Chapter 8

<p>POPPY</p><p>When my phone beeped in my bag, my face turned ashen. I grabbed the strap of my shoulder bag and flung it open, dipping my hand in. Pulling it out, I clicked on the notification. A text from Jojo, asking if my hot stepbrother has tried anything yet.</p><p>I typed back: Absolutely not. He’s the worst person I’ve ever met. Jojo: Lies. I can practically hear you smiling through the phone. Me: I’m not smiling. I’m suffering.</p><p>Jojo: suffering how? Be specific.</p><p>I sighed and locked my phone without replying. If only she knew how every buzz from my phone had me jumping.</p><p>Two days had passed. My blackmailer hadn’t texted again and the silence was worse than another text and picture would have been.</p><p>All my effort to push it off my mind failed and I equally hadn’t told anyone else. Not mom, not Jojo.</p><p>I slung my bag over my shoulder and tiptoed down the stairs and towards the exit door, dragging my small box with me. The railing clunked when my bag hit it.</p><p>God, I didn’t want anyone to know I was leaving. No, not leaving. I was running.</p><p>I glanced back. Thankfully, the noise wasn’t loud enough to warrant someone coming to the living room, so I turned and resumed walking.</p><p>“Going somewhere?”</p><p>I froze, an eerie sensation boring down my spine. I turned and gawked at Colton’s dad. He wore a white with red striped pajamas, his phone fisted in his palm.</p><p>Swallowing, I dropped the bag on my shoulder on top of my box, then propped my hands on my hips. “Mr. Eugene.”</p><p>He waved over at me, his eyes drifting down to my bag. I shuffled towards him, standing a few feet away, the skin between my brows folding.</p><p>“Actually, I need a moment with you.” He drifted his eyes back to my face, his mouth stretching into a warm smile.</p><p>“I’m going to work.” And running.</p><p>“About that.” He pocketed his phone and clasped his hands together. The smile vanished, his expression taking a serious form. “I spoke with your mother before she left. We agreed you’d quit. Retail jobs don’t reflect well for a Ross.”</p><p>Mom again? Why was she full of surprises now?</p><p>Nothing good came out of bearing that name. My life had been a series of bad thrillers. “I’m not a Ross.”</p><p>The skin by the corner of his eyes crinkled. “I know my marriage with Vanessa is a lot for you to process. With time, you’d understand.” His face relaxed, and a smile broadened on his lips. “You’d manage the hotel alongside your brother. Or stay at home. Money isn’t an issue.”</p><p>My lips parted, but I lacked words. Manage the hotel with that jerk?</p><p>Because of him, I was being blackmailed, and funny enough, you couldn’t see his face in that picture. Just mine. At least there was an alternative to stay at home.</p><p>And of course, money won’t be an issue. Not when it was made from gambling. Eugene continued, “I hope you know I want what’s best for you.”</p><p>I didn’t have the strength to argue. So it was simple: pretend to obey him and run next time I had the chance. The entrance door slid open, and we both tilted our heads.</p><p>“Ah, Celeste, you arrived right on time.” Eugene rubbed his hands, then spread them open. The lady—tall, oddly familiar with a surgically enhanced body beamed.</p><p>“Eugene.” She abandoned her luggage by the door and jogged over to us. “It’s good to be back.” She hugged him.</p><p>That was when recognition hit me. A knot wove in my chest as I watched her. My potential blackmailer, the one who spilled wine on me.</p><p>“Good for us all.” He gave her a back pat. When she broke the hug, she turned to me, brows furrowing. I shifted. I knew she recognized me. Eugene spared me a glance, then turned to her. “Celeste, this is Poppy, Vanessa’s daughter.”</p><p>She widened her eyes and expanded her hands. “Poppy, nice to finally meet you.” What a terrible performance. I almost rolled my eyes.</p><p>“Hi.” I inched closer, hugging her. Regret clothed me immediately when she touched me with two fingers and pulled away, her smile still intact. Bitch!</p><p>Her gaze moved from my feet to my face. “Eugene talks about his new daughter constantly.” She gestured with her hands as she spoke. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”</p><p>I rubbed my eyes, bored. “Does he?”</p><p>“Can’t help it,” Eugene stated, chuckling. The approaching footsteps took my gaze away. Colton, walking down the stairs. A sweaty gym shirt wrapped around his torso, and his black joggers sagged low.</p><p>“Celeste.” He set down the water bottle he was sipping from. My stomach growled, and I wrapped my hands around it. Of course he’d notice her first. His eyes moved from her, then finally rested on me. I tilted my head.</p><p>Celeste cleared her throat and maneuvered to him. “You could sound a little more excited.” She hugged him, pointing at her bags at the door. “I moved in for you.”</p><p>“I heard.” Colton’s gaze narrowed from me to my box, then back at me.</p><p>“You two behave.” Eugene entered the conversation again, facing them. “We have company.”</p><p>“We’re not doing anything wrong.” Celeste leaned deeper into Colton, rubbing his chest. Finally, he passed her a stare and she tipped up on her toes, and pressed her lips on his.</p><p>My breath hitched, my vision blurring. She pulled away and passed me a glance before turning to Eugene with a smile. “Are we?”</p><p>I gave a tight smile and trudged over to my box, dragging it. “I’m going to head upstairs now.” I hated how much seeing someone else kiss him affected me. I hated that Colton let her kiss him.</p><p>He didn’t kiss her back, but neither did he pull away. fucker</p><p>“It really was nice meeting you.” Celeste said when I reached in her front. “Sister-in-law.”</p><p>“You too,” I told her, then I spared Colton a glance and dragged my box, staggering up the stairs.</p><p>What a fucked-up house.</p>