Play By The Rules

2| A Lavish Mansion

Adam Pierce 👆👆

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Mom just stood there smiling while I was astonished. There was more? More than the palace I had the privilege of standing in front of?

I could not understand the reason why rich people decided to use money lavishly. I mean this mansion had to have fifty rooms at least to be this big.

We walked up to this massive, fancy mansion, and it’s pretty over-the-top. The whole thing is made of smooth white stone and huge glass windows. It’s all sharp lines and a flat roof – super modern and super expensive-looking.

There's the automatic gate we drove through, and then a long driveway lined with perfectly trimmed hedges and fancy lights. The driveway leads to this circular area with a ridiculous fountain in the middle, where water's flowing from some abstract sculpture, standing there in all its glory. The whole setup screams "look at me, I have money to burn."

The front lawn is just as overdone. It's got perfectly manicured lawns, flowerbeds that look like they’re straight out of a catalog, and trees that are probably older than I am. Stone pathways snake through the gardens, leading to random benches and fancy little gazebos.

Like anyone actually uses them.

Ryan Lamar finally decided to grace us with his presence. When I say he had a grand entrance, I mean he had a grand entrance. Picture the scene where those Disney princesses walk down the stairs in their beautiful ball gowns and everyone is just staring at them. You have that picture in your head? Good, cause that's how Ryan fucking Lamar looked right now.

A tall, slender man followed behind him. He had a suit and was wearing a fucking name tag. I assumed he was the butler. Of course they have a butler, why wouldn't they?

And I really need to tone it down with the Disney references.

I watched, as if on cue, mom ran and threw her arms around him. He did the same and they locked in a tight embrace. Mom had such a wide smile that for a minute I almost believed it was genuine. I know my mother and I can assure you, it wasn't.

As if suddenly remembering that her goddamn son was still behind her, she turned to introduce me to my future stepfather.

Argh, stepfather.

"This is Adam," she said pointing to me as if there was another Adam beside me so she needed to explain who was whom. "He's my son. I told you about."

Yay, mom has been gossiping about me to stepdad.

Ryan Lamar extended a hand for me to shake before introducing himself. "Hey, I'm Ryan, Ryan Lamar."

I reciprocated the handshake while replying, "Nice to meet you Ryan. Mom's told me all about you." I lied she hadn't told me shit.

"Oh she has?" Ryan beamed as he turned to mom, who was smiling.

"Mmhh," I answered nodding. Mom better pay me for making her look good in front of her fiancé.

What I hadn't expected was how firm Ryan's handshake would be. He gripped my hand so tight, I could physically feel the blood drain away from it. When he had let go of my hand, I could see blood flowing back, color returning to my hands.

Was stepfather planning on crushing my hand the first day we met? Jesus Christ he was already scaring me.

"Shall we get in," he motioned towards the front door, " I could give you a detailed house tour." He said the last part to me since mom had already been to the house.