Lovers or Rivals

The battle lines were drawn.

Erin stared up at her enemy with unwavering brown eyes. Sure, her lip trembled a little, but she hid it well. She wouldn’t cry. Even if he did it, she wouldn’t cry.

But would he? Would he really do it?

Her heart arrested with fear in her chest, Erin watched the boy smirk as his hand wrapped firmly around the head of her treasured woollen doll.

He wouldn’t dare.

That evil glint flickered in his eyes and before Erin could say a thing, he jerked his arm back, ripping off the head of her doll and with no remorse, tossing it across the vast backyard.

Erin was frozen in place, her eyes wide in disbelief.

“Told you I’d do it,” he told her, his mouth curved in that smirk that she despised so much. He scoffed. “What? You gonna cry?”

Erin looked at him, her lip openly trembling now.

“That…” she started. “…was a Christmas present from my mom!” With tearing eyes and an angry scream, she threw herself at him, beating him with all the strength her nine year old fists could muster.

They fell to the ground, tussling upon the green grass of the luxurious estate.

“Get away from me!” the boy snapped, disgusted to have the bratty little girl touch his expensive clothes.

Erin dug her fingers into his thick blonde hair, gripping and tugging as hard as she could until he screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Help!” screamed the boy, but very soon he could no longer form words because Erin’s sharp little teeth had sunk into his cheek and he could do nothing but scream.

“Erin! Braden! What in the world?!”

Strong hands tugged them away from each other and the two children stood, glaring at one another and breathless from their fight.

“He started it!!” screamed Erin, unable to stop the tears from flowing now.

Her mother released their arms and crossed her own as she looked down at her daughter.

“Erin! What did I say—”

“He really started it, mommy!” she cried, embarrassed of her tears but unable to stop crying. Braden really was such a horrible boy. If she’d known that she had to live with him, Erin would have run away to the ocean to live on the beach. “He b-broke my dolly! And it was my Christmas present!”

“You bit me!” Braden retorted, glaring at Erin.

“Both of you stop it,” said Erin’s mother. “Braden, I’ll keep Erin out of your way, so please, you may return to your lessons.”

Erin looked up at her mother in disbelief. “Mom! I told you he started it!”

“Just shut up!” Braden told her, holding his throbbing cheek.

“What’s going on here?”

Erin watched her mom turn around, startled by the voice of her boss.

Walking towards them was Julius Stone, Chairman of Stone Inc. and the owner of the grand estate upon which they stood. A man with millions in his pocket and even more in his bank. His white hair looked bright in the sunlight, the suit he wore from one of the most elite clothing brands. To Erin, he seemed to own the whole world.

And he just happened to be Braden’s grandfather.

“Oh! Good day, Sir!” said Erin’s mother hurriedly. “I wasn’t aware that you’d be home so early.”

“Grandpa!” Braden screamed, his voice pitiful as he ran to his grandfather’s side. He immediately pointed an accusing finger at Erin. “The maid’s daughter bit me! Look!”

Erin’s mother gasped, clutching the front of her uniform. Shaking her head, she raised her hands in a plea. “It was only a mistake, Sir! I promise it will not happen again! Erin…” Reaching back, she tugged Erin forward. “Say sorry to Braden. Go on!”

As silent as a stone, Erin bit her lip as more tears flowed. She would not apologize to Braden Stone even if they promised her a pony!

Silently, Julius tilted his grandson’s face, studying the clear bite marks on his reddened cheek. She’d bitten him alright.

He looked at Erin. “Little girl?”

Slowly raising her eyes to the tall man before her, Erin sniffled and tried to stop crying. “Y-yes, Sir.”

“What happened?”

Swallowing hard and wiping a hand across her cheek, Erin looked up at Braden’s grandpa. “B-braden broke my dolly,” she explained tearfully.

“Did not!” he snapped.

“Did too! You broke off her head and threw it over there!” Erin cried. She looked up at his grandpa with a nod. “He really did! He told me it was s-smelly and old and that my mom was too poor to get me toys like his!”

“Cause it’s true!” snapped Braden.

“Stop it!” Erin flew at him with her fists, caught halfway by her mother’s arms.

“Erin!” chided her mother. “Stop this immediately.” She looked at her boss who remained silent, watching Erin and all her antics. “I’m really sorry, Sir!”

Julius raised a hand, waving away his house help’s apologies.

“Little girl.”

At his addressing her, Erin stopped and stilled, raising her gaze to meet his. “Yes, sir.”

“Do you think it is okay to hit or hurt others?”

The slight rebuke made Erin lower her gaze. “It… it was my Christmas present… my mom made it.”

At the fat tears that rolled down the little girl’s face, Julius sighed.

“It was stinky and ugly anyway,” Braden told her.

“That’s enough!” barked Julius. Startled by his grandfather’s sudden shout, Braden shrunk back. “Not another word out of you, Braden.” Turning back to the little girl, Julius took a gentler tone. “I asked a question, little girl.”

Erin’s shoulders slumped.

Of course. Braden’s grandpa would defend him. And he would probably send her and her mother away because she bit Braden. The thought made Erin’s heart quiver with fear. They’d lived here since Erin was five and her mom would be so sad if they sent them away. They had nowhere else to go.

Erin clenched her fists. “No,” she said quietly. “… it is not okay to hurt others.” Slowly, she raised her gaze to Julius Stone’s. “But it’s also bad to break someone’s dolly.”

“Erin!” scolded her mother.

“I know I bit him, but it was because he made me mad when he broke my dolly! I told him not to! My mom didn’t do anything wrong so you can’t send her away, Sir! Fine!” She looked at Braden angrily. “Sorry I bit you, Braden!” Her teary gaze went back to his grandfather’s. “I said sorry, you can’t send us away! He was wrong to break my dolly!”

Julius raised a hand, silencing her while he looked at Erin with eyes of slight intrigue. The little girl had more spirit than all of his male descendants combined. “That’s true,” Julius calmly agreed, turning to his grandson. “He was wrong. That is why Braden will also apologize.”

Braden’s head snapped up to look at his grandfather. “Grandpa!”

“Immediately, Braden. Or else.”

With his grandfather’s last two words striking fear into him, Braden was left with no choice but to look at Erin. She looked back at him with bold eyes. He clenched his jaw, glaring at her. How dare she? Who was she to get an apology from him?! She was just the maid’s child while he… he was the heir of a billion dollar fortune.

Braden’s teeth clenched tighter. He would make her pay for this. “I’m… sorry.”

Julius set a hand on his grandson’s shoulder. “Good.” He looked at Erin. “He’s apologized and I promise to ensure that your doll is replaced by one identical to it. Is that alright?”

Erin was struck silent by shock. Braden had apologized to her. For the first time ever. She blinked up at his grandfather. He’d get her a new dolly? Slowly, she nodded. “Y-yes. Yes, sir.”

Behind her, her mother released a breath of relief. “I’ll prepare lunch, Sir.”

Julius nodded and turned to lead his grandson away.

“Come in to eat, sweetheart,” said her mother to her, wiping away Erin’s tears and kissing her forehead before she hurried off towards the house.

Erin watched Julius Stone walk away with his grandson and scratched her head in puzzlement.

He’d made Braden say sorry and he was going to get her a new dolly? Erin couldn’t believe it. Braden’s grandpa wasn’t as scary as she’d always believed. The Chairman was someone who owned everything and yet he was… nice.

Halfway to the house, Braden turned back and his sharp, blue-eyed gaze met Erin’s. She felt a chill race over her arms at his cold stare and hugged herself.

That glint flickered in his eyes. He was going to get his revenge.