Sleight of Hand [Show 'em Who's Boss #1]

3: Ergophobia

3:

I was furious that Jakob had left me waiting for him in the freezing cold for two hours. This was fortunate for him though, because it meant I had spent the whole journey home ranting about what an arse he was. He was thankful that I didn't seem to care about why he had been so desperate to force me to go to school today. He didn't need me acting suspicious because I always discovered the truth. He knew that when I want to find out something there's no stopping me.

     "Did you even listen to a word I just said?" I almost yelled as I slammed the car door and stomped up the driveway to my house. Again, it's more of a mansion because my father's a billionaire, but I don't want to sound like a snob. This is not snobbery; it's merely me stating a fact.

     "Of course I did," replied Jakob. "You're pissed because I left you standing in the cold for hours in the middle of winter. Well perhaps it wouldn't have mattered if you thought your wardrobe choice through more carefully!"

     Jakob glanced down at what I was wearing. It was one if my signature, effortless outfits: skinny jeans, black boots, a back vest top and one of Jakob's shirts he'd left in my room.

     "I didn't dress appropriately today because I wasn't planning on wasting my time at school. I was dressed for zombie killing on my Xbox with you! It's not my fault I'm going to get pneumonia and die, is it?"

     I pulled my house key out of my bra and shoved it into the lock, opening the door and then abruptly slamming it in Jakob's face.

     “Come on, Ebony! Let me in. You're being pathetic!"

      I opened the letter box and peeped through it and Jakob knelt down to look at me with his stupid beautiful brown eyes.

     "I am not the one being pathetic here, Jakob. Since when did work become more important to you than me? I know that's why you dumped me in that hellhole for the day, I'm not stupid. Just hear me out. You even consider taking me to school again and I'm dumping you. This time I'm serious. I can't stand it at school. It's full of pretentious bitches and guys who can't keep their trousers on. I don't belong in a place like that and you know it. Now, leave. You're not coming in for dinner tonight."

     "But your dad invited me, not you," Jakob argued.

     "I. Don't. Care!"

     I slammed the letterbox shut and stormed away. Jakob never fully understood me, just as I never fully understood him until now in our deadly game of fate. Arguments with me were just impossible. He couldn't keep up with me. One minute I was mad because of something stupid he'd done. The next I was arguing about something completely irrelevant to the original reason I was mad at him.

     I knew that Jakob sat down on the doorstep that day, not giving in and going home. I was right, it was freezing outside and Jakob was hardly dressed appropriately either. For me, not only was he a fool but he was also a hypocrite.

     "Get up, son. It's too cold out here." My father was standing in the doorway. He's such a traitor. I watched him from the top of the stairs, hoping my laser eyes would work.

     "It can't be much warmer in there either Mr Williams." How dare he make a comment about my attitude like that, especially as he's the one that's caused it?

     My father chuckled. "She's calmed down now. She's got quests to complete."

     Jakob followed my father through the house. When you first walked through the front door you were met with an entrance hall that had millions of doors leading off of it. Jakob had never had time to explore the whole house for he was certain he would get lost in an instant. He had, however, been in more of these rooms than I had, despite the fact that it was my home.