Chapter 37 #2
“He has everything to do with it,” I tell her.
“Dad takes credit for my success since he had connections to get me into modeling in the first place. He thought by helping me step into the field of work I loved, he could control me better since nothing else seemed to do the trick. When my career took off and I didn’t need him, it infuriated him.
” I chuckle darkly, remembering how hard he’d try to get me back under his thumb.
The amusement dies away however as I add, “Too bad he’s found a way to control me again.
It was because of his connections that I was thrown into Serenity Falls and not jail.
Now, the only way to get out of here is to complete the degree he wants me to have and to join his company.
” I snort bitterly. “I’ll get my degree to appease him, but the minute I’m out of here, I’ll be back to modeling. ”
Everly stares at me curiously, her brows knitting together as she considers something.
“So, modeling for life, huh?” She pushes curiously.
I cringe at the thought of the alternative: being forced to sit at a desk, listening to people drone on about shit I couldn't give a rat's ass about. “Modeling is everything. Dad might have been behind getting me the job, but I was good at it.”
Everly hums thoughtfully. “Modeling is like art, but you're using your body instead of a paintbrush. I can see its appeal.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” I glance over at her. “What do you know about art?”
Everly dips her head, causing her hair to tumble over her shoulders. It acts as a barrier to hide the expression she doesn't want me to see.
“I don't know alot about it,” she admits lightly.
“You're a shit liar.”
Her head jerks up and I smirk when she gives me this wide-eyed innocent look.
It feels like I’m falling into a bed of moss in the middle of the woods as I stare back into those hazel eyes that lean more toward green than brown.
What will they look like when that hint of wariness finally dissolves? Will they shine? Will the color darken?
“You know, you could just fucking talk to me instead of giving me the silent treatment,” I point out. “It'd be a lot more enjoyable.”
“I'm not here to enjoy myself,” she replies coolly. “Or to entertain you.”
That's right. Everly’s not a patient like the rest of us. She’s here with an agenda. How fucking cute.
“You’re on a fool's mission,” I tell her. “You're wasting time and energy on someone who isn't capable of reasoning and normal emotions.”
I expect her to get defensive, instead Everly simply shrugs and turns her attention to her food.
“I would never leave a friend behind. It’s simply not done,” she says after thoughtfully chewing a bite. “But I guess you wouldn’t know much about friendship, would you?”
Woah, did she just insult me? Looks like my princess has teeth. What a fucking bitch.
I like it.
Grinning, I lean closer to her. “What do you mean by that? Do you think that because no one’s hung out with us since your arrival that I don’t have any friends?
” I laugh at the absurdity. “I’ve been keeping my court away from you to give you a breather.
Once the coronation finally takes place, you’ll be surrounded by my friends all the time.
It’s how we plan to have you move around campus more openly. ”
Everly's little grimace is adorable. “Never mind.”
“C’mon, don’t back down now. Speak up,” I urge. “Unless you want to be considered a weak-ass bitch. God, you’re so fucking quiet I was beginning to think you were stupid or something.”
Everly’s back stiffens as she turns and gives me a heated glare.
Then she gives the universal girls’ sign that says, ‘buckle up asshole’, by flipping her hair over her shoulder and straightening her shoulders.
Fuck, that flare of anger in her eyes is jarring in the best possible way.
It gives them a depth I hadn’t noticed before and I can feel myself falling into them.
Her cheeks turn a light pink beneath her brown skin and her eyes narrow.
My dick stiffens in response to her anger.
“I’ll tell you what I mean,” she starts coldly.
“You don’t have any friends, Rowan. You have an entourage you’ve dubbed a court.
You think they adore you but it’s superficial.
They’re jealous and envious of your superstardom—not you.
” She glances toward the door where Jonathan and Sheldon are shooting the shit before looking back at me.
“Wait until they realize you’re no longer the superstar you used to be. ”
She might as well have plucked the insecurities swimming around inside of me the past few days right out of my head as she tosses them into my face. But rather than focus on that, I hone in on one thing in particular.
I go utterly still. “What do you mean? The world loves me.”
“Oh, I guess you haven’t realized it yet since you don’t have access to the rest of the world.
” Everly gives a dainty, one shoulder shrug.
“Since you started your stint here, I haven’t seen your face or name mentioned once.
You’re not on TV, magazine covers, or plastered all over social media.
But there’s some new guy that’s just blown onto the scene.
There’s nowhere I can turn without seeing his face somewhere.
I think your time has come and gone, Rowan. ”
I wanted Everly to show some teeth and I got it. Now, I regret it.
She might as well have slapped me across the face, kicked me in my balls, or hit me with a car with all the pain that comes from the mere idea that the world would move on without me.
It’s agonizing to even consider. I built an empire from scratch, to prove to my dad that I was worth something.
That I didn’t need to follow in his footsteps.
My empire had to be there when I got out of Serenity Falls.
One stupid, impulsive night wouldn’t have set my career ablaze… right?
And if I don’t have my empire where my face and money reigned, I’m left with the same issue I’m facing when it comes to winning Everly’s heart. What am I, if not a supermodel?
Fuck, I’m doubting myself. I can’t do this myself. I’ll spiral. A wave of heat slides beneath my skin as anger builds. I sit there, frozen with rage, watching as Everly takes a deep breath as if speaking has been cathartic in some way.
That pisses me off even more. Did it make her feel good to cut me so deeply?
A harsh laugh is Everly’s only warning before I lash out. My arm shoots out and I grab her by the neck to jerk her toward me. Her gasp is cut off as I tighten my hold.
“What do you know about friends, Everly?” I ask her coldly.
My arm trembles with tension as I restrain from actually strangling her.
“The one you came here for doesn’t give two shits about you.
Not really. He’s just pissed because we have something that once belonged to him, it’s not you he wants.
It was pathetic coming to find you in the library today, holed up by a window as you searched him out, desperate to catch sight of a guy who thinks you're worth less than dog shit.”
The verbal strike hits hard. Everly’s whole body flinches and face twists with pain.
Instead of amused or satisfied, the itch beneath my skin flares up to epic proportions.
I choke on a scream as my body spasms under the irritation.
Using my hold on her neck, I throw Everly into the pool.
Her yelp is cut off as her head submerges beneath the water, not that I pay it any mind as I begin to rake my nails across my chest and arms.
Everly comes up for air with a gasp and then sputters, “Asshole!”
I stop scratching long enough to lean forward and sneer. “You’re lucky you’re fucking hot. It compensates for your stupidity and spinelessness.”
She slaps the water, and it ends up spraying me in the face. “Too bad for you, your looks don’t give you the same grace!”
The venomous look she shoots me as she flips me the bird only pisses me off further. How dare she be upset? She’s the one who insulted me first.
With another splash of water in my direction, she adds, “All beauty and no brains—that’s the saying about models, right?
You know what’s wild? Not even your looks are doing you any good at the moment.
Maybe your dad dodged a bullet bringing you onboard in his company.
You’re just a dumb model.” She laughs coldly and adds, “You make Derek Zoolander look like Einstein.”
Fury turns my vision red. “You fucking bitch .”