Keep Left

We arrived to Jacob’s manor, which was basically a mansion out of a MTV cribs or something! The guards opened the gate and allowed us entrance. I drove to the semicircle and parked. I was greeted by a butler and then Machen appeared.

“Yanis are you and your mother okay?”

“I am right here Machen I can answer for myself. We’re fine.”

“Yes daddy, grandpa and grandma are after us”

“What is he talking about?”

“My dad is in Paris”

“FUCK!”

“Machen, language!”

“OOH daddy you have to go to timeout again!”

“I will buddy, I’m sorry. Sorry Chloe. Let’s get you inside. Mr DeSantis asked if I would meet you here as I was closer. He’s on his way, he’s still 15 minutes out.”

“Thank you.”

I was greeted by the maids who took my jacket and Yanis’. They took him to the kitchen to get fruit. I waited until I saw them far enough away before I questioned Machen. He looked nervous and for a moment I noticed he was scared. I had never seen him scared, but I knew what fear looked like.

“Max, what the hell is going on?”

He raised an eyebrow at me and was about to comment until he saw how serious I was. He took a moment to think through if he wanted to tell me or not, but in the end he chose to tell me everything or so I thought.

“Chloe, I didn’t leave you because I wanted to. Your father told me if I chose to stay to fight for you, he would make not only my life hard, but my mom as well. We have never had much, but me working for your dad made it where mom didn’t have to do too much. I hate everyday I was away from you, especially since you were pregnant and I didn’t even know.

Mom told me that your dad told her she better keep me away from you or the next blood relative would be me. She didn’t know what he meant until you showed up with Yanis. Chloe, I didn’t know you were being tortured by your own father when I was leaving. You know I would’ve fought tooth and nail for you! I love you so much! Seeing you with Jacob, burns my skin away and it’s hard to stomach.

Your father stripped me of all my accomplishments and deleted every job for reference I had. I couldn’t work anywhere in the States, so I came to France. We were able to get housing right away and I even started working for Mr DeSantis, Jacob months later. If it hadn’t been for the savings I didn’t put in banks, my mom and I would’ve had nothing.

I would’ve had nothing to give to Ava. Yes, I tried to make my family work with Pixie because I grew up without my father, who hates me! It’s no reason I shouldn’t have reached out to you, but I was afraid for my family’s safety. I know you understand that.”

“I do Max, but it doesn’t change you didn’t leave me with anything but the letter and it didn’t say much. Just that you loved me. Love isn’t enough when your whole world is falling apart and you feel you’re alone. Love can only cover so much. You had to know I would try to reach out to you at some point, yet you chose not to reach me in any form. And that was NOT fair to me. I asked you why my dad being here is a “FUCK” moment and you want to talk about us! NOW IS NOT THE TIME! I want to know why my dad is here!”

“You really don’t care about me anymore do you?”

“Honestly, no Max. I spent four years grieving you. In fact until I decided to allow myself to start going out with Jacob, I was still grieiving you. But I’m tired of that emotions and I refuse to feel it again. I actually like Jacob and so does Yanis. I’ve known for awhile that I’ve liked him, but I pushed my feelings aside because of how I felt about you, but truth is when I found you here living like you didn’t have a care in the world, I became angry! How dare you leave me, your Fiancee’, just because you discovered you had a daughter? If anything, I would’ve loved Ava like I love Yanis! You didn’t even give me a chance, so I have no more chances to give you. We are over Machen, for good. That doesn’t mean we can’t coparent Yanis, unless you don’t want to. I’m not asking for child support or anything. Now, can we talk about my dad being here?”

I didn’t expect him to kiss me. He pushed his lips against mine and it was the first time I felt disgusted. It took me a minute to respond, but when my mind caught up to what was going on, I shoved him away from me and forgetting that Yanis was a few meters away from us I slapped him as hard as I could muster. To make matters worse, Jacob walked in and saw the whole thing.

“How dare you force yourself on me! You know what-“

“Chloe?”

I turned to see Jacob looking at us both with an angered expression. I didn’t know if he was mad at me or Machen or both of us. I was pulled out of my guilt trip when Yanis started yelling.

“Mommy no! Daddy why did you make mommy sad. Mommy mommy mommy!”

“Oh, Yanis, I’m sorry I scared you. I promise mommy isn’t mad. Calm down, I’m fine. I’m so sorry. Jacob, I-“

“Machen, leave us”

“Chloe, I’m sorry”

“No you aren’t! Every since I allowed you to be apart of Yanis’ life, you’ve caused a lot of trouble! I’d take it back if I knew Yanis would be okay. Leave me alone Machen! For good! I won’t be brought out of character in front of my son again because of you!”

“You can’t keep my son from me, I will fight you for my rights!”

“I never said that, Machen. You’re trying to make me mad again.”

“Machen! I asked you to leave, do I need to fire you again?”

He stormed away, but not before looking back at me comforting Yanis again. I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn’t spare him a glance. Jacob came over to kneel beside Yanis and I. He hugged us both and I witnessed something I never saw Yanis do before. He pulled out of my arms and hugged Jacob fully. He looked up at me from Jacob’s arms and I smiled at them both. Once we got him settled into a guest room for a nap, Jacob was waiting for me in the living room.

“Chloe, are you okay? I know it is hard to deal with all you have going on. I heard you say that your father is the one who had his people after you, do you know why?”

“I don’t know anything Jacob. My father is an evil man. He’s never met Yanis and I plan to keep it that way. He chose a woman over me and my brother. Speaking of my brother, can I see your phone?”

“Of course. I bought you a new one. I left it in the car when I heard yelling. I’ll go get it, make your phone call.”

“I phoned Miles from his phone and he answered right away. I noticed he was whispering.”

“Chloe, whatever dad tells you don’t believe it. I know this is you. I’ll call you back on this phone when I am able to talk. Wait for me okay? If you don’t hear from me tonight by 10, then assume the worse. I’ll give you time to rest until then.”

“The call ended and I knew my brother was in trouble and that pissed me off! I used Jacob’s phone to make another call.”

“Who is this?”

“Raith, it’s Chloe.”

“Chloe, hi! Wait why are you calling me from France? Who is Jacob DeSantis?”

“He’s my boyfriend and I’m using his phone because my father found me. Raith, Miles is in trouble can you help him until I get back to the States?”

“Of course, Chloe. Anything for you. I’m saddened Jacob has won your heart, but he must be special if you gave him the chance. I hope he knows how lucky he is!”

“I do!”

“I looked up to see Jacob smiling.”

“Hey Mr DeSantis, Raith here. No last name. Chloe, it looks like he is in the presidential wing of your dad’s mansion. That’s where his phone is pinging from. Do you want me to send in reinforcements?”

“Yes! Get him out of there by any means necessary. I’ll send over your compensation”

“No compensation needed Chloe. You know you and Miles are family to me. I only took your money when I gave you the fake ID all those years ago because I was mad the fucking bodyguard won your heart after Kev. Hey you know he and Lilith divorced. She caught him in bed with her assistant.”

“Raith, don’t take this personal, but I don’t care!”

“I was just trying to lighten the mood. I don’t know Mr DeSantis enough not to make him sweat that you might have a lover in the States. If you have a computer nearby I can patch you through.”

“Jacob do you have a computer I can use?”

“Reinforcements are five minutes out Chloe, but they are on the way.”

“Let me pay them then, it’s the least I can do.”

“If you insist, they owe me a favor so they will do it for free.”

“Thanks, Raith”

“Like I said, anything for you Chloe”

Jacob returned with a laptop. It looked brand new. I opened it and gave it’s system numbers to Raith. He patched me in and I had a live view of daddy’s mansion. The reinforcement team were each wearing a body cam. I got to see when they breeched security and subdued them all. Miles was bloody and beaten to a pulp. I hated to see him like that. We kept minimal contact, so dad wouldn’t pester him about me. He always sent me a message monthly to let me know he was okay and update me on how he was doing. I wasn’t set to receive this month’s for another week or so. I was burning with anger seeing Miles like this. The guy carrying Miles told him he had a body cam that I could hear him.

“Chloe, I’ve enabled you to speak to Miles, go ahead..”

“Miles, it’s Chloe! They’re going to bring you to me okay?”

“Ch-Chloe? No! Dad is going to kill you! Don’t let me lead him to you! Let them take me as far away from you. I’ll speak to you through the internet, but do not let them bring me to you! Please!”

“Okay okay. I miss you Miles. Promise me, once you’re settled and your wounds cared for, you will call me back? Raith will get you to me okay?”

“Raith is on too? Raith he will come for you, he’s been waiting on Chloe to rescue me which is why I told her to wait for me to call her! You’ve been compromised.”

“Don’t worry my brother, I am everywhere all at once. He came looking for me when Chloe first disappeared. He didn’t even know he was talking to me when he asked about her. How do you think she kept slipping away from him?”

“Clever son of a bitch! Chloe, whatever dad is involved with, he’s willing to hurt, kill even, his own children for it. I was living in Daytona Florida, when his men appeared to collect me. They didn’t give me a chance to collect my things or anything. Wait...where’s Yanis?”

“He’s fine, we’re fine. We’re here with Jacob.”

“Who the fuck is Jacob, Chloe?”

“My boyfriend, duh!”

“Chloe, haven’t you learned that none of them love you? They love that you’re the president’s daughter and your money!”

“He didn’t know I was the President’s daughter until you just mentioned it.”

“Wait, he can hear me?”

“I told you we were here with Jacob, of course he can hear you! You’re hurt, but worrying about my love life. I see you got your priorities straight!”

“Chloe! Will you listen to me! You think you’re the only one who wants to be in love? I’m effected by our psycho father too! And don’t get me started on mom. You have one parent who is crazy, I have fucking two!”

“I’m sorry Miles. What has step mother Eva been up to?”

“She’s been trying to figure out how you turned me against her and the quads. Hell even they know that she is evil! They have pulled away from her as well. She blames me, that’s why I moved away when I got the opportunity. Don’t let them catch you Chloe, they’ll do whatever to you to get all the money your mom left you. Apparently, she knew Phix was mad. She moved all of her assets the day before she died! She turned it all over to you. Now he wants it back. I take it you haven’t watched the news. A war is pending and he needs financial coverage, your financial coverage. Sis, please be careful. And Jacob if my sister winds up dead so will you!”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Miles.”

“Miles, did you really have to threaten him?”

“Hell YEAH! He going to love you and my nephew, he better know I’ll kill him personally for you, about you!”

“I understand Miles. I love your sister and would be deserving of such punishment for hurting her.”

“I love you Miles, be safe”

“I love you too Chloe. I can’t wait to meet you Jacob”

“I ended the call and went to check on Yanis. Jacob was quietly watching me as I covered him with the blankets. I was going to curl up beside him, but Jacob asked me to follow him.”