Ace Huxley's Daughter

16

"I saw Vanessa's neck." Aiden smirked up at me, holding out another tool as I worked to secure the last of the bolts for this piece. It was late, it had been a long ass day, I am pissed off, I don't want to fucking talk about Vanessa.

"Good for you." I flipped my hat around, pulling my hair out of my face.

"Who gave her that monstrosity then?" Oh, now Kace is sticking his fucking nose in? Brilliant. Just what I needed, more people asking more questions I didn't have answers too. I looked up for a second, glaring at Kace, noticing Blake, Hannah, and Callie in the corner.

I shouldn't have knocked on her door last night. I know I shouldn't have. I didn't have a right to do that. But watching Blake leave intact after not even 5 minutes alone in her room, I felt like something was off. They'd been in the back of his van when I pulled up. It was at least an hour before Nigel knocked and the glimpse I caught of them was evident something had happened between them. I hated it. The thought of him laying just a finger in her was enough to send my rage through the roof and I was doing my damn best to keep it under control because she was right. It was nothing. I told her it was nothing. It wasn't anything.

But she was stood there, pulling his checked shirt over her arms, laughing when he wrapped his arms around her and spun her around. Hannah knew him. Hannah knew of his antics and yet she didn't look phased. She rolled her eyes like it was normal for them to be this close. Another spout of rage gripped at my stomach and I had to grip the wrench in my hands and force myself to look away as he kissed her. I had 6 more weeks of this. 6 weeks of watching him in her arms and I had no fucking clue how the hell I get her out of them.

"Hi boys." Can we not?

"Oh, hi Vanessa." Oh my god.

"Bit warm for a turtle nick isn't it Nessa?" I'm going to kill them both.

"Zip tie." I held my hand out to Aiden, taking a small handful from his cocky hand out. I lifted my head at her for just a second before going back to my work.

"Not really. It's pretty thin." The boys nodded, a sound of understanding leaving their mouths. "Can I talk to you?" She reached up gently, perfectly painted fingernails gently gripping my arm as she stood on her tip toes.

"I'm busy right now Vanessa." There was a loud bang, causing everyone to look around, hunting for its source. Blake burst into laughter, Callie just rolling her eyes as she sat down in the stool behind Joe's drums. I knew Blake played. Blake had demonstrated that multiple times when people told him he didn't know how to. But he did.

Now Callie looked at the sticks in her hand, turned to the handful of roadies around her and said something that made them all laugh and happily hand their money to Hannah. She did too, pulling a noted from her pocket and Hannah stood back. Obviously, the group didn't think Huxley's daughter would have any clue how to play the drums. What kind of idiots make that bet? Of cour-

She began hitting the drums and I swear to god, I almost collapsed from the rig. Everyone was staring at her and not for a second did she even waiver. I knew she could play guitar and I didn't doubt she'd be able to play the bass and the drums too. Growing up with this bad, I bet it was just second nature for her to learn them. When she was done, she stood up and bowed, the stage applauding for her. The grin on her face was one she had whenever she performed.

I'd come to understand that this life isn't something Olive Huxley wanted. She liked being on stage. She liked to perform. But she only ever did so for us. The people working for her dad. There was no personal gain. Just fun. If she wanted it, I had no doubt it would be easy for her.

"Please Em?" I brought my eyes back to Vanessa who fluttered her eyelashes. "I really want to talk."

"About what Vanessa? I've got loads to do. Can it not wait?"

"Not really." I sighed.

"Vane-"

"I want more."

"More what?" I turned to her, raised my eyebrow. She's gone mad. The boys wasted no time in disappearing.

"Us. I want more than what we have right now." I stared at her. "I couldn't sleep last night after you left my room and I was just thinking about how I wanted you there and how it wasn't enough for me anymore." Brilliant. I pulled myself further up the rig, tightening another set of bolts. 2 more guys would do this exact same thing tomorrow morning before it's lifted up and attached above the stage. 5 of us in total will have made sure these lights are not going anywhere.

"No."

"What do you mean no?"

"Exactly what I said Vanessa. You know-"

"I know the fucking rules we set Em. I don't agree with them anymore. I think they're bullshit."

"Will you be quiet? You're making a scene." I glared at her.

"A scene? You think this is a scene?"

"Vanessa." I warned. "Stop."

"7 months Emerson." She brought her voice low. "7 months we've been doing this and you were so close to just asking me out. I could see it. We were together every single night. Until yesterday I hadn't seen you in nearly a week. I'm sick of being made to look like an idiot. You either want me or you don't. You can't have me and everyone else as well."

"Vanessa, think about what you're asking here."

"I am thinking Emerson. I've been thinking for 5 fucking months. Exclusive or nothing." She crossed her arms. I think she overestimated how much she actually meant to me. We were colleagues who had sex. That's it. She was free to see other people and so was I. I have to accept that she's changed her mind but I had not. I respect that about her. Once Vanessa made her mind up on something, that was that.

"Nothing."

"Wai- what?"

"Nothing Vanessa. You gave me the ultimatum of just you or nothing. I don't want a relationship Ness. I like you; we have fun but I don't see it going far. I'm not going to waste your time." She blinked. "Anything else? Because I need to get back to work."

I watched her leave, handprint burning across my face, Callie not smiling as she watched me, arms crossed over her chest. She tilted her head a few inches and softened her shoulders. Great.