Perverse Riches

Chapter 4

Charlie was in front of the open door when I reached the entrance hall. "Mistress, your date has arrived." He bowed charmingly. He knew I didn't like him acting like a servant but his eyes and smile said he was acting for his own amusement, so I didn't say anything. Leo came into view and my chin dropped. He looked amazing in the black tux! It wasn't a tailored or perfectly fitting one, but it was still incredibly good on him.

"Milady." He joked. Charlie looked up to the ceiling with an incredible urge to laugh. The posturing was damn funny that was for sure.

"Well, now that the both of you had enough fun how about we-"

"Charles I demand you open that bitch's room RIGHT NOW." Martha raged into a room. "Y-y-y-"

"Go, go, go!" laughing at her rage filled shriek I pulled Leo down the steps.

"What th-" He took one look at her hate disfigured face and started running with me until a car I only knew because Angie was in love with it. A 1969 Oldsmobile 442 convertible. In an ideal world, he'd open the door for me like a gentleman, but Martha was chasing us in another set of stolen items looking garish and crazed, so we ran to our respective seats and moved out. The sudden acceleration sprayed gravel in her face. The crazy woman took off her shoes and threw them at the car, missing entirely. I was laughing myself silly. Leo chuckled slightly more out of politeness than humour.

"Is she always like this?" He dropped the facade of humour and went straight for concern. How cute of him. I, however, didn't want to start a date talking about my mother. On the other hand... she did try to hit his car, so he was entitled to an answer.

"Of course. She's a narcissist. She'll either love you or hate you, but since she's incapable of love, sooner or later she'll turn on even those she claims she likes. But let's talk about something else." It was a two-hour ride to the big city and I would rather jump out of the moving car than talk about her all the way there.

"How did you grow up like that?" He seemed appalled and I sighed.

"When I was small, I avoided her when I could while Mrs Nelson took care of me. Until her passing that is, but by then I knew how to cook and dress myself properly and all that." The car was silent but for the engine. We left River's End and turned to the highway. I pulled my scarf tighter around myself.

"Are you cold? I can put on the heat." He offered.

"No, it's alright." He noticed my uneasiness, talking about Martha was a sure way of messing with my mood, so he dialed the radio to a rock dialledstation. Symphony of Destruction was at the start. I let my head shake to the beat. Fuck yes.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"It's fine. Martha is a... complicated aspect of my life. I used to love her like all children do their parents, but if there's anything she's taught me is that there's no unconditional love. You might not control if or how you fall for someone, but keeping on loving requires commitment some people aren't able to make." And that was it for me. If he wanted to talk more about her I'd just call a cab and walk home.

"Are you able to make it?" He smiled warmly.

"If I want to. I have to say I'm not one who deals well with feelings, I'm much more likely to hit someone than to try reasoning with them. Especially if I'm hit first. I've been told I have anger issues."

"You're very open for all the bad things you say you are."

"I'm a believer in self awareness. I know my faults, but it's impossible to work on them when they're the only thing keeping me alive." And that's another topic I was officially done with. Some small part of me kept whispering he was asking way too many questions in specific subjects, but I chalked it up to his profession. It was part of his job to ask questions after all.