Hollywood Hearts

Sixteen

"That poor child!"

"First her mother, and now this!" I heard the whispers of my father's business partners, but I was remaining emotionless as the HU guys stood with me, since they wanted to support me in this "time of grieving".

"Perse?" I looked up at Charlie as the priest read some crap from the bible, the mahogany casket shining in the sun.

"Are you okay?" Dylan asked and I nodded, looking at the casket again and feeling joy. As I had planned, the secretary was charged with the murder of my father and was getting twenty five years. In all honesty, she was also a pedo so I was doing the world a favor here.

"He's really gone." I whispered like my heart was broken, but I noticed Jorel's hand twitch in my direction, except he didn't touch me. Instead, I reached over and grabbed his hand, gripping it as I watched the casket in hopes he never rose again.

"I'm right here, Perse." Jorel whispered as I finally started crying, but I was crying happy tears, not sad tears. I was finally free from that bastard forever, and no one could stop me anymore.

"He's gone!" I whispered and felt Jorel's hand on my back, trying to soothe me, except he didn't know I needed no soothing. After the funeral, we were at the reception part and everyone was in our house, but I was trying to act like I was still upset rather than happy.

"Would you hate me, mother?" I whispered as I stared up at the portrait of our family in the study that was taken when I was seven, just before her death.

"Persephone?" I turned to Jorel then forced a smile as he came into my dad's study, standing beside me.

"Everyone was wondering where you went." He said and I sighed as I looked at the portrait.

"Your mom?" I nodded and sipped at my whiskey.

"Hey, where'd you get that?" J laughed and I offered him the bottle without looking away from her face.

"You look beautiful, despite the occasion." He said as he poured himself a drink and I finally looked at him.

"You look good too." He wore a black button down shirt with a black jacket over it and some black jeans, not wearing a hat today, and he had on some black sneakers too.

"Thanks." He said below his breath and sipped his drink.

"Are we talking now?" He asked and looked at me, an eyebrow softly raising.

"We are, for now." I said and finished off my drink, setting it on the desk and glaring at the chair.

"I'm almost happy he's gone." Jorel said and I snorted.

"I'm quite happy he's gone." I said and left the office, going to the main room to socialize.

Jorel's POV
I went out to the guys then sighed as I saw them standing together, no one here conversing with them.

"Where'd she disappear to?" Danny asked and I huffed, looking at Perse as she talked to some old men.

"His office, she was staring at a picture of her family with her mom." I said and shook my head.

"Something doesn't feel right." I whispered and Johnny nodded.

"She said she was 'handling things' then her dad dies that night?" He breathed and I nodded.

"You guys think she did this and not his mistress?!" Funny softly cried and I nodded.

"I'm not telling a soul we think that!" Charlie said then I looked back at Perse as she cried, but I could see right through it. To the outside world, she was traumatized by her mother's death and now by seeing her dad die. To me, she was crying happy tears, faking sad tears, and she was hiding it well.

"She killed him." I breathed and looked at my best friends.

"She did it, but we're not telling anyone. Right?" I whispered and they nodded.

"Not a soul-"

"Gentlemen." We turned and I eyed the woman here.

"As much as we love your support of Miss Jones, I think it best you-"

"Enough!" Perse growled as she came over then she stood right beside me, glaring at the woman.

"These men are here for me, not that bastard of a father! If you don't like my guests, fuck off, old hag!" She growled and the woman looked appalled, but left us be and I looked at Perse.

"It was you, wasn't it?" I whispered and she forced a smile.

"I'm not surprised you figured it out so quickly. Come with me, all of you." She said and set her glass down, the six of us following her upstairs and to what I assume is her room. As she shut the door and locked it, she moved away from the door and sat on the foot of her bed.

"Yes, I am the one who put the fish flakes on my father's last meal. I'm the one who murdered that bastard, but that woman wasn't innocent at all."

"We don't blame you!" Funny said and she looked genuinely surprised by that.

"Hell, I'd have chosen a worse way, but good for you." Charlie said and Perse smiled.

"Glad you don't hate me-"

"Is this why you've been acting weird lately?" Danny asked and Perse sighed, nodding as she gripped her bed.

"My father- he found out about Jorel's and my fake relationship from Candy, during the trial. He forced me away, told me if I didn't back off, he'd-" She stopped and shook her head.

"He would kill all six of you while your families watched." She whispered and licked her black painted lips.

"I had to leave you be, back off, or risk your lives. That's what I was protecting you from." She said, though the end seemed directed at Johnny as she glared at him.

"Why didn't you just tell us?" I asked, but she scoffed.

"He would have killed you anyway if he found out you knew." She said and stood, looking at the guys.

"I need to speak with him, please." She said and they left her with me, which confused me.

"Perse-" I stopped as she leaned forward, capturing my lips in hers.