Chapter 5 CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE

ROMEO –  POINT OF VIEW

“A gold digger? Aren’t you being a little harsh?” Mom frowns at me, hand on her hips.

“I’m not being harsh. I’m saying it as it is. Why do you want to pay her twenty grand a month?” I ask, chest flaring with irritation.

“I need her, Romeo. She’s extremely intelligent. She has twins, so she’ll know how to handle the triplets. She has maternal instinct, and she’s very kind. Kai vouched for her. What exactly is the problem? What do you have against her? Did she leave because of you?” She glares at me, tone low and clipped.

I clench my fists and look away from her.

Millicent Stark is not working here. She cannot work here. The sight of her makes my skin crawl. I do everything to separate school and my home life. Her presence here will disrupt the system I have painstakingly created.

“Let’s hear it.” Mom urges, throwing her hands up dramatically.

I frown when she winces. 

“Sit, and I’ll give you a full list,” I say, jaw clenched.

She sighs, but takes her seat. Pain flashes over her features. She shouldn’t have stood for so long. Guilt runs through me like a thread, but I ignore it.

“We go to the same school together, and she’s very weird. The school weirdo. Everyone knows her for this. There’s something strange about her, and she’s unbearable. She wears odd clothes, talks to herself and stays in the library all day. No one likes. We all tolerate her, but that’s it. She cannot be here. She cannot watch the children when it’s clear that she isn’t mentally fit.” I explain, ignoring the twinge in my heart.

I’m willing to do anything to get her out of here.

Mom scoffs and articulates, “Really? That’s your play? I looked into her, and she’s smarter than you are. She’s leading the class. She is a genius when it comes to AP English. I don’t care what clothes she wears or what your posh friends say about her. She’s the one I want. She will take care of the children. You are no help, Romeo, and yet, you’re pushing away the only help I’ve found.”

Her last sentence makes my chest sting. I avoid her gaze and square my shoulders.

“I’m always busy, Mom. Between school and football, I barely have time for anything else.” I whisper, my lungs tightening with so much guilt.

“I know,” she caresses my cheeks softly, “I know you’re very busy. You’re our superstar, after all. Millicent can be a good addition to the family. You get to play without worrying about me, and I won’t be on my feet all day. You know I need her. I need the help.”

I want to agree, but I just can’t.

“I’ll find someone for you, someone better. We can get professionals. It won’t take long to find someone proficient. She’s a stranger and not as privileged as we are, which will affect her job. At school, she’s very rude, proud and a major victim. She blames everyone for her lack of financial stability and acts as if we’re supposed to apologise for having more money than she does. She flaunts her knowledge as if it makes her special, when it doesn’t. I don’t trust her. I don’t trust her with my siblings. She’s a big red flag. She also doesn’t have a Dad. All these are bad signs. We need someone stable enough.” I express calmly, scrunching my nose in disgust.

Mom pulls away from me, and something flashes in her gaze.

She’s about to respond when she looks behind me and freezes.

I turn around and see we’re not alone. Milly and Kai stand there. Kai looks pissed, but what is new? Milly looks devastated, but also angry.

Mom gasps softly and walks to her, “I am sorry, Millicent. You weren’t supposed to hear that.”

“We came back because Kai forgot his phone, and he convinced me to take the job. Do you want to know why I’m reluctant to work for you, Mrs Sinclair?” She asks, folding her arms, cheeks flushed.

“Your son is a bully, the biggest bully there is.” She announces loudly.

I scoff, irritated, “You need to leave now before I throw you out.”

“Romeo!” Mom snaps at me.

“Sit down, Mom. You shouldn’t be on your feet for too long.” I exhale, head aching softly. It’ll bloom into a major headache soon.

Mom ignores me as Milly continues.

“He is a very big bully. He goes around with his friends and girlfriend, humiliating everyone they deem inferior, pushing, kicking, and biting. His girlfriend is insane, and I know I shouldn’t say it because the bullying is only going to intensify, but what is new? Before I came here, she paid some of his teammates to mess with me in the pool. They held my legs down and almost drowned me. I was so scared and helpless. I finally escaped and saw them, together. He might not have held me down, but he’s complicit.” She snaps, nostrils flared.

“No.” Mom gasps, horrified.

She looks at me and whispers, “Tell me she’s lying, Romeo.”

I don’t speak because she isn’t lying.

Milly turns to me and shakes her head as if she’s disappointed. Who does she think she is to be disappointed in me? She’s the dirt beneath my shoe. She’s mud and worthless. An irrelevance.

“You have three younger siblings, and this is the example you’re setting for them? You’re nothing but an empty-headed bully, Romeo. Do your worst. Tell your monster of a girlfriend so she can hurt me. Nothing she does will be surprising. I have been bullied all my life, so I guess I have a thicker skin now, all thanks to you.” She doesn’t raise her voice or yell. Somehow, even now, she’s calm. Maybe Mom was right, and she will be perfect for the children.

“I was going to take the job and help your mom, but not anymore. You don’t deserve my help. You don’t deserve anything good. I might not have a mansion on a mountain, but I get by. I do my best. I take care of my family, and I work hard. You play ball and fail your tests. You have no right to talk to me.” She spits out and storms out of the house.

Kai glares, then follows her quickly like a puppet on a string.

“What have you become?” Mom whispers, and shame clings to me.