Chapter one

Eden Pov

“Nothing good ever last.”

These where the words that stuck in me after my mother and my father divorced and my mother moved away with me. I was ten and didn’t know why it had to happen but one thing I know is that it broke me. I lost my best friend shortly after that and everything I had grown to love in those ten years.

“Nothing good comes for free.” This was the second phrase that stuck with me as I glanced down at the stone stubble in front of me. Cancer, not a good thing if you don’t have enough money to pay for treatment early. My eyes glazed over the name imprinted on it. It was her name.

Emilia Mavrick.

Mother, sister, friend.

She still kept the last name even after everything that had happened, she didn’t tell me why and can’t now.

My hands swipes across my eyes to clean the tear forming around them, I had a handkerchief in my hands but my brain didn’t register that they were more effective to use than my hands. .

“I’m sorry mum, I’m not as strong as you want me to.” I choked on my words as I clutched the black coat around my body. “But it’s hard- th- this is hard, you- yo- you promise- pro-mised me.” My voice faltered. “You said I wasn’t going to be alone.”

There was rumbling near by and I didn’t need to look up to know that the rain was coming. I didn’t care. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. I was here and I was alone, with mum gone no body was going to scold me for being in the rain.

“Eden-” Mrs Gonzalez, the house keeper called out to me. She stood at a reasonable distance, with concern in her voice. “We need to get going. It might start rain goon and y-”

“I’m fine.” I interrupted. “Leave me alone. I wa-want to be alone.” I stated clearly.

Mrs Gonzalez was a nice woman, she was always there with us, looking out for us, I love her but right now I didn’t want to see her.

“Eden-”

“Just go!” I yelled harshly. I didn’t mean to be, but I didn’t care right now.

“The driver is waiting, you- you-” she paused rubbing her arms together. It was normal for her, she always did it whenever she was anxious. I could tell that whatever she wanted to say next wasn’t good news to me. “Your father is waiting.”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The leather seat of the car felt really cold against my skin, not from the air condition but they were lonely just like I was. Mum would ride with me in the back of the Mercedes but now it was just me. Alone. My eyes moved to the silver watch straoped to my wrist.

Ten minutes. It was ten minutes until I was going to see him again, after fifteen years. We barely talked even after their divorce, he sent gifts on my birthday no card or calls, just one expensive thing or the other and it annoyed me.

The car slowed to a stop in front of the building, a twenty story made of glass, the lights reflected of and mirrored the light like a light house. This was it. I was here.

The door opened and my left feet clad in black red bottoms clicked on the tar ground. The cold air kissed my exposed legs even with the coat on, it was undeniably cold. The black shades I had on hid every form of emotion, just like I wanted. With a single swif of the air I straightened my back and squared my shoulders and stepped into the building.

The ride up the elevator was anxious filled, I chewed on my lips and played with the ring on my finger, the one mum handed to me when I turned 18. It reminds me of her every single day.

When the doors opened, the scent changed. It was hard on sandallwood and screamed complex. Just like father. The hallway was empty and my heels left echoes as I walked through. Just when my eyes settled on the huge mahogany doors few feet away, it opened. There he stood, a man about twenty-five if not more clad in crisp black suit, about six feet one, even with my heels I was still nowhere near him. He noticed that I was staring and his hazel eyes twinkled. His lips slanted into a smirk.

“She’s here.” He said to no one in particular with his eyes still fixed on me.

My feet continued on it’s journey until I was right in front of the man, his eyes following me every step I made. His jet black hair was glossy under the lights, and his lips still in the same smirk made me uncomfortable. Something about his eyes felt familiar.

“Wh-”

“Eden. You’re late.” My head snapped to the figure standing behind the tall man in front of me. Father.

“Five minutes shouldn’t be considered late, I’m right on time.” I said my voice low and harsh.

“Come in.” father said ignoring my comment. I walked past the man beside me and settled on the leather chair. While I typed away on my phone the door closed and father sat down. I didn’t want to look up at him, I didn’t want to be reminded of why I hate him so much but right now all mum had worked for was on the line and as much as I hate to say it, he was the person who could help me.

“So this is the Eden Mavrick.” The man from earlier said grabbing my attention. His voice was soft yet sent vibrations through her body.

“And who are you?” I snapped back not liking the amusement that danced his eyes.

“Ede-” my father tried to speak but the man didn’t let him.

“The man you’re getting married to, Percy Alexandro.” He said with a wide smile that made me want to vomit.