Treacherous Read online

  Treacherous

  Fate is…

  Fearless

  Hearts are…

  Treacherous

  by L.L. Hunter

  Copyright © 2013 L.L. Hunter

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-10: 1492343935

  ISBN-13: 978-1492343936

  Edited & Formatted by

  Literary Editor, Rogena Mitchell-Jones

  Rogena Mitchell-Jones Manuscript Service

  www.rogenamitchell.com

  Cover Design by Rebecca Berto

  At http://www.bertodesigns.com

  Treacherous is written and edited

  in Australian English.

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to all the girls who have felt alone and different.

  You are not alone…. You are unique.…

  Acknowledgements

  It truly does take a village to raise a child… I mean a book. No, really. Each one of my books becomes my baby, and they would never reach your hands without the help of so many amazing people.

  First of all, I’d like to thank my amazing editor turned friend, Rogena. You are an absolute gem. Thank you for taking on two of my books at once!

  Secondly, I’d like to thank the lovely ladies at Cover Lust Designs, mainly Stina Rubio for creating the first cover, and Rebecca Berto for creating the second. I needed a new cover to better fit the cover for the sequel. I am so in love with your designs!

  Next I want to thank my fabulous beta readers, Alanna, Heather, and Donna. Your helpful eyes help me more than words can explain. Without your input, Treacherous would not make sense.

  I also want to thank my partners in crime, my fellow authors, and writing sisters, Laura Wells, Becky Elizabeth- Searson, Laura Prior and Airicka Phoenix. You ladies make me feel so blessed. I love the convos we have! Can’t wait to meet you all! Tackle hugs!

  Finally, yet still so important, I want to thank Nathan for saying you wanted to be written into a book. Your wish has been fulfilled. I hope your character meets your approval.

  Prologue

  A knock sounded as I was adding the finishing touches to my makeup.

  “Charlotte, honey?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute, Mum.”

  I couldn’t believe I was finished with high school. All those years of endless torment were over. Well almost. Tonight was our Formal. One last night of torture then it would be over, and I could move on. I couldn’t wait to go to University and become a completely different person.

  I hoped.

  In my world, one wrong move and you were judged forever.

  “Charlotte, the limousine is here,” Mum said, barging in the door, not waiting for me to give her permission to do so.

  “I said I’m coming.”

  After a few moments of silence, I could still feel her presence. I turned, and I saw she was staring at me, eyes glassy.

  I smirked. “Mum, are you crying?”

  “No. You look perfect. Put that brush down, you don’t need any more mascara. I don’t want you looking cheap.”

  “Fine.” With one last look at my reflection in my full- length mirror, I put down my mascara brush and walked out the door.

  When I slid into the stretch limo, some of the guys wolf-whistled. “Charli, you look hot.”

  “Really?” I smiled at my best friend.

  “Yeah, everyone can tell she’s a virgin,” joked one of the guys. They could all be dickheads when they were drunk. I glared at him in horror and suddenly wished a magic portal would open in the floor so I could fall in. It was no secret I was a virgin, but he didn’t have to say it.

  “Dean, that was kind of rude,” said Amie, Dean’s girlfriend.

  “Aww, don’t worry, Ams. I mean it in a good, pure- and-holy-Virgin Mary kind of way.” The guys all laughed. Oh, kill me now.

  Seeing my tense expression, Dean pulled something out of his jacket pocket. I cringed when I realised what it was.

  “You need to relax, Charli. Here.” He handed me a metal tin.

  “Uh, no thanks,” I said as I pushed it away.

  “Come on, Daddy won’t find out. You need to learn to have a little fun.” I looked around the interior of the limousine and noticed everyone was waiting for me to make my decision. I sighed. I couldn’t be known as the party pooper, and Daddy’s little girl, for the rest of my life. I took the tin.

  One of the other guys handed me a lighter. I opened the tin, took a joint and flicked the lighter. There was no going back now. Everyone cheered as I lit the end of the joint and inhaled. I leaned back into the seat and settled in for the ride.

  When we could see the school gates in the distance, I exhaled in relief.

  I had a feeling it was going to be a long night.

  Being from the family I was, I had been pre-enrolled in the most elite private school in Sydney from the time I had been conceived. It was an all-girl’s school, but the girls were allowed to bring their dates along tonight. And due to the fact my parents were the best lawyers in the state, I was dateless. No one wanted to date you when your father made it his business to know everything about everybody.

  When we entered our school assembly hall-turned ballroom, with me on the arm of my best friend Rochelle, the music was already pumping.

  You would think by going to a school where most of the kids were either offspring of the very wealthy or famous, I would fit in. But that was not the case. As soon as Rochelle and I entered, all eyes turned in our direction. Great. It seemed like I was going to be the subject of all gossip before I even had the chance to do anything.

  “Come on,” Rochelle said as she dragged me towards the refreshments table.

  “What’s going on?” I asked as soon I had a chance.

  “You mean, you don’t know?” She leaned in close so I could hear her over the loud music.

  “You know Levi Chandon? The guy who killed his girlfriend when he smashed his car after drunk driving?”

  “Yeah.” Everyone knew Levi Chandon. He had gone to the King’s school — our male equivalent. My parents had represented him. I should know him better than anyone.

  “Well, he was granted bail last night.”

  My eyes grew wide.

  Granted bail.

  Granted bail by my father.

  No wonder everyone hated me.

  No wonder I was un-datable.

  Chapter One

  Three Years Later

  Charli

  “Charli? Earth to Charli!”

  I felt a hand on my shoulder causing me to jump and yank my ear buds out of my ears.

  “Geez, Mi! Don’t do that!”

  “Sorry. You’re always off in your own little world.”

  “Well, sometimes I need to escape.”

  Mia sat down in the chair opposite me. Mia DeStella was the crazy college friend my parents didn’t approve of, because I was raised well off, and Mia was from a working class family. My father wanted me to become a lawyer like him and someday run his company, but I had other dreams.

  “Mother dearest still on your back?”

  “Unfortunately,” I replied as I rolled my eyes. I took another sip of my soy caramel latte. “Do you know what she said last night?”

  “What now?” Mia leaned in closer in anticipation. She loved hearing about my family dramas, and together we made fun of their snobbiness.

  “She wants to set me up with some family friend.”

  “A hot family friend?”

  “Who knows?” I shrugged. “He’s probably some older, rich, boring lawyer friend of my father’s.”

  “Eww.”

  “My thoughts exactly. I am not going to be involved in an
arranged marriage. This is modern day Australia. Arranged marriages don’t happen here.”

  “Maybe not in a working class society like mine, but in yours… definitely.”

  “I don’t know, Mi. I’m not doing it.”

  “You know what you do need to do, right?”

  “No, what?”

  “You need to rebel. You’ve already taken the first step into becoming a rebellious college student.”

  “And what is that?” I asked her, raising my eyebrow.

  “You took a class in English Literature.”

  I smiled at my best friend. Ever since starting at the University of Sydney, I had felt nothing but an overwhelming sense of dread. Dread for being forced to study Law, and I also felt fear. Fear of making new friends. I never was good at that. But as soon as I met Mia, my life changed. The dread had been lifted off my shoulders. And most importantly, I felt happy.

  “You’re right, Mi. A little bit of rebellion is exactly what I need with my afternoon coffee.”

  Mia squealed and grinned showing all her teeth like a Cheshire cat. We packed up our books, tossed our empty coffee cups, and left the campus café.

  “Okay. Plan Rebellion starts tonight.”

  “After I study,” I injected.

  Mia playfully punched my arm. “Such a rebel already.” We both cracked up and parted ways.

  “See ya,” I yelled.

  “See ya, Charlz.”

  Nathan

  I’d seen Stephen Jayne work on numerous occasions. He was one of the best attorney’s around. The best I’d ever witnessed. He was tough, but I’d heard rumours he was also crooked. The Australian Federal Police were on his case, but we still didn’t have enough evidence against him. Stephen Jayne had made sure of that. I collected my papers and filed out of the courtroom with the rest of the crowd and jury after the judge had called a recess. I made my way to the men’s bathroom across the hall. When I came out of the stall, I saw Mr Jayne adjusting his tie in the mirror. His eyes met mine in the mirror, and he didn’t turn to towards me.

  “Arresting officer, Nathan Wright. Just the man I was looking for.”

  “How can I help you, Sir?” I cautiously made my way to the basin to wash my hands. I was a little unnerved that Stephen Jayne had cornered me in the bathroom.

  “I was wondering if you would like to come to dinner at our place tomorrow night. Say, around seven?” I froze, turned off the tap, and shook my hands. I turned towards him.

  “Mr Jayne, Sir. It’s not really appropriate for the defence to be asking someone on the prosecuting side to dinner. I did arrest your client, in case you’ve forgotten.”

  “Relax, Nathan. We won’t be talking about this case. It will be strictly casual. Besides, it will give you a chance to meet our daughter.”

  I had seen a few pictures of Charlotte Jayne while looking through Stephen’s file. She was twenty years old, blonde, and very attractive. I wondered what Stephen Jayne was up to?

  “Mr Jayne, I still don’t think…”

  “Hush now. You will come. Susan can’t wait to meet you. See you tomorrow night at seven.” He patted my shoulder and left the bathroom, discarding his piece of paper towel as he exited. I was left standing there more confused than ever. What did Stephen Jayne want with me, the Officer who had, only three days earlier, arrested his client for embezzlement?

  I guess we would wait and see.

  Chapter Two

  Charli

  After my English lit class that afternoon, I headed back to my apartment. I lived alone because I liked my own space and hated people touching my things. I liked knowing that everything had its own place and no one was going to move it. I dumped my book satchel down on my bed and headed over to my computer, pressing the on switch. While waiting for it to boot up, I went to the kitchen, opening the fridge to find there was still half a pepperoni pizza. I put the remaining four slices on a plate, and heated it up in the microwave. I tested it by trying to eat a piece of stringy, melted cheese that was stuck on the edge of the plate, but it was freaking hot, and I ended up burning my finger. While running my fingertips under cold water, my phone rang. Knowing it was probably Mia waiting to initialize Plan Rebellion, I didn’t bother checking caller ID. Bad idea.

  “Hey, Mi.”

  “It’s me, Charlotte.”

  I flinched. Only two people called me by my full name. My Mum and Dad.

  “Are you still hanging out with that wild girl?”

  “Hello, Mother.”

  “You know, I told you she would lead you from your path. You need to stay focused if you’re going to run the company one day.”

  Normally, I just let my mother ramble on about how I was a delinquent and that I needed to meet me a lovely young rich man and get married, be a lawyer and eventually have two kids, a dog and a big-ass mansion in the Northern or Eastern suburbs. But I was sick of it. From this moment on, I was putting my foot down.

  “What if I don’t want to run the company, Mum?”

  “What? Don’t tell me this Mia girl has put these delusions in your head.”

  “No, Mum. This is my decision.”

  I heard my mother exhale slowly and I knew what was coming. She was so predictable.

  “Maybe Nathan will change your mind.” Oh no.

  “Nathan?”

  “Yes. He is a lovely young man. I think you two will get along just fine.”

  It was my turn to exhale. But I did mine in frustration.

  “Mum, I told you, I don’t want to be set up.”

  “Charlotte, we’ve had this talk before. We agreed I wouldn’t set you up on any blind dates if you found yourself a suitable and respectable boyfriend. But it’s been two months since that talk, and you still haven’t found one. I think its time I intervened. You are 20, after all.”

  “I know. I’m still young.”

  “Old enough to be married.”

  I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t going to listen to her anymore. And I definitely wasn’t going to meet this Nathan guy.

  “Okay, Mum. I have to go. I have to study.”

  “Okay, sweetheart. Please think about it. Nathan really is a good guy.”

  “Okay, Mum.” I hung up and screamed in frustration. I poured myself a glass of Merlot, and took the pizza and wine into my bedroom and sat them beside the computer. The computer was now up and running so clicked onto the Internet and logged onto the university chat room. I had two open chat windows awaiting me. One of them was Mia.

  “Hey sorry, the witch called.” I typed.

  “2 nights in a row?”

  “Yep.”

  I was about to type, “and guess what she wanted?” but Mia practically shared my brain, so she beat me to it.

  “And let me guess, she still wants to set you up with this ‘friend’?”

  “Yep. His name is Nathan.”

  She sent me some ogling eyes. “Hot name.”

  “I have no idea how old he is. All she told me was his name.”

  “I bet he is hot. And rich.”

  “I don’t care about money, you know that.”

  “I know, but it would be an added bonus. The only reason your mother would be setting you up with this guy is that he’s probably twice or 3 times as rich as you.”

  “Probably. But I don’t care. I’m not meeting him.”

  “No, but you will want to meet this guy.”

  “Which guy?” I began to panic.

  “The one in the other chat window.”

  No! She didn’t! I quickly looked at the other blinking chat window and clicked onto it. The user name said F.Scott and he had already said hi.

  “Well???” Mia asked. I ignored her and kept looking at the stranger’s window. Taking a deep breath, I started typing.

  “Fitzgerald fan, huh?”

  He started typing without delay as if he were just waiting for me.

  “He is great, but not a favourite. Are you a fan?”

  I hesitated. I didn’t know what to s
ay. So F.Scott could be a legitimate name.

  Finally, I replied with, “yes.” And a few seconds later with, “So, F. Scott is your real name?” I couldn’t help myself.

  Again, without delay, he replied.

  “Yes. What does J stand for? I know the C stands for Charlotte.” He was referring to my username, which was C.J. At university, we were required to use our real names in our chat usernames as to avoid Internet scamming. It still happened though.

  “My last name.”

  “Which is?”

  This guy was relentless. I shook my head and smiled. “Why do you want to know? What’s your first name?”

  “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

  “Oh, it’s like that, is it?”

  “Yes. It’s exactly like that.”

  I sent him an emoticon with its tongue poking out. Then I realised how easily conversation was flowing with him.

  Suddenly, a plan formed in my mind. Mia’s window was still blinking so I clicked on it. She had grown impatient and written numerous messages to me, some of which included, “are you having virtual sex with him?” and “I better leave you 2 alone.” then I realised she had signed off, so I closed the window and clicked back onto F. Scott’s.

  “Okay, Mr F. Scott. Let’s meet for a coffee 2mrw morning @ 8 and we can tell each other at the same time.” I almost smacked myself. I couldn’t believe I had just said that! It wasn’t like me to outright ask a guy out like that. But I was becoming a new person, a new Charli, and I had a plan. This was Plan Rebellion in action: Phase one.

  “Great. I’m looking forward to it,” he added with a smiley face and a wink. In fear of making an utter fool of myself, I ended the conversation there. I shut down my computer and took my plate to the kitchen, smiling to myself. Phase one was in action. Mia would be proud of me.

  Chapter Three