The Heiress

Theodore Reagan was the eldest son of the executive president, Charles Reagan, and the heir to the entire empire. He was five years older than me, ridiculously handsome, and rarely seen roaming in the public eye.

He had more money in his name than I’d ever see in a lifetime and more power than I could imagine. Grown-ass adults bowed to his every whim because he could ruin lives with a mere thought.

“S-sorry,” I said, stumbling backward. “I didn’t mean to— I’ll— I’ll leave.” My stomach suddenly dropped when my ankle twisted, and I lost my balance.

“Careful, Princess,” Theodore said, miraculously catching me. “You shouldn’t rush yourself when you’re not used to those heels.” I chuckled nervously as he stared at me, his scent engulfing me—fresh and minty. “I know. Sorry.”

He helped me to my feet, but he didn’t let go of my wrist. “Did this painting catch your attention?” he asked, staring at the painting that had mesmerized me seconds before. I reluctantly turned to look at it again. “Yes.”

“Why?” I blinked. “Why?”

Theodore nodded. “Why did it catch your attention?” What kind of question was that? Regardless, I cleared my throat and wrenched my wrist from his hand. “I, um… It just called to me.”

Theodore nodded without peeling his gaze from the painting. “Tell me more.” Sure…

“I— um… I like how the artist used the colors and abstract figures to symbolize some sort of battle. It feels as if the painting itself is moving, reaching out to draw you in like a whirlpool of paint. Finally, in the middle, the battling sides seem to find common ground and the image almost stills with harmony.”

I quivered with delight. There were so many wonderful details in this painting I could look at it all day and not tire. “You have a good eye, Miss,” Theodore said, his smile making my heart flutter a little as he turned his gaze to look at me.

“It is the most expensive piece in here. It’s called A Lover’s Quarrel and sold for almost seventy million dollars.” My breath nearly caught in my throat. “Seventy ~million~?” I asked, struggling not to lose my jaw, too.

Theodore chuckled, the sound sending a chill through my bones. “Indeed. A piece like this should be valued for no less.” Had he lost his mind? “So, you’re trying to tell me that you’ve spent seventy million dollars on a painting? A painting?”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. On a fucking painting. I could barely imagine what seventy million dollars could do for this town alone—fix the neglected roads, build a new common center, parks, playgrounds… More probably.

“Was I wrong to assume that you considered this piece of art valuable?” Theodore asked, his voice vexingly playful. I didn’t like it one bit. I brushed him off. “I think the painting is gorgeous, and I believe the artist should be rewarded for his hard work, but seventy million… Who has that kind of money?”

Theodore scoffed lightly. “I do. Would you like to know what the rest of the paintings in here are worth?” I glared at him. Un-fucking-believable. Never before had I met a man with his head so far up his ass it seemed he could no longer smell his shit.

“No, thank you,” I said and whipped my head away from him. “I’d rather join the party. Have a pleasant evening, Mr. Reagan.” Theodore chuckled, but he didn’t stop me as I shakily stepped toward the door. “You too, Sophia Cooper.”

I stopped and looked over my shoulder again, only to find the room barren of life. My stomach stirred. He’d said my name. He’d said my name, right? Or had I imagined it?

I shook it off. It didn’t matter. I’d never see him again, so I stepped into the hallway and followed the scattering queue to the ballroom. Music poured from the speakers, people dancing in the middle of the massive floor, following the rhythm of the string quartet in the corner.

I quickly eyed Amber and Andreas by the long table, drowning their throats in punch. “Hey,” I said as I joined them. Amber leaned against the table, her brow dappled with beads of sweat. “Hey. Where have you been? Aspen and I have danced three times already.”

I swallowed. Should I tell them about Theodore? “Lost,” I said, deciding it was probably for the best not to share that insignificant detail. I didn’t want to give them any funny ideas, which often happened when Amber was nearby. “I was lost.”

Andreas arched one brow. “How exactly did you get lost in a queue that only moved one way?” he said, chuckling. My gaze dropped to cover my reddening cheeks. “I needed a bathroom, but I didn’t find one.”

“Oh,” Amber said, scratching her messy hair. “Do you still need one? Should I go with you?” “No,” I said, chuckling. “I’m okay. I just want to dance and forget how time moves.”

Andreas smiled and stepped back. “Then, will you do me the honor, m’lady?” he asked, his tone so awfully formal. I chuckled and noticed Amber wink at me. “How could I possibly say no?”

He guided me to the dancefloor, and once the music started, he guided me through every step, too. I’d expected to step on his toes at least a few times, but he was surprisingly good at dancing. Then the music faded, but we didn’t get off the floor. We just stood, breathless and sweaty, staring into each other’s eyes. “Are you ready to turn eighteen, birthday girl?”

“I am,” I said, smiling widely. Andreas returned my smile. “Then come with me.”

I didn’t get to answer him before he dragged me toward the closest window. “Ready?” Andreas looked at the big clock hanging on the wall as the seconds ticked closer to midnight. I stared at him, wondering what he may hide in his sleeve. I knew that look too well.

Then, the clock struck midnight and fireworks erupted in the darkened sky. “Happy birthday, Sophia Cooper,” Andreas said, pulling a long silvery necklace from his pocket with a rounded pendant speckled with glittering stone.

“A moon,” I whispered, reaching out to touch the necklace. Andreas nodded. “I remember you saying it was your favorite celestial body.”

I couldn’t believe he’d remembered that. It was years ago. “It’s beautiful, Andreas.” A force suddenly bumped into me from behind, nearly pushing me into Andreas’ chest. “I thought we’d agreed not to bring presents!” Amber whined. “It is pretty, though.”

“I’m sorry, Amber,” Andreas said with a crooked smile. “I couldn’t help myself when I saw it.” I turned around to let him put it on me. It reached almost to the middle of my stomach and didn’t really suit the dress, but I didn’t care. It was a present from Andreas and it was beautiful.

“There,” Andreas said. He stepped around me and smiled when he saw it. “It suits you.”

“So,” Amber asked, wrapping an arm around mine. “How does it feel to attend your first party at eighteen years old?” I leaned my head against hers. “It’s wonderful. I know it’s a party way outside normal standards, but I’m spending it with my best friends, and I couldn’t ask for more.”

Amber hugged me tighter. “The feeling is mutual, Soph.”

We danced for another hour, taking turns to share Andreas, and even dancing with a few others from our class. It was the most fun I’d had for ages, but the punch I’d poured down between dances had caught up to me. I really needed to pee.

I craned my neck to catch Amber’s attention, but she was talking to a boy from one of the other classes whom she’d eyed for a while. I didn’t want to disturb her, so I pursued the adventure on my own. Fortunately, the Reagan family had been kind enough to place signs that guided the way. Hopefully, neither Amber nor Andreas had noticed them yet, or my lie from before may hang in a thin line.

Hurrying, I followed the signs through the halls, but as I passed a door left slightly ajar, I heard voices pour from the other room. I stopped when I heard my name.

“She’d dyed her hair, Father, and she took offense to a fucking painting.” That was Theodore’s voice. ~“She doesn’t know anything.”~

“Mind your tongue, Theo. She may not know any better,” another man, whose voice I didn’t recognize, said, ~“but how could ~the~ ~poor girl~? Her mother left everything behind to marry that ~peasant man.”~

A flicker of anger sparked within the hollow of my chest. Peasant man? It didn’t matter who they spoke of. That was a horrible way to refer to someone.

Theodore seemed to grumble. I inched a bit closer to hear better. “Are you sure there is no other way? She’ll sink the entire empire.”

“You should praise yourself lucky we finally found that girl—Sophia was it?” I no longer doubted it. They were talking about me, but why? ~“She is the key to the Loucrious Empire, boy, and without her, everything will fall. Do you understand?”~

Theodore sighed. “Yes, Father.”

What the fuck was going on? The Loucrious Empire? What the hell was that?

“Good. Now go fetch the girl. We have a great deal of work to do.”

My breath turned shallow. Fetch me? No. No, no, no, no, no.

I backed away from the door, my hands trembling, and my mouth impossibly dry. This was insane. Were they speaking about kidnapping me? Why?

I suddenly bumped into something—an table with a glass casing on top. It tipped. I reached for it, desperately trying to catch it, but it was too late. The glass shattered, echoing through the hall, and the white wolf mask inside cracked.

Shit.

“What was that?” I heard Theodore’s dad say.

I needed to get away. Now.

I stumbled toward the nearest corner and pressed my back against the cold wall, praying to whatever gods may be watching that they didn’t see me.

“Did you see anything?” Theodore’s dad asked.

“No.” I exhaled quietly as relief washed over me. ~“But someone was here. The glass casing has toppled over, and Adrian Loucrious’ mask is broken.”~

Fuck, I’d messed up. I wasn’t even supposed to be here.

I held my breath, waiting in the shadows, praying, until I could no longer hear their footsteps in the hall. Reluctantly, I peeked around the corner. This was my moment.

Kicking off my shoes, I jumped to my feet and stumbled back to the party. “Amber, Andreas,” I said, grabbing my friends. “We need to leave. Now.”

I saw the worry in their eyes, but they didn’t question me. We maneuvered through the crowd, and hastily stepped toward the exit.

The scene I’d overheard kept playing on repeat in the center stage of my mind, never slowing, never stopping. It couldn’t be real. It couldn’t.

“Slow down, Soph,” Amber said when we finally reached our bikes, and I fell to my knees.

I fumbled with the lock, unable to keep my fingers steady enough to find the right numbers. I couldn’t even remember the code to the cursed thing.

“Sophia,” Amber said again. “What happened?”

My tongue felt thick in my mouth, my mind clouded. “I don’t— I don’t know. I just need to go.”

Amber grimaced. “You just… You just want to leave? But you said you were having the best time of your entire life.”

I winced as a sharp pain shot through my head, throbbing as if someone had hit me with a baseball bat but had left no bruise. “I don’t know… I don’t…”

“I think she’s had enough fun for one night,” Andreas said and helped me up. “Let’s just get you home, Sophia.”

“B-but, m-my bike,” I stuttered, as Andreas lifted my body onto his scooter.

“Don’t even think about it,” he said. “You’re riding with me. There is no way I am letting you ride by yourself in your condition.”

“But—”

“You are riding with me,” he repeated, tightening his grip around me.

I knew that voice, and I knew that it was stupid to try and argue with him again.

He gave me his helmet and sat in front of me.

I grasped a small part of his T-shirt to avoid falling off, but within the next moment, he grabbed my wrists and pulled my arms around his waist.

“You have got to hold on tight, Sophia,” he said and looked back at me. “Or do you want to fall off?”

I shook my head without looking him in the eyes.

My face pressed against his warm back, and as he started the bike, I felt his muscles work underneath the shirt. I tensed up and wondered if he could sense it.

None of us said anything on the way home. Andreas stopped the scooter in the same spot we’d met, with distance to my house. I took off the helmet and handed it to him.

“Thanks,” I said.

“No worries. Are you sure to walk from here by yourself?”

I nodded, and he helped me off his bike.

My legs still felt weak as my feet touched the ground, but I could walk. My mind no longer spun like a carousel, and the trembling had stopped. However, the deep pit in my stomach remained, as if I’d been gutted from the inside.

“Do you want me to come walk with you?” Amber asked with worried eyes. I shook my head no, but I appreciated the gesture.

Waving goodbye to my friends, I started walking down the dusted road, my head humming. The scene still played vividly in my mind, but it was starting to feel more like a joke than anything serious.

A big fat joke, just because I’d pissed off the spoiled Reagan heir by implying he’d lost his brain somewhere in the shit around him.

I kept telling myself that ludicrous tale over and over again as I snuck back into my house.

Slipping out of the dress and stuffing it in its rightful place behind the big box in my closet, I went to bed.

Loucrious…

I’d heard that name somewhere before, but I couldn’t place it. And that white mask I’d broken… I should probably pay them back for that, but that would reveal it had been me listening to their conversation. That couldn’t happen, and I doubted they’d miss the money.

Sighing, I turned in my bed and closed my eyes.

A big fat joke. That was all it had been.

One big joke.

Theodore Reagan had more money than God himself and expected everyone around him to have the same exact opinions as he did. Something about the way he said peasant twisted something in me.

Peasant.

What a jerk!

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