A knock sounds, “You look magnificent, Emma. Your ride is here,” Tabitha announces.
I kiss the top of the boys’ heads and hug Jamie before grabbing my clutch from the bed and striding downstairs.
Still a bit nervous about not knowing anything, I ask Tabitha, “What’s tonight going to be like?”
From some of our conversations, I’ve gathered that she’s lived here all her life. So, I figure she has to know something.
“Oh dear, these are usually pretty straightforward. There will be lots of socializing, some dancing, you’ll eat, and then the ceremony will begin.
My head snaps up and I have to grab the railing, nearly tripping over the hem of my dress. Ceremony? The invitation said nothing about a ceremony.
Groaning, I whine, “Seriously? What kind of ceremony?”
Chuckling, her tinkling laughter sounding melodious. She says, “You’ll be fine. Actually, you’ll be more than fine. There hasn’t been a selection in my lifetime, but the stories I’ve heard make it sound like a lavish affair. Now, get going and have yourself a marvelous time.
Smiling, I set my heel on the landing, but before I reach the door, she calls out, “Oh and Emma, do everything that I would do.” Then she turns, heading back upstairs where the kids are.
My eyes bulge, and I break out into a fit of giggles.
That minx.
When I step outside, I see an average-sized man holding the door open to Rolls Royce Phantom.
As I approach, he says, “Good Evening, Miss Bishop. I’m Chad. I’ll be your driver tonight and Erik will be riding with me to be your protection.”
“Thank you,” I reply, entering the car and taking in the brown leather interior.
Once the door closes, I begin mentally preparing myself for what I pray is only a fun night.
* * *
Tonight’s been amazing. I danced, laughed, and stuffed my face. The room is elaborate in its decadence. Ornate crystal candelabras line the walls, setting the mood in the gold and ivory-colored decorated room. No expense was spared in the planning of this event. Tables were set with the finest dinnerware I’ve ever seen with white lilies cascaded elegantly at the table’s center. The room screamed old money.
The only downside was seeing Samantha’s annoying face, though the sight of her swollen cheek did take away some of the sting.
“You really clocked her, didn’t you, Love?” August hums, handing me a pale yellow-filled flute. When I arch my brow, I’m bemused. He shakes his head and explains, “It’s champagne. More specifically, it’s 1999 Pol Roger Brut Cuv?e Sir Winston Churchill.”
My face scrunches in even more confusion, “You could’ve just said it was champagne and stopped there.”
Shay cracks up at my response, “Yeah, she doesn’t care about an almost seven hundred dollar bottle of bubbly.”
I choke, coughing, trying to dislodge said expensive drink from the wrong side of my throat. “Why the hell would anyone spend that much on something that doesn’t even taste that good?” I ask, which only makes Shay laugh more.
Karl grabs the glass from my hand, smirking as he leans in, planting a kiss on the pulse of my neck, and I’m sure I’ve gone fifty shades of red.
“What would you like to drink, Angel?” He whispers before raising to his full height.
He and August look drool-worthy in their suits. August’s in a black Brioni with a crisp white shirt and black silk bow tie, and Karl is in all black everything. From his Emporio Armani black tux down to his black Ferragamo dress shoes and black diamond cufflinks in the shape of knives.
I must be staring again because Shay nudges me. “You’ve got it bad,” she teases, pretending to wipe drool from the corner of my red-painted lips, and I hip-check her. “Ayyy, gwan easy nuh, chuh, we don’t all have hips, thighs, and ass for days,” she says, giggling while rubbing her side, like my hips are weapons of mass destruction.
“Shut the fuck up. I barely touched you,” I snark, our banter entertaining the guys.
“You can be rough with me, Riri. We can battle it out and see who conquers whom,” Wy suggests, smugly, like it’s a foregone conclusion he’d win. I might not be experienced sexually, but I throw hands, feet, and elbows. I’m not going down without a fight.
“So sure of yourself, Wy? I wouldn’t underestimate me if I were you,” I state.
He quickly replies, “Oh no, Love, quite the contrary. I’m more than looking forward to your fight,” he grins, displaying all of his teeth, “and your ultimate submission. Because whether you know it or not, your submission is mine first.”
“Oh, I definitely get to be your tag team partner,” Karl adds.
Placing my hand on my hip, I point out, “Two on one can’t be fair?”
“Who said anything about fairness? This is about your total and complete surrender. There’s nothing fair when keeping you is the prize. We’ll lie, cheat, steal, and kill to have you,” August growls.
Feeling the need to reinforce August’s point, Karl asserts, “It’d be wise of you to remember that.” Both are staring so intensely, but I refuse to look away.
Both eyebrows raise in challenge, and I smirk. “Bring it,” is all I say in response.
Waving her hand between our locked gazes, Shay declares, “Enough of all this backward-ass way of flirting. This is a party. Let’s go do just that.”
ROWAN
I
‘ve had to dodge Sam’s advances all night. Emma beat the collagen out of her lip. I almost forgot how thin they used to be. Maybe now she’ll leave Emma alone. Her attempts always seem to miss the mark, eventually leading to her being handled.
I step out from the corner of the ballroom, thinking I’m safe until I hear her.
“Rowan, have you been avoiding me?” she laments, her words sounding slurred due to the swelling of her lips.
“Yes,” I exclaim candidly, “you are becoming tiresome.”
Her eyes smolder with a rage her bruised face can’t express, and I’m not sure if it’s because she got her ass beat or she got botox. Why an eighteen-year-old girl would need botox is beyond me.
“I wish you would stop playing games, Rowan. I’m growing increasingly tired of them.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.