The Unclaimed Human Luna
Chapter 24

El POV

It was a long quiet trip back to Logan’s company inside that gated community of his and Eliza spent the whole time staring out the window, she’d shut herself inside the bedroom that was hers in the suite that they’d been shown to for the night. Gone to bed the minute Conner had indicated which room was hers, she’d walked over there to go to bed.

She hadn’t known he was following her until she’d turned to shut the door and seen him just outside the room looking at her, a deep frown on his face. What else was knew, that’s how he always looked at her. She’d just closed the door on him, without so much as saying a word.

He had called to her through the door about them all going down for dinner. She’d called right back “I’m not hungry.” And she hadn’t been particularly hungry either, being alone in that car with him for hours was not fun for her, made her chest ache near on the whole time.

Breakfast had been much the same, she’d been woken by him knocking on her door at some ungodly hour. The sun was barely up. “Breakfast is here, Eliza.” He called through the door. “We’ll be leaving directly afterwards, get up please, Eliza.” He’d stated calmly, hadn’t opened the door or come in, thankfully.

She’d gotten herself up, knew she didn’t look good, was still tired, the mirror confirmed it, looked as bad as she felt, she’d slept fitfully at best. She had washed her face and brushed her teeth and dressed in ripped jeans and a long button-up shirt, and was ready to go. Had stepped out of her bedroom and taken her suitcase to the door by the exit.

He and Adam were already dressed, and it seemed they were waiting on her. Watching her, she realised, “Please have breakfast Eliza, you didn’t eat dinner.” Conner had told her, she knew that.

She had looked at the food that was laid out on the table they were sitting at, and wondered why there was so much of it, there were only three of them, plucked a piece of toast from the table and walked off with a glass of juice, to stare out the window.

“Eliza, please eat something proper, you must be hungry. I ordered plenty.” She’d heard Conner tell her. Almost sounded worried about her, she thought absently. It had to be her imagination.

“We didn’t really know what you eat.” Adam had chuckled. “Got a bit of everything for you, please come eat.”

“I’m not hungry.” She’d stated without looking at either of them. She didn’t want to look at Conner, caused that stupid well of pain inside her chest to deepen every time she did. She didn’t understand why it just wouldn’t go away. She knew they were nothing, never would be, he’d used her twice now and she’d let him. For some stupid reason, just couldn’t say no to him.

He’d also made it plainly clear to her, she was nothing to him and that he wanted her gone. Had told her to leave, wasn’t even allowed to attend the same university as him. Not that she wanted to, had only been there to get out of the gated community for a day, had been going to return. Needed to gain some trust where Logan was concerned.

But after what had happened that night and then him telling her to leave, it had just hurt too much and so she’d done it, left, because he’d told her too. It’s what he wanted and really it was for the best and she knew it. They were never going to be able to get along. She knew that, but it still hurt, couldn’t for the life of her get passed it, it seems.

Gave herself to someone and he’d turned out to be an a*****e and now it just hurt.

She did not want to be in a room with him. Did not want to have to sit across from him and eat a meal, with him chatting away to his friend like nothing had happened between them. She didn’t want to have to try and make any form of small talk with him. So, she was opting not to, to just ignore him, he wouldn’t really care. She also knew that he didn’t want her around, so why he even bothered talking to her she didn’t know. Likely, been told by Logan to be nice was all and with Adam there he had to.

Got in the car when she was told to and stared out the window for the long drive back to the gated community, he only stopped to fuel up and get food. She knew that he was annoyed with her lack of interaction with him. She could actually feel it, the air in the car was strained at the best of time. Then he’d stopped trying to talk to her an hour into the trip when she’d stated “Why even bother talking to me? You don’t like me. So just stop.” She didn’t want to have to hear his voice, it was bad enough she was stuck in this car and surrounded by the smell of him. Was trying desperately not to feel anything where he was concerned. To not let it show how much it hurts.

There had been silence for a long time in the car after that, though she was certain that she could feel his eyes on her several times, he’d not tried to strike up a conversation at all. He’d only spoken to her to ask if she needed a bathroom break or something to eat or drink. To which he got a yes or a no for an answer.

Other than that, the trip was made in silence, with her staring out the window. Saw the gates open for his car as he drove down the long driveway to it and sighed, couldn’t help it. Really did just wanted to leave. Get the hell away from him. Even that thought caused her chest to ache. Needed to get away from him, out of this bloody car.

“It’s not so bad here, you know, if you gave it a chance you might like it here.” He commented.

“I doubt it.” she’d muttered “I’m only staying till the end of summer anyway.”

“Eliza.” He’d sighed.

She’d said nothing to that comment. He didn’t know she was going to leave, she wasn’t going to tell anyone, she was back there just for her identification documents. He’d pulled up right outside the front of the apartment complex and she could see that her mother and Logan were both standing there. She got out and headed for her car to get her luggage.

Adam offered to take it for her, she just shook her head. “I can get my own things.” She told him “Thanks for the offer though, Adam.”

He’d smiled right at her and nodded “Any time, Eliza.”

Pulled the handle up and wheeled it over to the stairs to pick it up, found Conner right there next to her. “I’ll take that up for you Eliza.”

“Don’t bother, I have it.” she snapped at him and moved it away from him and took it up by herself.

“Honey, can we talk please.”

“About what exactly, my lack of freedom even though I’m an adult.” She shot at her mother and saw her frown “I’m sorry, I’m just tired and grumpy, I’m going to turn in for the night.”

“Eliza, it’s only three in the afternoon.” Logan told her. “We do need to talk. Please come to my office before you turn in.”

She stared right at him and stalked off inside, stood outside his office with her suitcase and watched as both he and her mother walked in, followed by Conner and Adam, turned at the sound of her name being called.

It was Marlo, she half smiled at him, as he trotted down the stairs and hurried over to her, hugged her to him and murmured “I’m glad you’re home, I missed you.”

Actually, leaned on him, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you Marlo, I just…” she trailed off.

“I know.” He murmured softly. Pulled away from her, “Forgiven this time,” he smiled down at her “Next time I’ll punish you good and proper.” He winked at her playfully, and she actually smiled up at him.

“Perpetually happy aren’t you!”

“Now that you’re back, yes, I am. Though you missed our date.”

“I did, I’m sorry.”

“Marlo, Eliza is needed in with Logan.” It was Conner and she knew he was standing right behind her, could bloody feel his body heat, he was that close.

“Yes, Conner.” He nodded, looked back at her, and smiled “we’ll hang out later.”

“Okay, that would be nice.”

Saw him grin from ear to ear, “I’ll run your suitcases to your room.” Grabbed her suitcase and backpack and was gone.

Turned to replace Conner’s jaw ticking, though he was looking at Marlo not her, why did he even care. Walked around him and stood at the door, felt him bump right into her and glared up at him, “What? you stopped walking.” He frowned down at her.

“I’m not allowed in without permission, unlike all of you.”

Saw him raise an eyebrow. Heard Logan call out to her to come in, and walked into the office, “please sit, Eliza, and you were told to come in.”

“No, I wasn’t, you said please come to my office, not go into my office. I do recall your instructions; never to go into your office without being asked to come inside. Even if the door is open.”

Heard that man sigh, as she sat down. He stared at her for a short moment and then stated, “It was implied that you were to come inside.”

Just stared right back at him, wasn’t going to incur his wrath. Her mother looked healthy, she noticed, wearing a simple summer dress, though the material looked very expensive, her arms were bare due to the spaghetti straps, as were her legs. The dress fell to just below her mid-thigh, it did suit her. She looked nice, not a single bruise on the woman.

“I thought we could start with why you left and didn’t come back.”

“I was told to leave, so I did.” She stated flatly.

Saw his eyes move to his son and saw them flash with anger at his own child. At least she wasn’t the only one to tick him off. “I am unhappy with him Eliza. Did he apologise to you?”

“Like you told him to? Yes, I got some comment from him about him being overly harsh.”

Saw Logan look right at her now “You didn’t believe him?”

Heard Conner sigh this time, “I did mean it, Eliza.”

“Apologise now son, right this instant to Eliza.”

“Don’t bother to make him Logan. An apology should never be forced from one. It’ll just be meaningless even if spoken with sound of sincerity.”

“He will apologise, Eliza, we are not a community that leaves things unattended or has animosity to grow. You can’t have those things when you live in close proximity to each other. So, this will be cleared up and now.” Saw those eyes of his move back to Conner. “Now son.” He grated out.

There was silence for a good 15 seconds and then Conner sighed “Eliza, I honestly didn’t mean for you to leave altogether, just to come back here. I was having…a tough day myself, some things were going on with me that you know nothing about, and I took it out on you. I’m sorry, I did that.”

He’d been having a tough day, she thought. What was her day then? He knew what he’d done, what they’d done together and still took out everything on her. Probably, though it was all her fault what had happened between them.

She couldn’t look at him, didn’t want to. Just really wanted to get the hell away from him, that apology didn’t stop the pain in her chest. “May I go now?” she asked Logan.

“No, we need to address you lying to everyone. Leaving and lying about it, and not just once either, multiple times to multiple people. I don’t approve of those things, Eliza. Honesty is the best thing around here.”

Stared right at him, and wondered just how little he knew his son, then moved her eyes right to Conner, looked right at him and actually saw something flicker there on his face before he was completely closed off.

Knew what it was she realised, he didn’t want anyone to know about what had gone on between her and him. She looked back at Logan, said nothing. She didn’t want anyone to know either, it was her stupid shame that she couldn’t say no to him. She was not going to tell anyone other than Cordi, who already knew.

“I left and didn’t want you coming after me, so I lied about where I was, to get further away from here.” It was the truth, if he wanted it, he could have it.

Saw him frowning at her now. “El, may I call you El?”

She shrugged “El, I want you to feel like this is your home. I know it’s been rough for you to come here. A complete change of lifestyle for you. I also understand I can be overbearing and come across as…” saw him think about that for a moment “Dominant and controlling.”

“That’s an understatement.” She muttered.

“Fair enough. I also know things have been difficult for you this last year. I’m not trying to replace your father. But as your stepfather, I do need you to respect me and listen to me. I do have valid reasons for the things I have done.”

“I’m sure they’re valid to you.” she nodded, in his head everything was likely valid to him.

Saw that jaw tick and knew she was starting to push his buttons, watched him take a breath in and actually let it go. “Now your mother and I are worried about you, up and leaving once more, I’d like your word that you won’t do this again. We were very worried El. Thought the worst for a bit there.”

“Who on earth would want to hurt me? I’m no one, just a teenager wanting to get a degree. I don’t even know anyone here in Utah.”

“I understand that, but people I know will know you are now my stepdaughter.”

Eliza sighed this time, “You’re a paranoid control freak, you know that right. I was gone for four days. No one hurt me, no one came near me. I was not in any danger whatsoever, simply went home to my friends.”

“That you did, crossed three states.” He nodded “Now your mother and I, we have discussed this at length and some rules need to be applied to you, we think.”

Saw her mother walk around the desk to her and sit in the chair next to her “I think you need to stay here inside the Gated community for a while, no going outside unless you have someone with you.”

“You’re grounding me right. Locking me in like I was when I first got here.”

“El don’t see it like that, this place has everything you need, you’re allowed to go anywhere within the gated community. Just need someone with you to go outside is all. Anyone you like, that’s up to you.”

“Marlo will do it.” Adam chuckled “Taken quite a shine to you, El.”

She looked over at him, didn’t need anyone taking a shine to her, had enough emotional issues without a boy trying to hit on her while she was trying to deal with, her and Conner’s f****d up s****l relationship.

“May I go now?” she asked once again. She didn’t want to be in this office with Conner staring at her and she could feel his eyes were on her. The man didn’t want anything from her, but seemed ticked off when Marlo was brought up or around her. She did not understand him at all.

“Not quite just yet.” Logan told her “Your mother and I wanted to show you a few apartments and let you choose your own, and…” she watched him pick up an envelope and then walk around the desk to her. “I wanted to welcome you officially to the family, before now, but it’s been difficult between you and I.” He held out that envelope for her to take “Please accept this as a welcome gift from myself and your mother.”

She took the envelope. It was large and somewhat heavy, opened it, there were keys to a car, and a black credit card with her name on it and some other paperwork there. Frowned at him.

“That card gives you access to unlimited funds, there is no limit at all. Buy what you want at will, go shopping. Perhaps you and your mother could spend the day doing just that. I let your mother pick a car for you. I was going to let you do it yourself but…”

“I have a car. I don’t need a car.”

“I understand that. But around here it is tradition that on your 18th birthday you get a car. Now I missed your birthday.”

“So did mother.” She muttered “Was here with you.” and it was true she had been, her own mother had forgotten all about her only child’s 18th birthday. That had hurt more than a bit. Fortunately, she’d had Cordi and everyone to try and cheer her up.

“I’m sorry about that, El. Please take the car as a gift and an apology.” Her mother sighed “I couldn’t help missing it, there were some extenuating circumstances.”

“I’m sure there were.” Eliza sighed, “so extenuating, I didn’t even get a phone call.” There was always some reason and it always revolved around Logan, because her mother’s whole life now revolved around him. She looked at the Audi key chain in her hand, wondered if they were trying to buy her off with a car and a credit card.

“Shall we go look at it, El?” Her mother smiled right at her. “It’s brand new and outside so you can see it.”

Stood up, anything was better than sitting there, she thought. “Sure, why not?”

“Come on El.” Her mother smiled at her. “A brand new car, and not just any car. A convertible.” Her mother linked her arm with hers and walked her back out the front, and down the stairs and there in the parking space was a brand new Audi S5 Cabriolet Convertible in dark blue with a pearl finish.

“Do you like it?” she asked. Her mother was super excited, it seemed.

“It’s a nice car.” She admitted and it was “But I like having dads.”

“El, I want you to have your father’s car, but it’s old and could breakdown. This is much more reliable, more suited to your status now as well.” Logan told her.

She turned and looked at him. “My status?”

“Yes El, as my stepdaughter. You’re now and heiress. Although Conner will inherit the company, you’ll never want for anything ever again.”

Till Conner takes over and cuts me off completely, she thought to herself, as her eyes moved back to the car “Who’s name is it in. Mine or yours?”

“Yours of course, El. But it is registered with the company, so any speeding tickets or fines I will know about them before you do.”

“Good to know.” She nodded “I’m really tired, may I go to my room now please?”

“You don’t want to take it for a drive, El?” her mother asked her, seemed a bit disappointed.

“To be honest with you, it’s been a really long drive to get here, and I am just tired mother. Thank you for the car, it’s lovely.”

“Go and rest El,” it was Logan. “We’ll look at new apartments for you after dinner. You will join us, yes?”

Wanted to say no to that, but needed to play nice, gain some trust. Might as well start that now, right from this moment. “Yes,” she nodded “What time?”

Saw Logan smile at her. “Six, I thought you might like to have dinner with just the family instead of down in the dining room.”

“Where?” she asked with a nod.

“Our suite, I’ll have Conner come and collect you. Bring you.”

“I know where it is. Don’t send Conner, I can make it on my own.” Saw him blink at that. He hadn’t realised she’d been wandering around while they were all sleeping, she guessed. “See you at six.” She nodded and headed inside, walked around both Conner and Adam, who were by the entrance to the complex. And headed up the stairs to her room. Her suitcase was waiting for her, by her door, took it inside.

A new car, a new credit card with unlimited funds and a new apartment of her choosing to come and all because she ran away. Shook her head as she up ended the rest of that envelope onto the coffee table in her room. A second set of keys for her new car and admission papers for Utah State in Logan, of course there were. On campus living paperwork as well, she noted.

That was something she thought, wondered if that man would actually allow her to live on campus. Perhaps this was his way of trying to get her to stay here, but not feel confined by him at the same time. It had to be pretty clear that she didn’t want to be here, had called it a prison on more than one occasion.

Got a car but wasn’t allowed to leave in it unless someone was with her, because they didn’t trust her not to run away again. Freedom was granted, but limited freedom, not much she could do about it, to be expected after what she’d done.