Saving Her Billionaire Vigilante

Five: Piper Powell

Five:

Piper Powell

When I’d lived with the Tanagers, they had controlled everything. What I wore, where I went to school, and what I could and couldn’t do. Mr. Tanager was my guardian. But he expected me to look like a Tanager. I couldn’t dress like I had when I was with my parents, wearing things like jeans and t-shirts. He wanted me to dress like an upper-class girl. Skirts, blouses, dresses, and blazers. All designer.

I had a walk-in closet in my room filled with clothes from my old life. I rummaged through it looking for something to wear, and found an old, black dress that I’d worn to my college graduation. I pinned my red hair up, and I didn’t bother with makeup. I put my stuff in a small, Chanel clutch that I had. Then I went down the stairs to meet Ransom.

Ransom was there waiting for me, wearing a designer suit. He shook his head. “It’s strange seeing you in a dress. Is that the same one----”? His voice trailed off. The last time I’d been in this dress, he’d kissed me so that my boyfriend would see.

“From my graduation?” I said. “Yes.”

“Ah.”

He stared at me for a moment, as if thinking about the night of my graduation. The night that he’d kissed me, that he’d ruined my relationship with Oliver, and the night that we had….

Well, it didn’t matter what we had almost done. It wasn’t going to happen again. I would finish my year working as a Vice President for the company, get my money, and never see him again. Because, as he liked to remind me, we weren’t really family. We didn’t owe each other anything. I did owe Mr. Tanager something, and for him, for the company my parents worked for, I would stay. But after, I was going to make sure that I never had to contact Ransom ever, ever, ever, ever again.

Our driver opened the door for us, and I slipped inside. Ransom followed me afterwards, closing the door behind him.

“Is the funeral in a church?” I asked.

Ransom shook his head. “Dad was never religious. So, we’re doing it out on the back acre.”

The entire Tanager property was fifteen acres. On the back half, the family graveyard had been built. Ransoms mother was there too, along with Ransoms grandparents. There were several, black cars coming down the long drive following us. And one motorcycle.

The roar of a motorcycle made me look up, and I knew exactly who it was. “Oliver,” I breathed.

Ransom’s eyes darkened. “I didn’t think he’d even come. He was supposed to be in Europe, with his girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?”

He nodded. “He’s dating some Italian Supermodel. I’ve seen them around at events and things.”

I shot daggers at him. “You just now decided to tell me?”

“You didn’t ask,” he replied. “Also, I’ve always assumed that Oliver is one of those things that we aren’t supposed to talk about. I didn’t see a need to bring him up. We’re already in a stressful situation, you didn’t need anymore stress added to your life.”

I supposed this was his version of him trying to be considerate. Or, he wanted me to be surprised by the new information. I didn’t know either way. It was always so hard to tell with Ransom. It had been the same way when we’d been at school. He was two years ahead of me, so when I was a freshman, he’d been a Junior. We’d gone to a private school and he spent most of his time pretending I didn’t exist. Except for when it came to guys.

When I first became friends with Oliver, he’d been super annoyed about it. I remember it had been a few weeks after I moved in. It was summer, and I hadn’t had to start school yet. For Mr. Tanager to adopt me, there had been a lengthy process. I still had an aunt that was alive, and she’d been trying to fight for custody for me. Eventually though, Tanager had won. I’d been brought to live with him in June of the year my parents died.

 Oliver had been over hanging out with Ransom in the game room, playing video games. I’d kept to myself mostly but on that day, for some reason, I thought that I would try to make friends with my new “brother” and his friend. I walked in as they were intensely focused on some kind of racing game.

“Hey,” I said.

The boys stopped what they were doing and looked up at me. Fifteen-year-old Ransom had looked like trouble even then. Tall, and handsome, if a little gangly. Oliver was tall, with sandy blond hair, and blue eyes. Ransom had worn a black Pink Floyd shirt and jeans, while Oliver had been dressed in a t-shirt and basketball shorts.

“What are you doing here, Powell?” Ransom had said through gritted teeth. “Shouldn’t you be off, I don’t know, crying or something? Since that’s all you seem to do?”

It was true. Since I’d gotten there, I’d spent most of my time in my room crying. But I’d lost my parents in the most horrifying of ways, I’d lost my aunt because of Tanagers adoption, and now I was living in a home I didn’t feel right even being in with a boy who hated me.

“I was just trying to say hi,” I said. “Who is your friend?”

Oliver smiled at me. “Hey. You must be Ransoms new-----”

“She’s not my sister,” Ransom said sharply.

I rolled my eyes, and I looked at Oliver. “I’m Piper Powell.”

“Powell?” he said. “Your parents were the head of science, weren’t they?”

I nodded.

“I’m sorry about what happened. Their death was a great loss to the scientific community.”

“Yeah well…. everyone lost something that day,” I said, “but thank you.”

“You play video games?” he asked.

“No, but----”

Ransom cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t get too close, Oliver. She’s not going to be a permanent fixture here. My Dad’s just keeping her around for some publicity for the company, and then once she’s eighteen, she’ll be out of here. Don’t get friendly.”

My face fell. “Ransom, I know you don’t like me, but you don’t have to be a jerk.”

“I’m not trying to be a jerk. I’m trying to save you both from getting hurt. Besides, she’s only thirteen.”

Oliver did a double take as he looked at me. “You’re thirteen?”

“That’s right,” said Ransom, “so don’t even think about it, Oswin.”

“Right…right…. well, maybe you should, I don’t know go play outside or something,” Oliver suggested.

I scowled. “Are you kidding me? I’m not looking for a boyfriend. God, Ransom why do you have to ruin everything? I was just trying to be friends. I’m alone here in this house, I thought it might be nice to have someone to talk to.”

Ransom walked over to where I was and towered over me. “Let’s get one thing straight, Red. This isn’t your world. You don’t belong here. It’s mine. Once you come of age, I know what’s going to happen. You’re going to walk out that door, and we’ll never see you again. I don’t want the people I know and care about getting hurt. So, don’t get close. In fact, I agree with Oliver. I think you should go play outside.”

He sneered at me, like I was dirt under his fingernails.

“f**k off, Tanager,” I said spitefully.

I stormed from the room, and I didn’t make any attempt to try to befriend anyone that was friends with Ransom ever again. But the thing was, Oliver did try to make friends with me again. I didn’t go outside like Ransom wanted. Instead, I went back to my room and stayed there. There was a knock on the door.

“Go away, Ransom. I don’t want to talk with you----”

The door opened, and there stood Oliver. “Hey,” he said, “I’m sorry about what happened back in there. You’re a really pretty girl, and I wasn’t trying to hit on you or anything. But I did notice, and I’m sorry about Ransom. He can be an asshole. But look, if you’re looking for a friend, I could always use a friend.”

I smiled. “Are you sure?”

“Look, Ransom doesn’t control me. Ransom isn’t a people person. I however, am perfectly charming and likable and act like a normal human.”

“Okay,” I said, “okay. I don’t know anyone here, and I would love to be your friend.”

“Alright,” he said, shaking my hand, “friends.”

From that moment on, Oliver Oswin became my best friend. Ransom couldn’t even let me have that. He took whatever he couldn’t have. I had no doubt that he would try to do that this time around. No matter what he tried to promise.

                        The car had stopped, and Ransom had gotten out of the door. “Are you alright, Powell?” he asked, holding out his hand for me to take.

                        “I’m fine,” I lied.

                        I took his hand, and I got out of the car. Together, we walked toward the family graveyard where Mr. Tanager would be buried. There was a whole group of people, and a Priest. The Tanagers were originally from Ireland and were Catholic. My parents had been Irish too, and they had first met at Catholic school. Then, after college, they’d started a company together. Or rather Tanager had started the company. My parents had just been named the head of his science department. Together, they’d created technology that had helped advance things like a self-driving car and invisible glasses to replace contacts.

            Tanager always tried to encourage my interest in science, but after what happened with my parents I wanted to be as far away from a lab as possible. I suspected he thought that maybe he would have someone to take over my parents’ job. I must have been such a disappointment to him.

            “You alright?” he asked.

            I took a deep breath. “It’s just hitting me that anyone that ever cared for me is gone.”

            He stared at me silently and didn’t say a word. “Come on,” he said finally, and we walked towards the graveyard.