CHAPTER 1: THE HAUNTING PAST REARS ITS UGLY HEAD

~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~

            I sat on David Hargrove’s lap and poured him champagne as I listened to him plot with his assistant. They intended to wage war on a rival company I knew. David expected no one to lead the firm when the owner died. He crowed to Jake, his assistant, about having signed contracts today that sealed his control. I didn’t listen to too much. I’ve learned I’ve no role in his business and no influence. He’s oblivious to his mistake.

            It’s pointless to speak. Everything’s lost, including David.

            “Jake, I hope Sabrina received her copy of the contract. We’ll discuss the announcement another time. Old Belgrave just needs to put his other foot in his grave.” David said.  Jake nodded, and they laughed in enjoyment of their plot. While I died a slow death on the inside. “Then the competition will end. She’ll sign Belgrave Tech over. Then, I won’t need her, and my family’s screwed.” David Hargrove dragged me to this club. He’d insisted he needed to celebrate. He didn’t say what he was celebrating. David was celebrating his signing of a marriage contract. He also signed other contracts with Jake. This way no one suspected he was taking over his family’s business interests and the Belgrave family business interests. I didn’t count as a threat. Give David and Jake credit, they don’t know, and the Belgrave family members have forgotten I exist.

            The Belgrave fortune wasn’t mine to inherit. Should I care if he’s destroying the thieves? Of course, I’m not bitter.

            The problem’s listening to him speak of my father, Edgar Belgrave’s pending death. I’m a little drunk, my head’s buzzing. “Sabrina? Do you mean Sabrina Vines?” That’s her last name, not Belgrave. It’s not a name I want to hear.

            “No, I mean Sabrina Belgrave, Edgar Belgrave’s daughter. My lawyer brokered a marriage deal with her for me. I’ll own both companies. Don’t worry Maria baby. It’s all business. You don’t worry your little head about anything. I’ll see your allowance increase if you play your cards right and be a good girl.” David assured me as if I cared. He patted my thigh close to the edge of my short skirt. As I stared at him, thinking how he’s making me angry. I bit my tongue to not tell him.

            With calming breaths, I tried to say nothing I’d regret. What a bitter pill.

            This hurt to think I had to rely on him to live. He and Sabrina would live off my money. He’d give me scraps as rewards to entertainment him. I wouldn’t have any power. Sabrina has my life and now my lover. I wasn’t worthy. I could accept being his kept girlfriend if no one knew. It’s another thing as his mistress. I draw the line at damaging families. I can’t watch him live while I stand in the shadows waiting for my turn at pretend. That’s too much. Before I could say anything, my phone rang. David and Jake didn’t notice I had more to say.

            “Excuse me, I must take this.” I used the call as an excuse to escape and clear my head. If I looked at David’s face, he’d yell at me. He hates me taking calls from friends when I am with him. I’ll hear about it when I return. I’m here on his dime, so I pay attention to him. Yet, he ignored me the entire night and talked about Sabrina.

            Outside, I could hear my thoughts and the person on the phone. I screwed up and answered the call without checking the caller ID. I wince at my stupidity. It must have been because I’m too buzzed to think straight, and I’ll regret doing this. It’s my excuse. “Hello?” I held the phone to my ear, something I didn’t do every day. Maybe I wasn’t as upset and drunk as I thought? This kept the conversation private.

            “Ms. Maria Belgrave?” I closed my eyes and regretted I’d answered the call. Years passed without hearing that name. It’s been longer still since someone called me it. I recognized the voice. Mr. Edwards, Edgar Belgrave’s personal lawyer, my father’s legal Pitbull. I didn’t want anyone to hear him speak. If David followed me out, I don’t know how he’d react, and tonight’s hard enough. I didn’t want to end up charged with anything because David felt betrayed.

            “Evening, Mr. Edwards. Why are you calling?” I asked with a wince. I hoped he didn’t hear how drunk I was. How I prayed he didn’t ask me to start a video call. Many do this to confirm someone’s identity. If he demanded it, I’m screwed. I don’t look like I used to. Also, if David interrupted my call, how would I explain Mr. Edwards to him? The things he’d accuse me of.

            “I’m sorry to do this Miss. Belgrave. It’s fallen on my shoulders to inform you, your father passed today.” Mr. Edwards sounded unaffected by the news. I wish I was like that. The bar didn’t have enough alcohol to help me deal with this. I’ve said he’s my last blood relative. I’m alone. We hadn’t agreed about many things. But he was my father. He’s gone. The stabbing pain to my heart made me resist breathing for the longest time. At first, I couldn’t cry, although I wanted to. I stood there frozen.

            I left because I was told to. He’d married Sabrina’s mother, Jaqueline. My presence became an embarrassment to my family. I excelled at nothing and looked just as bad. My redeeming qualities were in short supply in their eyes. The Belgrave family tree bore a unique trait. Every member had a special skill. The family skills spread over a wide range of smart, beautiful people, and then there’s me. My specialty? I’m nothing special. In fact, I couldn’t find my beauty, or my brains. I couldn’t save myself with brains or beauty, no matter what I did or tried. My stepsister modeled for a few years. I accomplished less than her.

            My father tried schools and doctors. Jacqueline Vines, Sabrine’s mother, convinced my father to give me my mother’s inheritance and cut me loose. The night before their wedding, his personal assistant came to me with a bank card. He told me I wasn’t part of the family and to go away. I wasn’t welcome and would receive nothing more from my father. I should become used to the idea of being an orphan. My father’s assistant escorted me out of the hospital in the middle of the night. He left me behind the hospital with the trash.

            Years later, I found an article dated a week later claiming I’d run away from the hospital and a cover up occurred. An investigation had started. I left it alone and stayed with David. Once bitten, twice shy.

            I understood why David said he wanted to wait until after my father died to announce his engagement to Sabrina. How screwed up is this? I can feel the invisible knife twisting into my chest. It’s not fair. I feel like that fat girl, but I’m not her. I’ve done the work. Found and fixed the trouble. I’ve returned to school and finished my education. With a few words, she’s back. I’m feeling every pound and slight. All that work meant nothing. I couldn’t fight for David. Not from where I stood. Once they told their story about me, I’d be lucky if he sues me for identity fraud or some such crime.