Outwitting Destiny

Chapter 2

As I stare out the window of the jet, I think about the first-time mother lost her temper and slapped me because I was fighting her on something. I cannot even remember what it was about, all I know is that she hit me. After that my relationship with her soured and I started becoming disobedient. I still feel the still of the slap. I cried for two whole days and refused to eat for a week. I was seven years old and did not know any better. She never looked at me the same way ever again. She withdrew herself and stayed in her study. I get that noble families do not raise their kids anyway but she was the only family I knew. I did not have any friends because they were all made fun of my hair color. In France, light colored hair was the most common. The fact that I look nothing like my mother, really put me in a pool of losers. Mother's options were either marry me off to some family or send me elsewhere. So, here I am on my way to go spend time with my deadbeat father. I wonder if he will welcome me with open arms. His business was very successful but just up until recently. My brother was always the weaker one out of the two of us. The pilot told us that we will be arriving in the United States shortly. I will not miss Paris; it was never home. The jet slowly started to land and the door opened. I see a black, long car parked. I step on the landing dock and see the door open. As I walk down the stairs, my father steps out of the car and walks towards me.

"Ah, my girl Raylee." He pulls me into a hug. I was shocked and did not return the hug.

"Hello, father." I replied. He seemed so happy that I was here.

"My sweet girl, I missed you so much. Look how much you have grown. You are so beautiful. You look like your mother." I have her face and eye color but the dark hair comes from him.

"Thank you." I smiled.

"Let me help with your luggage. You must be very exhausted. You can rest when we get to my estate. I have a room prepared for you." He said helping Lexi.

"Um, why did you bring a maid with you?" he said.

"Because she is the only one who can help me dress and do other things. I am supposed to be my brother. I have all the paperwork to fix your financial problem but you will need support from another company." I said, getting in the car.

"Ah, right. Well, I guess it will not be avoidable after all. Right now, my biggest opponent is Solstice Technologies and I heard the CEO is a ruthless man. He is also the eldest son of Andrew Rodriquez; he is one of the wealthiest men in the United States. He just does not own an app developing company but also hotels and casinos." He said. Well, looks like I am going to have to dress up and dig up info on this guy.

"What is this guy's name?" I asked

"His name is Asher Rodriquez." He said. We arrived at his place and it is a mansion. I get out of the car. I walk inside and see a big open space. There are two sets of staircases, in between them are two big red doors. On the main floor, there are two doors on either side. I wonder what they lead to.

"Um, what should I call you when we are around people?" he asked

"Call me Ray. Does your staff know I am a 'boy'? He nodded. He wanted to keep my identity a secret, the butler showed me to my room. Up the right staircase and ten doors down on the right. I memorized it.

"Dinner will be served at five pm. To get there, go back down the hall we came, down the stairs, round the corner and go through those big doors." He said and closed the door. Okay? Well, I will get used to it. I explore my room. I walk to the right and swing the doors open to reveal a walk-in closet full of men's clothing. I close the door and go to the other side and see there is bathroom attached. Awesome. It's marble. A separate shower and bath. A huge gray sink. It is beautiful. Lexi comes in and places my luggage on the bed. I walk over and open of the suitcases and pull out a wig. The color matches my hair and is the same length as my hair was. I also brought some dresses that would be considered inappropriate in Paris but not here. I stash them in my closet along with the wig, being my true self with prove useful. Lexi told it was time to go to dinner. I walk down the hallway and down the staircase. I walk through the door and I see a big dining room, with a big dining table. My father is sitting at the head of it. I walk and sit on his right. I assume my brother sat on the left.

"Father, only Lexi and she alone will be my only servant. My only attendant. Do I make myself clear?" When he met my eyes, I know he can see my fire in my eyes. I was not like my brother; I stand up for myself. I do not back down from a fight. Was probably why my mother sent me, she wanted to get rid of me.

"Yes, my dear. I understand. I will tell my servants. No one is entering your room besides Lexi. I see that you like your mother. She has quite the temper. You have that same fire in your eyes. Ray, what is the real reason your mother sent you here?" he places his hand on top of mine. Even he suspects something is up. He is comforting me?

"Father, I... uh, mother... well I think it was because none of the noble families were sending marriage proposals or maybe she doesn't want me anymore." I said. The servants brought out dinner. He is still looking at me. I stare at my food. I just play with it. I am not hungry.

"Ray...what has your mother done to you?" His eyes full of sadness. I can not bare to look in him in the eye.

"Um, may I be excused?" I asked, trying to escape this horrible dinner.

"Uh, yeah okay but you hardly ate your dinner." His voice had concern in it.

"It is okay. I was not hungry tonight. I just want to rest. Goodnight father." I bowed my head and left the dining room. I could feel his stare on my back as I walked out. I headed back to my room. Lexi's room is connected to mine so she is always near me. I walk in the closet and grab out jammies that I had Lexi go buy for me. I walk to my bathroom and turn on the bath water. I add rose bath salts and lavender bubble stuff in the water. I strip out of these clothes. I take off the wraps off, maybe I have them too tight but they left bruises on my skin. This is my life now. I can only be myself when I am in the comfort of these four walls. I climb into the bath and let myself relax. I soak for awhile then get out. I hear a knock on the bathroom door.

"It's me, Lexi, may I enter?" she asks

"Yes," I said. I cannot let her see the bruises. I scrabble for a towel but she is too quick. She opens the door and she says me dripping wet and naked.

"Raylee..." She walks over the closet and grabs a towel. She wraps my wet, cold body in it.

"I didn't want you to see the bruises the bindings are causing." I could not look her in the eyes. I heard her sigh.

"Raylee, you are the lady I am to serve. We are to share the burden together. Maybe we can try to loosen the bindings next time. We should probably wait until the bruises heal first. So, for the first few days let us just hang around the house." She started drying me off and dressed me.

"I can dress myself. I am not a child anymore." I said, taking the brush from her hand.

"So? It is my job. That is why I am here." She took the brush back.

"No, your job is to be my assistant, not my maid. Did you forget I used to do everything myself for years?" I said, took back the brush. I moved my foot under hers and caused her to lose her footing. I shoved her down in the chair. That got her to give up.

"Dude, you cannot beat me. I am stronger than you. I want you to be my friend. Please?" I asked. I held out my hand. She sighed and took it.

"Fine." She said. She tries to shift her weight and get the drop on me but her plan back fired; I threw her to the ground. I smirked.

"Truce!" she yells. We both burst out laughing.

"Let's go to bed now." I hold my hand out and she takes it. I help her off the floor.

"Could I stay with you tonight?" she asked

"Sure, why not? Icould use a friend." We finally stop rough housing and head to bed. We crawlinto bed and talk all night. We eventually asleep holding hands and for once Iwas happy. With Lexi by my side, surviving here might not be so bad after all.