Ch. 2 | Ophelia

  (unedited)

  I go to the gym like I do every morning, only this time, I drop the AirTag that Jon thinks I don't know about into my locker. It won't take him long to notice I'm gone but I'm hoping by the time he figures it out, I'll either be at the airport or, even better, in the air.

  The hot sting of the gyms shower a trip to the sauna seem to breathe a new life into me. I feel like I can breathe for the first time in a while. Theirs going to be a lot of damage to be dealt with when I get back, but I deserve this and it feels *good*. Like I'm finally taking charge of my life. It's a small step but maybe, when Jon realizes I didn't come back to him in a body bag, he'll loosen the reigns.

  Maybe he'll let me get a job? Or maybe, I can utilize the scholarship to Darkwood Institute I received when I turned 21. I tried going right out of high school but freshman are required to spend their first year in dorms on campus. Jon didn't love the idea of me walking to class alone, so we opted for online college. That of course, didn't end up happening because my laptop corrupted, along with my application essay.

  As I'm applying the last of my makeup in the mirror, it hits me, how the hell am I going to get a ticket? I could ask my parents but I'm not sure I want them asking why Jon can't pay for it.

  The only other option is to call Willow. Im hyping myself up, trying to create a cover story as to why I need her help with this when my phone rings. I take a deep breath before checking it. If it's Jon, I'll wait for the call to end, then claim I left it in my locker to unplug.

  Luckily, it's Willow.

  "Opheeeliaaa." I can't help the smile that takes over my face at the ring in her voice, "Trissy bought me a plane."

  In the back, I hear an annoyed, "I did not buy *you* a plane."

  "Okay, he bought *us* a plane."

  "What do you need a plane for?"

  "So I can come see you silly! Carbon footprint be damned."

  "Oh? So when are you coming to see me?"

  I hear her huff, "Well, I'm not, but you're coming to see me!"

  A pit settles at the base of my sternum, "What do you mean?"

  "Tristians in town now, he said he'd pick you up at your place and I realized I *still* don't have your address."

  "I'm not home."

  "I'll send him your number."

  "Um..."

  "He's going to grab you, pick me up, and we'll all fly to the fundraiser together."

  It makes sense that Tristian would want to keep his little sister, heir to their mother's multimillion dollar fashion designer empire, close as they travel, but it dosen't make sense for him to fly the extra 300 miles to me. "Why is he in-"

  My question gets cut off by the sound of my phone vibrating.

  *Where are you?*

  My heart stops. It takes me a moment to realize that it's an unknown number and that it's not Jon trying to trick me.

  "I gotta go finish up this fitting but I cannot wait for you to see the dress we have going for you. Fingers crossed it's ready in time. Love you!"

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  She's hung up before I can say anything else. I'm silently thankful that decisions have been made for me.

  I take a deep breath and reply, cautious, just in case.

  *I'm at the gym.*

  His reply is immediate.

  *I know that, Oppy, drop a pin.*

  His nickname for me has always sent a flutter through my entire body. I swear I could purr. I send him my location before I can think better of it. Before I can decide this is all too much and go back home to admit defeat.

  - --

  Ten minutes later, I walk out of the gyms locker room, ready to read while I wait, but I'm surprised to see Tristian already there. The site of him warming my entire body.

  I didn't realize it was him until we made eye contact. A lot can change in three years, especially when you're the head of one of the highest rated cyber security companies in the world. You have to put on a good first impression, make people really believe not only are you smart, but you can protect them.

  "You checking me out?"

  My eye roll is involuntary, but I catch it and school my face. He seems to have noticed though, his eyes narrowing.

  "Sorry, I-" The burn in my chest is immediately doused by the rapid buzzing of my phone and the simultaneous bell of the gyms main door opening. His smirk is immediately morphed into a scowl. "Oppy?" He reaches down grabbing my bag from me, god I forgot how tall he is, shooting a glance at the door then back to me.

  I take a deep breath before answering my phone and turning away from Tristian, "Hi, Jon."

  "Where are you?" He doesn't sounds angry just yet.

  Grateful I don't have to lie to him, I reply, "I'm at the gym."

  "I'm hungry, bring me home a burrito. I'll put some money on your card."

  I bounce on my toes frantically trying to figure out what the right thing to say is when Tristian steps in front of be taking over my entire field of vision. We make eye contact as I say, "Okay yea, sausage or bacon?" I wince when Tristian's face turns confused. On the other end of the phone, I hear his car start. It was a trap.

  He sighs, annoyed, "You've been on that treadmill for a while, Ophelia."

  I keep playing along, "Yea, the craziest thing happened! I locked my keys in my locker today, I'm going to have to-" Tristian lifts my keys dangling off of the bag he's holding, I grab them to keep them from making sound, -"wait a few more minutes for maintenance to get it open for me - Oh! it looks like she's on her way over here now, I'll be home after I grab food!"

  I hang up, my heart galloping in my chest. Not only did I *hang up on him,* but he's on his way.

  "Tristian, we need to go."

  "What the hell was that?" he's looking at my phone like if he could melt it with laser vision he would.

  "Can we just go, please?"

  He must see something in my expression and takes pity on me because within the next few moments, we're out the door and in his car.

  ---