Heart of Redemption (Hearts #2)

7. Liam

Chapter 7

Liam

I had gone insane, and I don’t regret any of my decisions that I have made.

So why was I in front of Cartier ?

I questioned myself a lot, but I somehow couldn’t stop myself from going inside the store. I wasn’t insane, I was going to buy her a gold bracelet, but not just a regular one that many people in our type of pay grade would purchase on a daily.

Something my aunt had made for the kings and queens of the world. I walked inside the gold rimmed out building, the floors were marbled and there was a diamond chandelier hanging from the high ceilings.

I stood around for a moment, looking around, there was an old woman that had a Birken bag made for her fucking dog. A couple teenage girls eyes wandered my way.

A few older ladies blocked my way to the rings, I wasn’t stupid. I knew people knew who I am, a lot of people knew my family, and I wasn’t na?ve enough to know that I attract a lot of men and women.

I’ve always struggled to think that many people were interested in anything that I did, anything my friends had done. Our faces on newspapers, articles, new deals, new relationships, new reputations.

Even Grayson and Neil’s lives are intruded upon. Chris keeps himself in the dark, he always had and I’m quite sure he will keep up the shy boy aesthetic.

He was a genius now that I’ve thought of it, girls always went crazy for that emo boy shit. We were more lowkey, but Margo’s friends– the girls on the other hand are a whole different story, they lived for the paparazzi, they lived for the news outlets, front page on Vogue.

Personalities clash, we didn’t get along. Grayson and Adrianna have hated each other since birth. But as his best friend I can’t fail to mention that when he doesn’t think she’s looking, he admires her from a far. Grayson got injured his freshman year of high school, only a minor concussion, but Adrianna sent one of her minions to spy on him every practice to see if he got any better.

I’ve always rooted for them in some way, even if it was a long shot.

Verina has always been in her own world, and never noticed other world problems. Chris was far too busy to do anything other than work, go to school, and play hockey, his life was a fucking simulation.

Neil’s family is too far up his ass to even let him date who he wants, or who he can converse with.

None of us or the girls would really interact unless Grayson decided to be a dick to Adrianna. Margo and I would stay away from each other, due to the fact that Adrianna and Grayson would always be near us, and they can’t be near each other.

As I walked over to the bracelets, a man stood next to me, he looked far too happy and cheerful for me to like but, that didn’t stop him from sparking a conversation with me.

“You shopping for a special girl?” He beamed.

I nodded.

The man’s smile turned upside down, I just realized how rude I was, and if Margo wants me to be a better man, I could definitely be a better man.

I take a heavy breath, “Yeah, I’m just trying to prove to a girl how much I want to change and be with her.”

The man smiled, his cheeks turned bright red, “That’s so sweet of you.”

I began to look at the bracelets that were being displayed in front of me, but none of them really caught my eye.

“Can I please ask you a question?” I asked the worker that stood across from me.

They nodded; I rolled my eyes.

“Could I possibly ask if I can look at the summer collection by Odessa Brookshire?” I look up at the woman who then started to smirk at me.

“Yes, I will work on getting that out for you.”

I looked around to wait, only to be invested at the fact that the man that stood next to me looking at rings was about my age, buying a fucking ring?

I couldn’t hide my concerned face, I just had to ask.

“Are you getting engaged?” I blurted out as the man’s head turned to face me.

He smiled widely, “Yes I am, my name is Benjamin Grimaldi.”

My eyes narrowed at the familiar name. I placed my hand out in front of me.

I couldn’t help but smirk, “You just looked about my age, so I was just confused–” He cuts me off.

“I’m twenty.” He looked giddy as I tried not to show a soured expression.

Instead, I smiled thickly, “So you are my age… and looking to propose?” I questioned his methods, betting on the fact that he was about to scare his girl away.

Benjamin looked absolutely ecstatic, “Not looking… the proposal is already confirmed. I’m just reevaluating the rings, she’s beautiful and amazing so I need the right ring.”

I wanted to roll my eyes, yet he seemed so excited, I couldn’t judge him, he seemed to have his whole life figured out.

“Who’s the lucky girl?” I leaned back on the counter in front of us.

He laughed like we were best friends; he was lucky Grayson wasn’t here, otherwise he would’ve been punted by now.

“Her name is Margo. Margo Hamilton.”

Then. Just fucking then. He punched my gut when he said Margo’s name. I turned around from him, something in my torso hurt, something I hadn’t felt before.

I should call a fucking doctor. I felt fucking blindsided. He looked at me in a way of cockiness which made my blood change fucking temperature.

Benjamin fucking Grimaldi had something I wanted.

Something I fucking yearned for and I snapped quietly., my jaw hardened my eyes pierced, and I felt blood rush to my fucking head.

If I took one fucking lookback at him my anger would’ve ripped through me. My muscles rippled, until I closed both my fists, trying not to break his nose, but after I had come to the decision of making his nosebleed… I turned around.

I felt the same fucking thing in my stomach tug, a rip through my heart, I felt as though I couldn’t breathe, I was suffocating, and I kept the brave face on.

Then the memories came rushing back to me.

Benjamin fucking Grimaldi. He’s got to be fucking kidding. Brookshires and Grimaldi’s don’t get along. They never had and I can assure you right now they fucking won’t.

It was a long time ago, but I didn’t forget anything, his family killed my grandfather. It was all over the fucking news.

I couldn’t help but smile, right at his face. A fucking evil smirk that I only saved for my enemies, “Well Benjamin I’m so glad that you are getting married. Hopefully the Brookshire’s will be invited?”

I pull my sleeve back to check the time, “My family would love to congratulate you and your… future wife. ”

Benjamin’s smile depleted, looked fucking dead.

“Oh Liam, how are you… you know… since the incident?”

I scowled, “Great Benny, glad to know you are now engaged to Margo Hamilton, nevertheless.”

He nodded, “She’s a great woman.” He straightened up his posture, as well as making should he fixed his tie.

I physically fidgeted, Margo was more than fucking great, she was– no is, the most down to earth woman on the fucking planet, the most jaw dropping girl that captured me. She’s fucking everything.

He didn’t know a damn thing about her, and I know I’ve never voiced on the fact that she was always on my mind but, to be fair, liking a girl that is associated with Adrianna Cassian was a fucking death wish.

Grayson would have my head on a damn stick. Besides, I wasn’t an idiot, I knew that she was on the market at Hawthorne, every guy wanted a piece of her, thank God she has taste and was pretty selective.

But then again Grayson fucking Prince was right, she was playing me. Like a damn fiddle. She’s fucking engaged.

“Mr. Brookshire?” I look back at the lady who came back with the summer collection. I stared at the beautiful bracelet.

“Do you still want the bracelet?” I look away from it, letting my eyes travel to Benjamin’s God-awful fucking ring.

I didn’t need to be Margo’s fucking boyfriend to know that she would hate it.

I smiled thickly, “No. It’s okay I’ve changed my mind.”

I pulled away from the jewelry case, disappointed that I didn’t have a ring at hand. But he fucking did.

Is this how it fucking felt to not get want I wanted? To try for something and have it right in the palm of my hands then dropping the ball when it really counted?

To get blindsided?

I should’ve known better, shouldn’t I?

She’s me after all. This was something I would pull, but I didn’t. She did. And I didn’t know why I was feeling like someone had stomped on my damn heart.

This was all new, I didn’t know how to stop it. Ironically, Margo’s name pops up on my phone and my heart sank even more. I couldn’t possibly talk to her, not after this.

I felt anger ripple through my skin and bones. A piece of my heart ripped and tore apart. Her name disappeared, I clicked on her contact and the big red fucking letters that read, “BLOCK.”

Grayson’s name came up, “When are you coming home?” I let the question linger for a while.

“Hello Brookshire, are you going to answer or what?” Grayson muttered once more.

I took a second breath, “Tonight. I’m about to get in the jet.”

Grayson took a second to answer, “What’s wrong?” He asked as I shook my head in defeat. I wasn’t sure if I should even tell him anything. If I did, I knew Grayson wouldn’t fucking shut up about it. But that never stopped me anyway.

I paused, “I’ll tell you tonight.”

“Yay! We can have a girl’s night!” Grayson beams as I roll my eyes.

“Maybe we can even get mani–” But before Grayson could even finish the sentence, I hung up immediately.