The date went well, flowers, dinner, and movie. It was when he tried to push her further in the front seat of his car that Chloe told him no. Thus she once again went through school being taunted, this time by guys. She was known as frigid and an ice queen.
Now Chloe stood in her small room as she closed the last box. Graduation had been yesterday and she was moving back to Salem for the summer. Chloe and her father had been having heated discussions for the past six months about college but that was not going to damper her mood today. She smiled at her best friend thinking about how great it would be to room at George Mason University together in the fall. Her father wanted her to go to his elite private college but after four years of Pinewood she was determined to stick up for herself. She carefully carried the box toward the door and was startled when her father entered unannounced. “Daddy?” Charles was lost in thought and did not hear his daughter’s acknowledgements. “Daddy what’s wrong?”
He looked at Chloe with a solemn expression, “Your grandfather. I just received the call ten minutes ago. We have to fly back for the funeral.” He turned his attention toward Nella, his surrogate daughter. Her parents had been unable to attend various functions throughout the four years and he had filled in, becoming very close to her as well, “Can you take my car home with all our stuff, we have to fly out?”
Nella nodded yes as Chloe’s father left the room. “Chloe I’m so sorry?”
Chloe turned around and shrugged, “It’s ok, I haven’t seen him in 10 years anyway.” Her father had cut connections with Chloe’s grandfather, founder of Hanback & Co. when he had married his very youthful secretary. Chloe was 10 the last time she had spoken to her grandfather, her only other connection to relatives.
*~*
Two days later Chloe stood in her room back in Salem as she began to dress. Downstairs her house was filled with hundreds of people she did not want to see, each one ready to offer condolences to a person Chloe barely knew. She was in no rush to make her entrance but as she noticed the time she realized her father would be waiting.
Carefully applying her lipstick she smoothed her black dress. It hugged her curves and its V-neck accentuated her cleavage. It hung just below her knees, showing off her tanned legs. It had been four years since she had seen most of the society children and she was proud of what she had become.
*~*
“Jason don’t you think the dance next week at the club will be wonderful?” Annie interrupted his thoughts.
“Huh? Oh, yes.” Jason grabbed a glass of champagne as the tray passed by. “Oh dear God look at that,” he whispered pointing toward the entrance. There stood Josh, one of Jason’s best friends.
“What’s wrong?” Annie peered toward the entrance before uttering, “Why does he always have to do that?”
The two friends quickly made their way to their very intoxicated friend, attempting to divert any attention. “Josh, why did you show up here drunk?” Jason asked in an agitated tone.
“I’m not drunk—besides I hope my parents get embarrassed.” Josh was the only child of Henry and Gail Miller. Henry Miller owned many oil wells throughout the country and his business was booming. Josh hated his parents for trying to force him into the family business. Josh wanted to pursue his dream of acting and when his parent’s refused he made it his life’s ambition to make them regret their decision. He became the obnoxious son, crashing parties in his inebriated state, breaking the law, doing anything he could think of to humiliate them.
Annie, one of Jason and Josh’s closest friends knew of Josh’s efforts, as did Jason. They both disapproved yet Josh remained adamant.
“My damn father put me in charge of hiring for the new oil well in South America. I chose some guy and then he yelled at me.”
“Well did you choose the worst guy for the job?” Jason tried to control his anger over his friend’s behavior.
Josh straightened up, “No! I chose someone decent. He just wanted this other guy, someone from a hick town with no qualifications.” His friends stared at him in confusion and Josh continued, “This guy has spunk my dad said. Has a plan on what to do with the five million dollars bonus you get when you stay with the project for four years.” He grabbed another glass of champagne as a waiter passed and chugged it, “I have the perfect way to humiliate my parents.”
“Oh, and how is that?” Annie asked cautiously for she did not want to know the answer.
The smirk on Josh’s face widened as he explained, “I am going to have this hick come to the party next week at the club. Won’t that just **** my parent’s---who is that?” Two sets of eyes turned toward the staircase where Josh was pointing.
“That,” Jason whispered in disbelief,” Is Chloe Hanback.”
“The same one?” Josh squinted his eyes, “Can’t be.”
“I’ll be right back.” Jason left the group in pursuit of Chloe.
*~*
“Chloe, hi.” Jason approached her as she reached the bottom step.
“Jason!” She reached in for a hug, which was warmly accepted.
“You look—beautiful.”
Her cheeks blushed, “Thank you.”
He motioned toward the door, “Would you like to go for a walk?”
Jason and Chloe walked through the gardens that adorned the Hanback estate talking about their lives. Jason was engaged which deeply saddened Chloe. Jason also explained how he knew of Chloe’s ‘crush’ while she was younger when she mentioned her one horrific date. “I always knew one day there would be a guy that would take the spotlight from me,” he had said with a glimmer in his eye. Chloe couldn’t gather enough courage to tell Jason that there was never anyone else. As they sauntered back toward the door Jason stopped her, “Chloe would you join us at the party next week at the club?” She began to answer but he interrupted, “Please, it would be really great to have you there—I know everyone is dying to talk to you again.”
Chloe looked at his hand, which was gently resting on her arm and back toward his eyes. “I don’t think they would care one way or the other but, ok, I’ll be there.”
He smiled and hugged her, “Great—what’s that?”
Chloe broke from his embrace as a black limousine pulled up to the main entrance and a very pretty blond woman stepped out accompanied by two young men, one tall and skinny, the other short and stumpy. “It’s my grandfather’s wife.” She whispered in shock, “I can guarantee she is here to get her inheritance, that gold digger.”