I tried not to laugh. My brother’s shoulders were shaking as they turned away, while I could see Rachel snorting into her drink and Timothy chuckling beside her. Grayson chuckled at Charlotte “I think that Grandfather has given an adequate explanation for what he’s done, don’t you? Are you through causing a scene?” he asked her pointedly.
Charlotte glowered at us both, while her mother started to glance nervously around and wring both her hands together anxiously.
“Give me the ring,” she told me, narrowing her eyes.
“Miss Deluca I’m afraid I must refuse,” I said politely, smirking at her “My husband gifted this ring to me and as such is the only one permitted to ask for it back. Do you want it back?” I asked Grayson meaningfully.
A small smile played on his lips. “I have no such desire to see that ring taken from your finger,” he said gently “not so long as you remain my wife.”
“Grayson” Karen barked and he turned on her.
“Don’t” he said warningly “don’t even think of trying to exert your authority in order to help your spoilt daughter get what she wants. This is non-negotiable. My wife will keep the black diamond ring, whether you like it or not. Touch her and I’ll break your hand, woman or not” he said icily.
Karen gulped. Johnathon looked ill as he glanced between everyone. Naturally, Charlotte turned to him next, playing the victim still.
“Johnathon, do something” she hissed, pointing at me “She’s your ex-wife, tell her to give me the ring.”
I rolled my eyes. Johnathon looked at Charlotte as though she were mad.
“Charlotte you already have a ring that I’ve bought you. You heard Grandfather and Grayson, the black diamond is Flair’s. I can’t make her give it to you” he said apologetically “But the ring you have is nice enough, isn’t it?” he added trying to placate the furious woman.
“Aaargh” she screamed, the crowd staring at her, some openly laughing and giggling. “I can’t believe this, my own grandfather is ruining my life” she yelled hysterically.
“Get over it” the grandfather advised her “and stop making a scene. Good god, didn’t I warn you the press were here?” he was blunt and rather dismissive.
I liked him. He was nonchalant and clearly used to Charlotte’s tantrums. Reminded by the fact the media and press were there to take pictures, Charlotte’s pallor turned pale. Her mother attempted to comfort her, embracing her and rubbing her arms with her hands. “It’s okay sweetheart” she crooned “just take deep breaths. I can ask the press not to print anything about this and delete their photos.”
So her own mother was used to Charlotte’s boorish behavior, I thought with some amusement. The grandfather let out a huff. “She’s a grown adult, Karen, you really need to let her grow up,” he said exasperatedly and then turned to the crowd “Back to the party” he shouted and the crowd quickly dispersed and went back to mingling.
“Mother, I, wanted, that ring” hiccuped Charlotte, her face contorted in misery, her makeup beginning to smear.
“I know, let’s go clean up your face” her mother whispered, trying to be discrete.
I fought back my laughter as Charlotte’s mother began to whip her towards the house, leading her out of the marquee, Johnathon glancing at us before silently following in their wake.
Grayson sighed. “Flair I must apologize for that scene,” he said firmly as the grandfather calmly walked away as though nothing had happened “I knew that Charlotte wanted the ring and I had my suspicions something might happen, but I didn’t think she would lose her temper so violently at a party.”
He didn’t know Charlotte that well, I thought with amusement. He squeezed my hand. I smiled “Don’t worry about it, I feel sorry for her” I added as he looked at me confused.
“You do?” he asked “Why is that?”
“It must be hard being denied something for the first time in your life” I answered, causing him to fling back his head and laugh out loud.
“Right on the money,” he said guffawing “Come let us go sit down and I’ll get you some food if it’s edible” he muttered. We began to sit down, Knox and Ian joining us, along with Rachel and Timothy. Rachel was gleeful as Timothy went off to grab her food.
“That was epic” she chortled, while Ian nodded and Knox chuckled “I wish I had the sense to get it all on camera” she added a little forlornly.
Knox glanced at her “You didn’t? Huh, I had the sense to get it all on camera, just in case I want to release it later in an attempt to blackmail her” he commented drily.
Rachel looked shocked. I giggled “Knox, delete it” I warned him “you know that our father would not approve of such methods.”
“Can’t I just keep it for personal use? I mean it was such a glorious tantrum” he pouted.
I shook my head while Rachel had tears of laughter in her eyes.
He pouted as he deleted the video off his phone.
“Has she seen you yet Ian?” Knox asked, leaning back in his chair.
Ian looked a little taken aback “I don’t think she has, why?”
Knox gave an evil grin “Well didn’t she ask you out that one time and you said no?”
Ian shifted uncomfortably in his seat “Well I’m sure it wasn’t that memorable to her” he began to protest.
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.