Becoming a Scott

Chapter 14

"Nothing special," Christina pushed out. She had known the moment Ander had insisted to join her back out in the party that it would come to this. "He's a polite man and I was feeling a bit winded, so he wanted to help me."

"Winded," her grandmother frowned. "You're young, what did you do that made you so tired?"

Christina caught the implication in her grandmother's words and she tensed. "I'm still experiencing difficulties with jet lag so, by eleven I was feeling particularly sleepy."

"Still, it would do you well to take advantage of his politeness."

"Yes, it would, wouldn't it?" Christina answered before shutting her mouth and thinking of a better response that didn't involve insulting Ander. "But, I don't think I should considering Riley's inclinations."

"Riley?" Her grandmother's face soured. "Why would Riley be of concern to you?"

Christina sat up in her seat, unsure as to how to respond to the question and not sure of what her grandmother was suggesting. "She's my cousin and it's obvious she likes Ander." Sitting back, her grandmother crossed her arms over her chest and gave out a sigh. "It would be rude if I pushed for anything with Ander Vivaldi," Christina added after the silence had grown too thin to bear.

"You are your father's daughter alright." Her grandmother finally spoke. "Hesitant to act on self interest and damning yourself in the process."

"But he married my mom and left the family because he wanted to." Christina defended even as her head was screaming at her not to defend her father in front of her grandmother. If one thing had been obvious during her short time here it was the contempt her grandmother held for him.

She shook her head, "It would've been in his best self interest to stay and inherent the estate, he caved to impulse and look at him now. Sending his eldest daughter here to try to regain some semblance of wealth that he had so idiotically tossed aside." Christina opened her mouth but her grandmother continued, "There's no need to deny just how troubled your family is and I don't hold it again you, Christina. But don't pretend that you're not after a piece of the money."

"I haven't been pretending grandmother, I am trying to do what you want me to do."

"Then Riley's childhood crushes are of no concern to you." She scolded, suddenly gaining an air of anger she hadn't before. "The barrier of entry has shifted, Christina. Now I want you engaged before school starts. Maybe that will light a fire under your ass."

Christina's eyes widened and she had to remind herself to breath. "That barely gives me a week, grandmother. It's impossible." And it was then that it struck her that perhaps her grandmother was playing some sick game, she had never actually intended for Christina to stay past her graduation.

"Think of it this way, if you are able to show me resolve and bring me the results I want, you will be the first to inherent the estate once I pass."

"What about Uncle Richard and Uncle Joel, or Michael and Riley?"

"They've been with me for decades and not one of them has been able to show me an inch of the drive that you will demonstrate if you succeed. I'm looking to pass down the legacy of the Scott's to someone I can trust to get the job done."

"They won't like this." Christina let out a breath, suddenly feeling the weight that had lifted off her shoulders just this morning come down with double the force.

Her grandmother scoffed. "Why do you care? This is between you and me Christina. Truth be said, I don't expect you to succeed, you're too much like you're father, but I'll be happy to see you try."

"Before the start of the semester?" Christina asked again. "Engaged to someone you approve of?"

"I need to see a ring and he needs to promise me himself he intends to see the engagement through."

"Fine, I see your point." Christina spat out, unable to control the rage building in her chest. "Once I've got the man you sign the estate over to me in your will, no tricks, no loopholes?" Her grandmother nodded, a small smile on her lips. Christina recoiled at her grandmother joy and stood up from her seat, "I'll leave you be then, it seems I better start pimping myself out."

Her grandmother let out a quiet but haunting laugh as Christina shut the door behind her. This woman is a tyrant, Christina thought to herself. Getting a husband had already seemed like an insurmountable problem, but now it was inevitable that Christina would end up back on the islands penniless with nothing but a fancy degree to her name.

She couldn't solve the problem by herself, she needed help from someone who understood the dynamics of the society and wouldn't be disgusted by fact that Christina needed to seduce a man for money.

"Did your mom throw out the badminton set?" Someone asked, their voice echoing through the hall. It was followed by a clatter of sounds, as if a whole group of people had just arrived.

"Not likely, I hid it away before we left to go abroad." Michael's voice answered.

"Oh, please, as if your mother can't outwit you." Christina banged the back of her head against the wall as she realized who's voice that was. "She hates it when we play badminton and I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if she burned the set in a big bond fire the night we left."

"Maybe we should wait until the rest of your family is awake before we do anything." The first voice spoke again.

"It's okay!" Riley spoke from the staircase. "Most of us are awake already!"

Christina wanted at least five minutes of solitude so that she could cry over how horrible her life was but there was no time to cry. Just like she told her grandmother, it was time to pimp herself out. And she was gonna start by trying to get Ander to help. Much to her annoyance, she knew that he was the best person to help her find a husband.

Isabela emerged into the hall and her eyes trailed over Christina's before a look of annoyance came over her face. "Brace yourself, the boys are going to play badminton."

"So, Aunt Matilda didn't get rid of the set?" Christina asked, trying to distract herself from her persistent thoughts.

Isabela shook her head, "She told me to get rid of them months ago, but I forgot."

"Is it really that bad?"

She turned to Christina and wrinkled her nose, "It is really that bad."