Michelle Ryker

Chapter Three: The Letter

As soon as the last bell of the day rang Tatiana smiled at me. "I have to go to practice but good luck with Aaron. He really is a good guy, you just caught him in a bad mood during lunch today. I'm sure he'll be sweet as can be this afternoon."

I smiled and waved her to the door. I knew more about Aaron than she probably ever would. "Don't about me."

I had to laugh when she gave me a worried look. "Go on, you shouldn't be late for practice."

She gave me a reluctant smile. "I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"

"Yes, now go!" I was already imagining Amanda and Marilda meeting Tatiana. I was sure they'd get along.

She slipped out of the room at the exact moment that Aaron slipped into it. "Ready to go?"

Slinging my bag over my shoulder I followed him out of the room. "Do you know how we're getting to the office this afternoon?"

"I think your dad said Matthews was picking us up. Why?"

I groaned. "That's what I was afraid of. He dropped me off in the limo and I got weird looks for it. I was hoping that wouldn't happen twice in one day."

Aaron laughed. "You're getting dropped off in the limo? That's kind of extreme even for you, Michelle."

I laughed and pushed his lightly. It wouldn't have been weird if I was heading back to Clarabelle. The thought almost made me miss the place. "Shush, you. I always ride in the limo when I'm not at school. Dad makes me."

"I bet he tells you it's for your protection."

I rolled my eyes. "He does. Do you know how weird it is? I don't know anyone else my age that has to drive around in a bulletproof limo with tinted windows so they aren't seen."

We reached the front of the school and Aaron laughed again. I was not laughing as Matthews got out of the limo and opened the back door for us. Didn't he realize that this wasn't the time or place for that kind of thing?

Once we were seated I dropped my head into my hands and groaned. "They're all going to be talking about this tomorrow, aren't they?"

Aaron patted my back as Matthews pulled away from the school. "There, there. I'm sure they'll be more interested in the fact that I got in here with you."

I raised my head enough that I could glare at him. "That really doesn't help."

He smiled evilly. "I wasn't trying to help. But hey, you're the one who doesn't want people at school to know we're related. Just say the word and nobody would think anything weird about me leaving school with you."

"That would be weird! They're all awed by how committed you are to the idea of working for my dad when you're old enough that you're almost like some super star at school. How would they react if they found out I'm the person who's going to inherit and run the company you're working your butt off for? I don't even have to work for it."

"Then work for it."

"It's not that easy and you know it. I never asked to be Leo Ryker's daughter and only child but you can choose to not work at the Ryker Company. You could work for your dad at his law firm and your parents would be just as happy. Hell, you could even work as a bathroom attendant for the rest of your life and your parents would support you. My future's been mapped out for me. I don't have a choice in what I do with the rest of my life. If I don't follow in my father's footsteps it would break his heart."

"You don't hate it that much, do you?" His voice was quiet when he asked. I knew it was wrong of me to take my frustrations out on Aaron but it had already been a long day and we weren't even at the office yet. Being the new kid wasn't something I was enjoying.