“Richard.” Mrs. Pruitt stood up. “You’re taking the word of that little trollop over our own daughter.”
Trollop? I felt myself sinking into my seat.
“No. Isabella admitted it. Now go. Both of you.” He waved his hand to gesture them out of the dining room.
Isabella gave me a look of pure fury before stomping after her mother.
The awkward silence stretched between us as doors slammed upstairs. Mr. Pruitt finished his salad right before the main course came out. And then he held up his hand before the plate could be placed down. He looked at me. But it felt a lot more like he was looking through me. “Is there anything else you need tonight? Anything at all?”
I shook my head.
Isabella was right. His wrath was terrifying. Even though it wasn’t directed at me, I still felt my accelerated pulse. Mr. Pruitt was scarier than Isabella and her mom put together. I wanted to tell him that all I needed was to leave. I didn’t want to be here. But no words escaped my throat.
“I’m going to finish my meal in my bedroom. I’ll see you in the morning. And don’t worry about shoes,” he said with a wave of his hand. “Please just come to breakfast however you wish.” He walked out of the room without another word and the chef’s assistant dropped a plate in front of me before rushing after him.
Instead of getting up, I just sat there and I watched the red wine drip down the paint. I was too scared to move. My plan had failed. Isabella hadn’t gotten me kicked out. She’d gotten herself kicked out. I cringed as I heard another door slam upstairs. All I’d done was make Isabella hate me a thousand times more.
Elite - Chapter 9
Friday
I wanted to crawl under the table and cry. I’d been brave all day. Or at least, I’d tried to be. I’d alienated myself from all the Pruitts by standing up for myself. Matt had treated me poorly, so I’d pushed him away. And now? Now I was all alone in a place that could only be described as a haunted mansion in apartment form. I looked at the creepy portrait of the Pruitt family above the fireplace. It felt like all of them were staring at me. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that the two females in the picture wished I was dead.
I couldn’t stay here. If I did, I’d probably never wake up. I looked behind me at the door to the kitchen. No one was watching me. If I was going to escape, now was my chance. Felix was somewhere in this apartment building. All I needed to do was sneak out.
I stood up and looked down at my feet.I guess it would have been a good idea to wear shoes so I could flee.But I didn’t necessarily need shoes to roam the halls of this apartment building. I was sure the fancy carpets in the halls were regularly cleaned. And even if they weren’t? I’d risk the cleanliness of my feet to stay alive.
A floorboard creaked as I tiptoed out of the dining room. I cringed even though I was pretty sure Isabella and her mother had left. Running into them without Mr. Pruitt there to protect me was my worst nightmare. And why had he protected me? It didn’t make any sense. He’d kicked out his legitimate family and taken my side. To someone else, it may have been reassuring.But it wasn’t when I knew for a fact that he’d never wanted me. It was just odd.
I took a left down the hall past the room with the piano. The way to the front door was the only thing I’d remembered about this whole stupid place. I was relieved when I reached it without running into anyone. I grabbed the handle, but it didn’t turn. I turned the lock and pulled again, but it didn’t budge.What the…I stared at the keypad to the side of the door.Oh no.It was just like the one by the elevator in the other apartment. What kind of maniac made it impossible to leave? This was a fire hazard. The apartment complex shouldn’t allow it. I tried the handle again to no avail.Damn it.Freedom was just on the other side of that door. I hadn’t come this close only to be stopped by a stupid code.Come on.I pulled again.
“Mr. Pruitt insists on locking everything down once he retires for the night.”
I almost screamed. I hadn’t heard Miller sneak up behind me. “Miller, you scared me half to death.”
He smiled. “I’m sorry. I was trying to find you, but you left the dining room before dessert.”
I just stared at him for a moment. Had he heard the argument? He must have. Or he must have at least seen the red wine on the wall and the shattered glass.
He cleared his throat. “A young man stopped by while you were eating dinner. Felix Green. Here’s the message he left.” He handed me a folded piece of paper.
I opened it and read the short note.
I was hoping to surprise you. But apparently the Pruitts don’t do surprises. Pretty lame if you ask me. And the guy that answered the door said I needed to be on the approved visitor’s list? I requested to be put on it, but then he said it would take a few days to run the necessary background checks. What the hell is that all about? I’m pretty sure he just didn’t like me. Call me. Or better yet, get the hell out of there and come over. I live in 24C.
-Felix
“Boyfriend?” Miller asked
I didn’t even realize I was smiling until the corners of my mouth fell. “What? Oh. No. Just a friend. Why didn’t you let him in?” It couldn’t have been the background check that Felix had mentioned. That was clearly a joke.
“Mr. Pruitt has rules about these things.”
Or maybe it wasn’t a joke. “Background checks for visitors? Really?”
He shrugged but didn’t offer any details.
“So…instead of letting Felix in, can you let me out?” I gestured to the keypad behind me. “Or give me the code?”
