Oakley [ON HOLD]

27

"So love, how has the academy been so far?" my mom says as she unfolds her napkin and places it on her lap.

"Ok, I guess... its getting better though" I murmur as I try to hide my warm smile as I start to think about Oakley.

Her beautiful smile that slightly tips up more on the right side, those swoon worthy hazel eyes that look like honey melting into moss, the freckles scattered across her cheeks, and oh my god her lips... those pretty pink plump lips that contrast against her warm, smooth skin.

My mother must notice my far away admirable look as she slightly tilts her head and grins at me.

"Who is she?" she teases.

"She?" My father pipes up from the other end of the table.

My jaw instantly tightens as he speaks up. My moms gaze casts down to her plate as she clears her throat.

"You know you cant afford any distractions as we begin getting you ready to take over the business, Abel" he grumbles as he sets his cutlery aside, solely focusing on me now that the business has been brought into the discussion.

His eyes cut into mine, dark brown looking hard and cold as he folds his hands together.

"Of course, wouldn't want to put the precious company at risk" I say under my breathe as his eyes slim and focus on me in warning.

"Excuse you, I'm gifting you this company. Be grateful" he spits.

"Oh? like you are? what else are you grateful of huh? fancy company, money, status....assistants" I mock, digging to get a reaction as I spit out the insinuation.

Its almost as if everything freezes the moment the word leaves my lips, his face stone still except for a small tick in the corner of his eye.

"Can we just not have a quiet dinner tonight, its the holidays" my mother sounds.

But my eyes don't leave his. I sit back in my seat, almost smugly, as I voice my knowledge of his hidden affair, for the first time. Proud, in some sick way, that I've got the upper hand on him for once.

And because I'm such a nice person when it comes to him, I take it slightly further. Turning myself toward my mother, I watch as she observes my father and the thick tension coating the air.

"Mom, did you k-"

"ENOUGH!" he belts, standing up abruptly as his chair slides back and his hands slam against the table.

My mother jumps at the loud noise as I just tauntingly roll my head back toward him, and let out a sigh before a sly grin stretches my lips as his eyes hold absolute fire.

His eyes seem wild and anxious, an almost never encountered emotion he emits. Veins seeming to be pronounced as he looks red with anger, muscles twitching

"You should go upstairs Abel" she murmurs as she casts a glance at me, wanting to end this argument as quickly as possible.

I give a slight nod, before pushing my chair back, standing and walking toward her.

"Night, ma" I murmur before laying a quick kiss on her cheek as she sends me a small smile.

I begin walking out of the dining room but turn back slightly once more before I turn the corner, shooting him a sly grin as I see his fists clench against the wood table before I disappear past the doors.

I quickly head up the stairs, and push open my rooms door. Finding my bed as I collapse against the comforter. Groaning, I roll onto my back and bend my arm behind my head as I lean against it.

Of course, I wasn't actually going to tell my mother about his assistant. But in that moment, it just felt like my insides were hot and boiling. Especially since right when he got home, he didn't even greet my mom and just demanded that dinner be served. Like she was nothing more than a passing by, an insignificant aspect of his homelife.

And then when he finally did acknowledge anything, it had been about Oakley. And its not that I wanted to hide the fact that she had become everything that meant anything to me in such a small amount of time. I couldn't just sit there and let him inevitably berate her and say that she'd want nothing more than a piece of my inheritance, because I knew that that's what he'd eventually do, and I wont let him attack her character.

So I shut him up the only way I knew how, by attacking him with his own secrets. And in some sick, twisted way, maybe I did want to hurt my mom, to finally make her snap into the fact of his doings, because how could she just ignore this. How could she be so ignorant and foolish to believe he wasn't fucking his assistant.

And If she did know, how could she stay with him.

My thigh buzzes, snapping me from thoughts as I dig into my pocket, pulling my phone.

My Oaks

My breath catches in my throat as her contact picture pops up, the one I snapped the morning before coming here as she sat in front of me. Her curls messy and flipped, and a lazy smile spread across her lips looking like a literal angel.

My chest warms as I slide the answer button, pressing the phone against my ear.

"Oaks" I breathe out relieved and so thankful I'll get to hear her voice.

But instead of her soft voice, a worried, older woman's voice speaks through the speaker.

"Hello? Is this Abel?"

"Uhm... yah. Who is this? Where's Oakley?" I rush out, a little confused at first.

"Oh hi dear, I'm Esme. A worker for the Arison's." she breathes out in relief.

"Is Oakey ok? where is she?" my body tenses as I sit up from laying down at the fact that something might have happened, that she could not be okay.

"Well... Mrs. and Mr. Arison and Oakley had attended a charity gala tonight, and were gone for some time. But when they returned Oakley looked tight and clammy, like she was in pain. I tried to ask what was wrong but she said she was fine, but then I saw her shoulder. It was swollen and inflamed, and she finally let me help and give her the medicine the doctors gave her and ice but she said she wanted to talk to you so I retrieved her phone and found your contact." she rushed out.

"Ok, Can I talk to her please" I murmured swallowing the lump forming in my throat at the thought that she's hurt. My pulse raced and my palms felt clammy as I heard her mumble an 'of course' before I heard some steps and rustling.

"Oakley?" I voiced once it seemed like the line went silent except for some small sniffles.

"Abel" a small sob broke through the phone as my chest crumbled at her voice.

"Oaks... talk to me, what's wrong?" I begged as my hand dove into my hair worriedly.

"I cant move my fingers" she finally gets out as sobs leave her.