Taming the Devil's Heiress

9 - Buried memories

"Eli..." he started, but I quickly raised my hand to stop him from talking or making excuses.

I stomped my way back to my table and started working again. I heard Sebastian's heavy sigh but I didn't even try to look at him. All I want is to finish this freaking proposal and make them approve it. That's the only way to prove my worth for now. That's the only way to get out of this f*****g place! I can't stand breathing the same air as Sebastian's!

I tried hard to focus and think of something but my mind just wasn't cooperating. It keeps on going back to that woman who made him completely forget about me in a snap!

Wait a minute. Am I jealous?

No! Of course not! I looked like a fool as I argued with my own thoughts.

I heard him clear his throat as if he would say something when we heard a knock on the door. I felt like I had seen my savior when Dmitri's assistant came in with a paper bag in his hand.

"Good afternoon Mr. Moore, I came to bring this to Ms. Eli." he politely said. The brute looked at me without saying a word.

I stood up from my seat to take the bag of take out from my brother's assistant.

"Thank you Linox." I motioned him to the door. I didn't want to stay here any longer. I am sure that I can find a place somewhere here to eat.

"Bye Sir," he told Sebastian before following me. I rolled my eyes while going out.

"Ms. Eli, your brother also asked me to give this to you." He then gave me a few paper bills.

I rolled my eyes again. Cash? Really? They can't even trust me with a card? Ugh. What am I? Elementary student? But I took it nonetheless. This is still better than not having anything at all.

"Thanks. Tell my brother also."

"Alright Miss. I have to go now."

"Hmkay." I looked at him as he went inside the elevator. I sighed when he was finally gone.

"Is there a pantry here?" I asked the secretary.

"That door, Ms. Alistair," she pointed her hand to the end of the hallway.

"Thanks! And please just call me Eli." I told her before walking away.

I dropped the bag of food on the table. It's Chinese food. I love these but right now, I seem to have lost all my appetite despite my hunger. I sighed as I opened each pack and started eating. But mostly, I was just toying with the food, my mind wandering to the memories that I thought I had already buried a long time ago...

***

"Sett?" I heard an unfamiliar voice call me. There is only one person in this world who calls me by that name!

"Seb!" I squealed when I saw him.

It's been a while since we last saw each other. He got bigger from what I can remember. Bigger, not taller. But I didn't mind! I like him this way. He's like a big, fluffy bear!

I jumped on him and wrapped my arms around his neck, causing both of us to fall down on the floor. We both laughed while getting back on our feet.

"What are you doing here?" he excitedly asked while fixing his eyeglasses. His voice also changed a lot.

"Guess what? We'll be staying here for good!" I gushed while pulling his arm.

I am now with my family for our first ever event ever since we came back here to New York. I'm just so happy to be here! This city is so alive compared to our laid back and isolated home in Oregon. My parents always wanted to stay there because it was more peaceful being away from the bustling city. But my grandparents are getting older and it's already hard for them to travel.

I'm not happy about their weak health, but I am really happy to be staying here in New York! It's like a dream come true!

"Really?!" he exclaimed. Both his eyes are widened behind his thick eyeglasses.

"Yup! And I will convince my parents to let me study at the same school where you are going." I grinned.

We remained friends despite living on different sides of the continent. Our communication never ceased. We always talk through chat and messages. And sometimes we meet up when my family go to New York to visit my grandparents. But those were just very rare occasions, since it was my grandparents who always visited us.

"That's great!" he smiled, showing his metal braces. He looked a little uncomfortable after that.

"Why? Is there a problem?" I asked.

"No, nothing." he put the smile back on his face. "Have you eaten already? Their dessert bar here is exquisite!"

I chuckled when he pulled me to the buffet table. He still hasn't changed at all. But I don't mind. I wouldn't want him any other way. He is my bestest friend ever! Most of my friends are only after my status and money, but not him. His family is almost as equally wealthy as mine and he hated attention. So I'm sure that he wouldn't use me for anything.

He's also the most genuine person that I've ever known. His reactions and emotions are always so transparent that it's too easy to tell how he feels.

Unlike my so-called friends who were just acting nice in front of me. But I know once I turn my back, they start talking about how much of a b***h I am. I mean, they're not wrong, but at least I wasn't pretending to be someone that I'm not...

***

"I'm so excited!" I exclaimed after I hopped inside Seb's car. He's not the one driving though.

My parents easily agreed after I told them that I wanted to go to the same school as Seb's. Then his parents offered to just pick me up, since our house is just along the way to school. We live in the same village.

They really thought that he would somehow influence me. Not that I need help with my studies, but my parents think that I am too stubborn for my own good. And being with Seb might somehow change me. Hah! They could only wish!

I was even wondering how we became friends in the first place. Our personalities are completely the opposite of each other's. Seb is a certified nerd, while I am a certified b*tch! People like us will usually clash, but surprisingly, we became the closest friends. His personality is more like my brother's. But they barely talked to each other.

It must be the huge age gap between them. Seb is just two years older than me, while Dmitri, my brother, is six years younger than him.

"I'm sure that you will like it there." Seb told me with a smile on his face.

"I hope so." I shrugged.

We got out of his car and I giddily looked around. This is so much different from the school I used to attend back in Oregon. This whole place screamed of class and fame.

"It's still early," he stated after looking at his wristwatch. "Do you want me to tour you around first?"

"Nah. I can find my way. You don't need to bother yourself."

"Well then, just let me show you to your classroom," he suggested, and I quickly agreed.

Heads turned wherever we went. They were specifically looking at Seb, snickering, but their expressions would abruptly change after seeing me with him.

Most of them must have recognized me. I am not a celebrity, unlike the other students here, but I seem to always attract the paparazzi's attention. I can usually be seen in society pages and even gossip magazines. I am famous for being the spoiled rotten heiress of Alistair's Group of Company.

My father did his best to protect my privacy when I was young, but my wicked ways always got me in trouble. Until it finally put me in the spotlight.

"Do you have a lot of friends here?" I asked when I noticed that although a lot of students were looking at us, none of them attempted to approach us or anything.

"Not really," he fixed his glasses again. It's his mannerism whenever he feels uncomfortable, so I just didn't pry about it that much.

"Aw, why not? I wish we could be classmates." I whined.

"I'd like that too," he grinned. But we both know that that's impossible. He's already a junior while I am just a freshman student.

"This is your classroom." he told me when we stopped in front of a door.

"Oh! Okay! Thank you so much!" I hugged him again, causing his whole face to turn as red as a beet.

"You better go now!" I chuckled. He hurriedly scrambled to his feet to get away from me.

I walked in and, almost automatically, heads turned in my direction. I didn't even bother to meet anyone's gazes until I found the spot that I liked inside the classroom.

"Excuse me?" I heard a high pitched voice after a while. I looked up from my cellphone's screen. I scowled at the girl in front of me.

"You're excused." I told her in the most boring tone.

She gasped while looking at me incredulously.

"That's my seat, you b***h!" she snapped, which made my eyebrows c**k up.

"Really, now?" I scoffed. It's the first day of school. Don't tell me there is a seat plan ready for us somewhere?

"Yeah, so get the hell out before I kick your ass out of here!" she threatened, but it barely made me blink.

Did she really think that that would scare me out? Hell, that's where she's wrong. I was so used to my Mom almost wanting to kick me out all the time.

"I'm already comfortable here," I scoffed. "Go find some place else."

She wheezed in anger. For a second, I got scared that she would suddenly have an asthma attack or something.

"You're going to pay for this!" she stated dramatically and I could only roll my eyes.

"Send the check to my father then." I challenged her. Which is a really bad idea! I just hope that this girl won't or else my father will hear about my fuc.king behavior.

"Argh!" she stomped her feet on the floor before going to a seat right in front of the class. She must be a tough nut. Or just plain ol' nuts!

The whole morning classes were so uneventful. Some of our teachers didn't even attend the first day. Ugh. I knew it.

I took some of my books and decided to look for our lockers. I quickly texted Seb to give me the directions. I looked at the screen. A couple of minutes passed without a reply. So I tried it again.

"Hey! Where are the lockers?" I asked him. I can't just ask another person here.

"Hi!" a girl with her hair perfectly set and makeup on point approached me.

I frowned but she just kept on smiling at me.

"Hello?" I answered with a forced smile.

"You're new here, aren't you?"

"Yeah..." I uttered. What does she want? She looked like she wanted to say something but I quickly cut her off.

"Where are the lockers?" I asked.

"That way," she answered. I looked in the direction she pointed before nodding.

"Hmkay, thanks!" Then I quickly left her there.

"Hey, wait!" I heard her trying to call me but I pretended that I didn't hear her.

True enough, the lockers were situated where she pointed at me. I checked my forms to look for my locker number. I was checking each row, until I found mine. I was quickly putting my books inside when I suddenly heard loud laughs from the end of the aisle.

I frowned when I heard Seb's name.

"Tell me who the chick you're with, if you don't want us to beat you into a pulp!"

"He's right! I'm gonna shed your fat pound by pound!" another one butted in and that resulted in roars of laughter.

"No." I heard Seb's voice even though it was low and lacking in conviction.

Are they bullying him? Is this the reason why he seemed hesitant when I told him that I wanted to go to the same school with him?

My chest was heaving in anger as I stood there, listening to them insult my friend. I just moved when I heard them leaving. I stormed out of the locker room to confront them.

"Did you see how his layers of fat trembled with fear?"

"Yes man! I think he already pissed his pants when you acted like you would punch him!"

I followed them until they reached a part where there were no other students. Then I walked around a corner to get in front of them.

Their laughter stopped when they saw me blocking their way. I held my face up, my hands crossed on my chest as I looked at them straight into their eyes, one by one.

"I heard you were asking for my name." I raised an eyebrow cockily.

"Yeah. So... Your pet pig over there didn't want to give it to us. You should train him more." the tall one told me. A playful grin was playing on his lips.

What did he just say? Pet pig?!

I took a step forward and stopped just a few inches away from him. I was livid! I wanted to punch him in the face, but I tried my best to put on a calm facade.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"I'm Peter, babe." he smirked. "How about you?" he asked.

"Hmm!" I snorted. Without warning, I grabbed the sleeves of his uniform and pulled him closer towards me. I pushed my face forward, stopping with my lips just a hairbreadth away from his. I heard his friends' scandalous gasps around us.

I wanted to laugh when I saw him almost closing his eyes, as if waiting for me to kiss him. Dumb.ass

"My name's Elinor Settara Alistair." I told him, stressing out each syllable of my family name. "Does it ring a bell?" I taunted him.

I wanted to laugh out loud when I saw his eyes widen, at the same time his face turn white.

Satisfied with his reaction, I put him off balance by pushing him forward and to the side, drawing his body weight onto my hip. Then I swept his legs with my left one before throwing him to the floor.

He grunted when his back landed on the concrete. His friends all gaped at me in shock as I stepped on his chest with my right foot. I took out my phone from my pocket and started to take a video of him.

"What the?!" he exclaimed, finally recovering from the shock of my attack.

I smirked at him. He was about to hold my leg off of him when I wagged a finger.

"Na-uh." I moved my shoe higher, making sure that the pointed heel pressed on his skin. His friends all looked at me like they didn't know what to do.

"You wouldn't want to mess with Alistair's heiress, would you?"