Never Land by Kailin Gow

herself. Before even waiting for an invitation she sauntered past me into the room.
                “What are you doing here?” I said, feeling my face flush hot.
                “I wanted to talk to you,” announced Roni, sitting down on the sofa imperiously, as if she owned the place. Which, I guess, she kind of does. “To establish some limits. Clearly, you don't understand that Danny and I are very close.”
                She got my hackles up, but I refused to let her see me sweat. I smiled as sweetly as I could muster and said, “Well, I can only imagine. Losing a mother is so hard – I'm so glad he's able to see you as another maternal figure.”
                She grimaced. “You know that's not what I'm talking about. Danny's not just my stepson – that, like everything else in my marriage, is just a formality. Danny and I knew each other long before I married Clarence. We were very close, and I enjoyed it.”
                “Until you married his father,” I added, my smile still plastered on my face.
                “Clarence is a – charming man,” she replied smoothly. “I was young. Naïve. And he exposed me to a world I could never have dreamed of...”
                “...filled with money you could have never earned yourself.”
                Veronica shot me a faux-injured look. “It's not about his money, you silly girl. There's nothing wrong with being attracted to a man who is a good provider. Who knows what he wants and how to get it.”  
                “A sugar daddy?” I asked, my voice scathing with disdain.
                “Please, dear,” said Roni. “You're so naïve, looking at things so simplistically. I care greatly for Clarence. But I love Danny. All of Clarence's worldly charm – with certain skills one simply cannot get from an older man. I've never experienced such power, such passion...”
                Her words made me sick to my stomach. Hearing such filth come out of Veronica's mouth made me want to run to the bathroom and vomit all over one of the meticulous Blue Enterprises Jacuzzis.
                “So, what do you want me to do about it?” I asked – pretending to be far braver than I felt.
                Roni didn’t hesitate. “To ensure that neither you – nor anybody else, for that matter – holds Danny back from his bright future. He has great things ahead of him. If he's not distracted. I have plans for Danny.”
                “And your plans are the same as your husband's?”
                “Not exactly. I want Danny to take over Blue Enterprises, just as his father does. Only, I want to do it sooner...and I want him.”
                Her eyes sparkled maliciously, and in an instant I understood her plan. Get Danny the President position – along with the position's billions of pounds' worth of perks. Make him financially secure before seducing him and leaving Clarence, getting her hot boy toy and her husband's money in one fell swoop.
                “You're married. You're married to his father, you sick...”
                I never got to finish my sentence. Roni slapped me clear across the face, and my cheek smarted from the blow. “Whatever you think you know or understand, believe me, you don't.” Her doll-like face had vanished – this Veronica was cold, steely, and filled with malice. “I'm not interested in having some child telling me what I can and cannot do.” She stepped close to me, getting into my face. “I'm sure you think you're somebody. But believe me – you're just like every other wannabe celebutante, the daughter of a washed-up rock star and a sagging swimsuit model. You have no idea who you're dealing with. And if you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from Danny. If I see you together again, believe me – there will be consequences.