Chapter 2 - Moving to Oxford

Henry POV

Summer has been boring as hell. I have spent it in London, but the weather has been terrible. I decided I would go to Spain for two weeks but only went for a weekend because mum needed me. Dad has spent his entire time working as usual, and my brother spent more time with my mother than he did at home. You see, my parents got divorced five years ago. Mum met a guy that gave her the attention she deserved and dumped my dad. I honestly don’t blame her. He was a dick towards her, and she deserved to be loved, something he never did.

I don’t think the man is capable of love at all; I know he loves my brother and me, but besides us, he loves himself and his money; he loves his job and freedom. The guy is a player, and because I am the son of Harry Payne, everyone expects me to be like him. The difference between us is that I actually care about school work. Don’t get me wrong, I like to have fun and have my bit of fun with the ladies, but I am not a dick like a dad is.

I never had a serious girlfriend. Why would I? I can’t be myself around people anyway, and they would think I am a pussy and that I care more about school than I do about the rest. To the world, I am Henry Payne, a playboy with all the money in the world and everything he’s ever wanted, I can clap my hands, and I will have one girl holding on to each of my arms trying to get into my bed. School starts Tuesday, and it's time to go back to Oxford. I have a flat near campus that my dad bought for me. He refuses to let me share my flat, but what he doesn’t know won’t kill him. I share my flat with two of my mates, Alex and Richie. They live with me for free. That is the only way I have actually to protest what my dad wants.

As I pack, my stuff dad opens the door to my room, walking in without knocking.

“Are you going already?” he asks, and I take a deep breath turning around to face him.

“I shouldn’t have left”, I tell him, and he crosses his arms in front of his chest.

“Are you going to see your mother?” he asks, and I look into his eyes. I feel anger boils into my blood. Every time he talks about my mum, it makes me so angry.

“Leave her alone, dad. She’s moved on”, I say, and dad looks at me from head to toe, and I feel a chill down my spine.

“I am not going after her, don’t worry, she can be happy with that idiot”, dad says, and I close my hand into fists, trying to contain myself. Mum had another child with her new husband, Harold. The kid is only three years old, and I think he is the most amazing human being in the world.

Dad finishes giving me the most boring conversation of the century and leaves my room to finish packing. As soon as I’m done, I grab my car keys, and I drive to Oxford. I can’t stand being in this house for another minute.

As soon as I arrive in the flat, I am happy to find it is empty and the bonus is not back yet. I like the idea of being alone sometimes, and it gives me the peace of mind that I need to read and write. My dream was to study English literature, but that would never be possible. I am a Payne, after all, and I need to follow in my dad’s footsteps and take over the Payne company and name.

I get everything ready in my room, and I tidy up the flat. I can tell they were here at some point during summer because of the stable smell of beer, and the ashtray is full. I clean everything around, and I order some food. I need to go to the shop tomorrow and sort out the flat with food and drinks. After all, I need to keep my body and mind healthy.

I walk to the small gym in the flat, and I put loud music on. I take my t-shirt off, and I start running on the treadmill.

The boys arrive Monday, and we all have some pizza and beer for dinner. I am thinking about just going to the pub to play some pool, but they turned me down as they were in the pub yesterday as soon as I mentioned.

“There’s a party at some bloke’s house”, Alex says, and Richie smiles, typing on his phone, finding out where it is. Once they figure that out, we leave in a taxi. None of us is driving as we all know we will be drinking and getting smashed.

“I’m bored”, I say as soon as we step into the house where the party of the week is happening. Every week someone throws a expensive party, and I am always invited. That’s what happens when you’re a Payne.

“I know, right,” Alex says as he takes his plastic cup to his lips.

“We need to find something to do or someone”, Richie says, and I smile at the thought of another girl in my bed. Every day is a different girl. I don’t mind that, but as soon as classes start tomorrow, I need to focus. My dad has been giving me shit that I need to focus on as I am in my third year, and soon I will be finishing and taking over the Payne empire. I take a deep breath pushing away my dad from my head. He is a dick anyway.

“Hey, who’s that?”, Alex asks pointing at a girl that walks in. I've never seen her before, but she is stunning, she has the most beautiful blue eyes and dark brown hair. She is petite, and she is only wearing a pair of Levis jeans and a plain white t-shirt with really used and dirty white converse all starts. She’s definitely new around here. She’s not one of the girls I am used to dealing with. She’s not wearing any designer clothes, and she doesn’t look like a cheap skank.

“I've never seen her before”, Richie says, rubbing his hands, and I smile. I can see a bet coming out of this.

“Shall we? Boys?” Alex says, and I shrug my shoulders. I’ve never lost a bet. As soon as I drop my surname, they all fall on my feet, and this girl will be another one.

“Go on then”, I let out, and Alex laughs.

“The first one to get her into bed wins”, Alex says, and I nod my head walking towards her without even letting him finish. There’s something about this girl that makes me walk to her without even asking what I would win after the bet, and she is the prize after all.

“Hey”, I say, approaching her and placing my hand on her shoulder.

Her eyes meet mine, and she moves my hand away. “What’s your name?” I ask her, and she looks at me from head to toe. “Not interested”, she replies, walking away, and I can hear Alex and Richie laughing behind me. What the hell?

She walks into the kitchen area, and I can’t help but follow her. She grabs a plastic cup and pours herself some wine. I smile at the thought of kissing her plump lips and tasting the cheap wine. I walk next to her pouring myself some wine into a plastic cup as she did, and I take a sip, almost making me gag. That is the most horrible wine I have ever tried.

I look down at her, but she’s not there anymore. What the fuck? I look around to see Alex talking to her in a corner, he has both his hands resting next to her head against the wall, and I can tell she is uncomfortable, but as I am about to approach her, she moves swiftly from between his body and the wall walking to her friends. I tap his shoulder, and he shakes his head.

“This girl is gonna be difficult”, he says, and I smile

“Already giving up?”, I ask, and he shakes his head at the same time as Richie approaches us. “I think we need to make this bet a little more interesting. The girl is wild”, he lets out, and I nod my head crossing my arms in front of my chest.

“I guess you are right”, I say, and Alex looks at us.

“You’re not going to give up until you sleep with her, will you?”, Alex asks, and I shake my head. She was the first girl ever to turn me down, and I don’t like it. I do not have it, she will be mine, and that is a promise.