. "I encourage you to make the right one."

I turned my eyes to the other side of the room, an attempt to calm myself. "My parents might not have the most money, but they know how to work for it." I pointed out reaching his eyes again. "With blood, sweat and tears and that's the kind of principles they taught me. Your money deals are getting kind of tedious." I huffed.

I stood up and slowly walked to the front of Mr Pierce's desk, never leaving eye-contact. "My parents also taught me about self-respect. And I, Mr Pierce, will never. Be. Bought."
I turned on my heel making my way past his study's door before he stopped me.

"I must say, I was right." The noise from his chair gave me an impression that he stood up. "You've changed my son, fortunately for the better. I never thought I'd see the day he'd care for any else but himself."

I slowly turned to face Mr Pierce, trying to see if I heard him correctly.

"And you decided to leave such an amount of money well, proves his point." He spoke." You believe in hard work and you choosing him over it, proves your point."

"With all due respect, Mr Pierce, why would you threaten your own son with money too?" I asked facing him fully.

He sighed heavily. "All every father wants for his son is to make it in life. To make the right choices."

"But his happiness should be one of them." I countered. "The right choice isn't always the one that makes you rich materialistically."

"He is far from the perfect you want him to be, but he is special in his own clever, loving, free spirit and generous kind of way." I declared. "And special deserves that same love, if not more than perfect does.

I watched as the man change from stern to what seemed like embarrassment. "He doesn't have to be the splitting image of you, Mr Pierce."

"I know, I know." he agreed with a nod. "But I know now that I pushed him too hard and made him even more unhappy at some point, but you brought it back." he smiled meekly before gesturing to the couch. "Please sit, I think we still have more to discuss."

Author's Note:

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