I walk into his office and see him in the chair behind his desk. He's on the phone. I roll my eyes-- typical.

He looks up at me and gestures for me to sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk. I reluctantly take a seat and wait for his call to finish. While sitting, I'm able to look at one of the pictures on his desk of him and some of his business partners. None of them are genuinely smiling, so the picture is sort of funny.

You could call my uncle handsome if he didn't have such a somber look all the time, making him look older than he really is. He's the owner of some big company, and he always seems to be on the phone or texting. He's extremely rich, which explains the four different houses he owns throughout the country. Though, he's never at the one here in Clearwater Bay. He's also too busy for any form of love in his life, including the love of family.

"Maya? Are you listening?" he asks.

I move my eyes away from the picture and look at him. "No, I'm not."

I see his lips twitch slightly, but he clears his throat and says, "Well, I suggest you do. I have important things to tell you."

"Thanks for asking how I've been," I say sarcastically.

"What's with the mood young lady? I suggest you change your attitude," he replies quietly yet with authority.

I know that I should stop right there and listen to him, but I'm just full of anger and hurt. He has never shown me any sort of love. He hasn't taken the time to get to know me ever since he took me in four years ago. I'm a useless child in his eyes, and he never has taken the time to really know me. Plus, he's really irritating for multiple reasons that I won't go into.

"You're suggesting or ordering me? The way I see it, is that you're just treating me the same way you always have, like a child. Well, I'm not! I'm sick and tired of you thinking I am!" I exclaim angrily.

Instead of saying anything angry back, he just sighs and replies with, "What am I going to do with you Maya? You're just like your parents."

I feel my face heat up when he tells me I'm just like my parents. Telling me that I'm just like my parents is the rudest insult anyone could give me.

I glare at him and slam my hand on his desk as I yell, "I'm nothing like my parents! My parents are criminals, and you know that that is the worst thing anyone could ever say to me! This is exactly why I can't wait to get out of your stupid guardianship. You never miss a chance to insult me or hurt me with your words every single time you come to visit. I hate you and hate you for always coming here to tell me what to do!"

I turn to leave when he calmly says, "We're not finished."

I turn back around and give him a look of defiance. "I don't care. Since you don't care about me, why should I listen to what you have to say?"

With that, I walk out and slam the door behind me. Instead of going back up to my room, I go out the front door and down to the beach. Luckily, nobody seems to be there, so I have the whole beach to myself. I begin to walk and process what had just happened.

I was given the rudest insult. My parents are criminals and have never tried to change that title. I have made some mistakes, but I have fixed myself. They, on the other hand, had dug themselves into a deeper hole that they never were able to get out of.

My uncle has shown his true colors. I know that when I turn eighteen, I am going to be out of here as quick as I can.

~•~•~
Samuel Erickson's POV

What am I going to do with her? She can't seem to understand that I'm trying to help her. I'm trying to help her from turning into my wretched step-brother. Why can't she see that?

"Mr. Erickson?" I look up to see my housekeeper in the doorway.

"Yes?" I ask.

"I was here to take Miss Maya up to her room, but I see that she is no longer here. Did she already go up to her room?"

I sigh. "No, she ran out the door in anger. There's no telling where she has gone."

The housekeeper's face turns into a scowl as she mutters, "I told that ungrateful child to..."

I interrupt her by pointedly asking, "What did you call my niece?"

Her face goes pale, and she backs away from me. "I-I," she stammers.

I stand up and walk around to the front of my desk. "My niece is to be called Maya. I don't want to hear her being called ungrateful. Yes, she's angry, but I'm sure she knows how blessed she is."

"Mr. Erickson, earlier today, she told me that you didn't love her. She was so ungrateful. I tried to set her straight, but she apparently decided not to listen," the housekeeper says quickly and with a hint of anger in her tone.

"What exactly did you say to her, Ms. Smith?"

She begins to stammer something when I hear the front door open and close. I hear a not so quiet Maya make her way to the stairs. The housekeeper hears her as well and begins to turn around.

I motion for her to stop and call out, "Maya? We need you here in the office."

She keeps walking up the stairs. I sigh and hurry out of my office and toward the stairs. I begin to walk up the stairs.

"What?" she practically growls at me.

I suppress a laugh at her "tough" tone and say, "Maya, I need to talk to you about something important."

"What could you have to say that is important? I'm tired of you waltzing in here unexpectedly and expecting me to listen to you. You're never around, so why should I listen?" she asks angrily.

I'm about to speak when I hear the housekeeper's voice hiss, "Listen to him ungrateful brat."

Maya and I both stop and turn to look at her. I walk back down the stairs and stand in front of the housekeeper. I hear Maya run the rest of the way and to her room. I don't care. I look at my housekeeper.

"Ms. Smith, I thought I told you to never address my niece in that way."

"I um... Mr. Erickson, can't you see how ungrateful she is and that she needs to be disciplined? She has been like this ever since you hired me and moved her into your home," she tries to explain.

"Ms. Smith, I understand that you have been around her more than I have, but I also know how you have been treating my other employees. I'm aware of how you speak to them and my niece. In fact, I have been to that kitchen of yours and seen how badly you treat the other employees."

Her face goes white while I'm speaking. "D-did they come and complain to you? I have told them time and again to not bother you."

"I'm letting you go, Ms. Smith."

"Mr. Erickson, I-I haven't done anything! They're lying!" she practically shouts at me.

I go back inside my office and write her final paycheck. She comes in after me and stands in front of my desk. She begins to try to protest, but I hold up my hand and stop her from speaking.

I hold out the check and tell her, "Ms. Smith, I have no need for you here anymore. It's time for you to find another place to work. Here's your final check. I expect you to be gone by tomorrow evening."

She takes the check and says, "Well, don't expect me to cook tomorrow or manage anything. I'm apparently off the job."

I hold in a small laugh and coolly reply with, "I wasn't expecting you to, so I'm glad we're in agreement. That is all."

She gives a slight scowl before turning and rushing out of the room. I sigh and sit down in my chair. I look at my computer and almost start going back to my work. I then remember Maya. I get up and start walking to her room. I pause in front of her door before turning the knob to open it.

~•~•~
Maya's POV

I rush up to my room as my uncle goes down to talk to the housekeeper. I start getting ready for bed. Once I finish, I get under the covers of my warm cozy bed and pull my laptop back out. I open my writing folder and begin writing once again.

I'm in the middle of my new chapter when I hear the door open. I look up and see my dreaded uncle in the doorway. I sigh and look back down at my computer. I continue to write as I hear him get my desk chair and roll it over to my bed and next to me. He sits down.

"Maya, I know that you're mad at me, but will you please listen to me?" he asks quietly.

I ignore him and keep writing. I hoped that he would give up and leave, but he stays sitting there for about five minutes. After five minutes passes, I look up slightly. I groan and turn my laptop off.

"What?" I ask impatiently.

"Maya, I know that I haven't been the guardian I should be, but I truly do care about you. You are the only one in our family that has potential to be something great. I want to help you," he says quietly.

I try not to show him my anger as I ask, "If I have such potential, why did you tell me I'm just like my parents? You know perfectly well that they're a mess."

He sighs. "I got impatient and was not thinking. I sincerely apologize. I am sorry and hope that you will accept my apology. I know life hasn't been the easiest for you."

I let out a bitter laugh. "How would you know about that? You haven't been around long enough to even know what my favorite color is. Four years have passed by with little word from you. You come and go, only telling me things not to do. You don't seem to realize that I'm a senior in high school! I'm about to leave and pave my own future! Have you stopped to realize that?"

He stands up and comes over to my bed. He sits on the edge and nods.

"You're right. I haven't been around. I haven't come to realize that you are about to go to college. I haven't taken time to know you, but I want to. I have always cared for you but haven't been able to show it. Maya, you need to know that I'm not someone who can easily show my emotion. It isn't easy for me to show love for people. I do care, and I promise I will show you how much I care if you'll give me a chance," he says to me with emotion.

I stare at him. I have never seen my uncle like this. He's sitting on the edge of my bed with a saddened look. His face has guilt and regret written all over it. He seems truly sorry.

I wish I could say that I immediately told him yes. I wish I could say that I gave him a hug. I wish I could say that I told him I'd be happy to give him another chance, but, unfortunately, I'm not a liar.

I tell him, "One apology can't make up for four years. I'm sorry, but it can't. Now, I have to go to bed. Will you please leave me alone?"

I see his face fall even more, but he does get up and leave the room. I immediately feel guilty. What I said is true, but it doesn't take away the feeling I have of regret.

I know my uncle is a good man, but the pain I still hold won't allow me to see that. The hate I have for my father is still in my heart. When I look at my uncle, he has the same face as my father, and I hate being reminded of my father.

My father was the person who started the whole thing. He's the one that has made me be where I am. He's the one who caused this pain. My mother was just caught in his trap. It was his trap that caused me to have to move here. It was his trap that caused my mother to take a turn for the worst.

Despite knowing what I truly want, my past is keeping me from allowing it to happen. I want to forgive and move on and be who I am, but I have never been given the chance to do so because I've been given a label that reflects badly about me. All I want is for people to see me the way I truly am.

All of the pain I have experienced is because of my idiotic father. I will forever blame my him for everything. Nothing and no one will ever change my mind.