The Devil Child

Chapter Fifty-Eight

 Polly swallowed her tongue from lashing out as she sat across from Alex at a restaurant she'd never heard of.

He really looked like he'd stepped out of some rich family magazine, with his styled hair and his preppy outfit. So far, he'd been confident, snide, and a little rude. The way his eyes looked over her like he was assessing her physical attributes made her feel awkward.

"So, how do you know my mom?" Her words felt thick on her tongue, because she didn't actually want to be making small talk with him.

He laid down his napkin on his lap. "Our families share a mutual friend."

She wanted to snap back at him, and ask who, but she didn't. She needed to pretend, to act like she was enjoying this date. A date she'd rather be having with Kenzie. If only her parents had never come back into her life.

"How old are you?"

He made eye contact with her, and the smile on his lips made her feel idiotic for asking, for not knowing. "Polly, we're the same age. We were in the same class at school, back when you used to go."

She bristled at that, the way he made her sound stupid for not being able to go to school while in the torture camp. As if she were less than he was. And then she tried to remember him, and she couldn't.

She shruggled, trying to play it off. "I don't remember you."

His grin widened. "I do."

She played with her fingers, then looked up at him. He was her age, yet he looked so much more confident than she would ever feel. She tried to find Minny or Tom in his eyes, but she couldn't. As much as she missed her friends, she wouldn't find them in Alex. He was not a friend of hers.

"Why are you doing this? What did my mom offer you?"

Alex leaned back in his seat, regarding her like she was some sort of animal. "You really want to know?"

Anger rushed through her. He was playing with her, like he found it hilarious that she was in the dark about everything. He certainly knew about her situation, and found it funny, and that made her angrier than anything else.

"I really don't want to be here."

He shook his finger at her. "Now now, Polly. I'll have to tell your mom that, and she won't be pleased."

The waitress came at that moment, and Alex ordered for both of them, as if he knew her. She hated that, the control he had over the entire situation, and she wanted out. She wanted to stand up, throw her water on his smug little face, and storm out of the restaurant.

"Is she paying you?"

Alex leaned forward suddenly. "No, she told me that we're to be married, and if I marry you, she'll give me something I want."

Polly did stand up at that. "Married? I am not marrying you!" Her voice sounded shrill in the quiet restaurant, and people looked at her, startled by her outburst. She couldn't find it in herself to care.

"Is that anyway to talk to your future husband? She said that when we get married, you'll be safe. When your little friend Tanner doesn't win, you won't be sent to the camps because we'll be married. You'll live a lavish life with me. Now, sit down before I call up your mother."

She did sit down, feeling a tight hand around her throat. She needed to play this smart. She needed to win whatever game her mother was playing, and she had to do that by listening carefully.

It was tempting, to hear that she'd be safe with Alex, despite her feelings of distaste towards him. She pictured her life with him, safe and sound, in a nice house, surrounded by things she wanted. If he worked, she'd rarely see him, only at night. She could deal with that.