Chapter 53
Daisy
Age 18
I stared at my cell phone, the message from my Nona still on the screen. I looked up, taking a deep breath, and calmly continued to wait for the next bus to arrive.
People came and went from the building. I didn't pay any attention. No one wanted to be outed here. No one came to socialize. I stared ahead, my face devoid of emotion. My heart and soul were dead, and I couldn't put up the facade any longer.
"Will you stop the fucking crying? I'm the one you hurt today." A man's voice pulled me from my thoughts. I looked around to see a man and woman coming out of the building. The woman was sobbing into her hands as he dragged her along.
"Will you come back to my apartment?" she asked him, before she started toward the parking lot. He looked utterly disgusted.
"Really? After what you just did? You'll be hearing from my lawyer, Mia." He stormed off in the other direction, heading my way. I turned my head quickly and pretended to be looking at my phone when he passed by and stopped in front of me.
"I know you."
I looked up, recognizing the man in front of me. He grinned, offering me his hand.
"Max Stanton. You're that ballerina, the real pretty one."
I forced a smile. I wasn't really in the mood to socialize. I offered my hand and before I could protest, he pulled me to standing. The phone in my lap clattered to the sidewalk. He picked it up quickly, and without permission, read the text on my screen.
My face grew red with embarrassment, and I snatched it back.
"That's mine."
"Sorry, yes. I see. Sounds like you've got a little problem." He gave me my phone back and looked from me to the building we stood in front of. "Did you..."
"That's none of your business,” I snapped. My stomach turned, and I pushed him out of the way as I ran to the nearest bush to throw up.
"Interesting," he said as he came to stand beside me as I emptied my stomach.
"Daisy, would you be interested in a date sometime?"
I wiped my mouth with my jacket.
A date? He was asking me out on a date in front of an abortion clinic? He saw the look on my face and chuckled.
"I know, bad timing, but, by the looks of things, I think you may be able to help me out. We'd be helping each other, actually, based on that message from... Nona . "
I blinked.
"What do you want?" I asked, my eyes turning to slits. I didn't trust him. I'd heard rumors about him from other dancers. Him and his other rich friends were always coming around to shows, trying to pick up women. He was a giant flirt and had gone on many dates with my company.
"I think I have what you need, do I not?"
"What's that?" I snorted.
He leaned in, and the words he whispered into my ear chilled me to the bone. I shivered as the blood ran from my face as he continued to whisper to me a plan that was as smart as it was vile.
"This way, both of our reputations and inheritances are protected. What do you say, want to have a baby with me, Daisy?"
He offered me his hand again, which I simply stared. He'd said the question so light-heartedly, almost as if he were asking me if I'd like to share a cab. But... my choices were limited now. Nona knew of my predicament, and I was going to lose everything unless I came up with a better idea than the one Max had just presented to me.
I stared and stared some more as he continued holding his hand out, and then finally, as I felt another wave of nausea rolling in, I shook it.