14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
"Hey,” Jasmine says coming to stand in front of me, successfully blocking my image in the mirror. “You’re not breathing.”
I blink. “What?”
“It’s the shapewear isn’t it?” She sighs, tugging at the garment around my stomach. “We should take it off. You’re turning pale.”
“No, I’m breathing fine,” I chuckle awkwardly. “I’m just nervous.”
I glance at Leo through the opened door. He looks adorable in his little black and white suit, and there’s a different kind of excitement on his face as he plays hide and seek with Matthew.
The reason for that is obvious. I told him I was taking him to see his grandparents and he’s been jumping up and down ever since.
As happy as I am for Leo’s happiness, I’m sick to my stomach about how the fundraiser will turn out tonight. If there’s one thing I can vouch for, it’s the ease with which my family turns a sweet night to a bitter one.
They’ve been silent since the tabloids broadcasted news about Matthew and I being a thing. It’s been a week since he agreed with my idea to fake a romance to get my father to permanently cut off the arrangement with Sebastian Clyne.
Their silence has done nothing but bother me over the past week.
There has been silence from Ethan’s end as well.
After Fara dropped Leo off, I’ve not heard from them.
He hasn’t responded to my calls or texts.
He hasn’t shown up at my door, and he certainly hasn’t made any move to take custody of Leo as per the arrangement for every week.
To others, silence means calm. It should mean the same for me, since I’ve not had to deal with either side of my life that have been giving me trouble.
But this messes with me. It’s oddly quiet. Too quiet for my liking.
I take a seat on the edge of the bed and screw my eyes shut. “I’m really nervous, Jas.”
Jasmine squats in front of me and pries my fingers away from my face.
“Hey. It’s okay to be nervous, all right?
Just remember you’re doing this for Leo.
Don’t let them get to you. Besides, Matthew’s going to be with you.
He might be a dick sometimes, but I know he’s not going to let anyone hurt you. ”
Right. For now, she’s only aware of our fake arrangement. She doesn’t know the complicated relationship Matthew and I have. She doesn’t know that I harbor crazy, stupid feelings for her brother or that, despite our usual banter, we’ve had sex twice.
And it should remain that way. There’s too much going on in my life right now to add to Jasmine’s disappointment in finding out the truth.
“What if they don’t buy it?” I ask, fiddling with the emerald diamond on my finger. I still get shell-shocked when I stare at it. It’s the prettiest jewel I’ve ever laid my eyes on. Too real and too expensive for a fake engagement.
“What if this all goes sideways? What if they don’t accept Leo? It will break me, Jas.”
Jasmine shakes her head. “You’re overthinking this, Hailey. Everything will be fine. Tonight will be perfect and you certainly shouldn’t let anyone ruin it for you. Promise me you won’t let anyone ruin your night.”
The doorbell chimes before I can promise her anything.
I stand, suddenly desperate to leave the house. “That should be Matthew.”
I head toward the living room to open the door, but Leo is already doing me the honors. He places both of his hands on the door handle and slowly drags it open.
Despite the ongoing turmoil in my head, my breath hitches in my throat once Matthew comes into view. He looks breathtaking in the black tux he’s wearing. His dark hair is slicked back, leaving only a perfect curl hanging in front of his brows.
A genuine smile appears on his face when he sees Leo’s outfit. He squats to match Leo’s height and is still a few inches taller than him.
“And what do we have here?” He asks, adjusting Leo’s shirt. King playfully runs around his dad’s legs, yipping excitedly upon seeing him.
At least, I’m not the only one who feels giddy after seeing him.
“That’s a nice little suit you’ve got on,” Matthew praises. “I wasn’t this cute when I was your age.”
Leo beams. “Mommy says we’re going to see Grandma and Grandpa.”
“You’re right on time,” Jasmine notes from behind me. “That’s weird.”
Matthew tilts his head away from Leo at the sound of his sister’s voice, but the unimpressed look on his face fades when he sees me standing next to her.
He stares at me unblinking, his eyes slowly accessing me from head to toe and back. My skin prickles with goosebumps at his obvious scrutiny and a shiver of pleasure runs down my spine.
He gets to his feet, his lips parted, and no words leave him. Jasmine interrupts the moment with a light slap on his head.
“Stop ogling my best friend and get your head in the game,” she scolds, turning to face me again. She grins, clasping her fingers as she addresses the both of us.
“Good. We’re all set now,” she says. I look away from her brother and focus on her instead.
Internally, I’m grateful for the artificial blush on my face that helps conceal the real one at the sight of Matthew.
“Remember the rules,” Jas says. “Matt, you’re only going there to show off your money and be Hailey’s trophy fiancé. No hugs longer than necessary. No kissing until absolutely necessary and no tongue when you two kiss.”
Matthew shakes his head slowly, still staring at me. “I can’t promise that.”
My cheeks flare and my eyes widen for him to behave. He shouldn’t say anything that will give her a hint that we’ve been far more intimate than she can ever imagine.
Jas spins on her heel with a frown. “What do you mean by that?”
“Well, would you look at that,” I smile a little too widely. “We’re getting late and we need to leave right now.”
Matthew nods, taking Leo by the hand. “Agreed.” To his sister, he says, “Good luck rotting here while we have fun.”
Jasmine smiles sarcastically, even though her eyes shoot lasers at him. “Thanks. I’ll be doing just fine watching The Bachelor on repeat.”
He shakes his head sympathetically. “Aren’t you getting a little too old to still be single? It’s starting to get a little sad.”
Jasmine scoffs and glances at me for help. I grab my purse and try not to roll my eyes at their sibling rivalry.
“Excuse you? It’s better than being a man-whore. You can barely commit to one flavor of coffee, talk more of getting a girlfriend.”
Matthew smiles fully. “And yet here I stand, little sister. Not just as your brother but as your best friend’s fiancé.”
She tosses a throw pillow at his face which he successfully dodges. “It’s not real. Get out, I’m sick of you. Come on, King. Come spend time with me.”
King reluctantly leaves Matthew before trotting over to Jasmine. Jasmine bids me goodbye with one last kiss she blows into the air, before shutting the door behind us.
“You look stunning,” Matthew says as soon as Jasmine becomes out of earshot. “Are you trying to get me to propose to you for real?”
I roll my eyes with a grin. “Shut up. You don’t look too bad yourself.”
“Are you prepared for this?” He asks seriously now. “You look a bit tense.”
“I’m nervous,” I admit, glancing at a clueless Leo excited to go. “It’s my first time taking him to see them.”
Matthew takes my hand and a flurry of sparks skitter through my body. I’m starting to think making this kind of arrangement with the man I have an unhealthy crush on is a bad idea.
“Just stay with me,” he says, looking into my eyes like he’s digging for my soul. “Just make sure you stay with me all night. No matter what happens tonight, it won’t cancel the fact that you’re a good mother and an amazing person. Okay?”
I nod and swallow, blinking hard when I feel the lightest moisture on my eyelashes.
“Okay.”
“Good.” He lifts my hand to his lips and his eyes stay on mine as he kisses my knuckles.
My heart threatens to beat out of my chest at the action. This was real, what he did and what I felt in response. It was way too real.
“Come on, big guy,” he says to Leo as soon as we get to the garage, like he didn’t just turn my insides to mush. He points to a row of luxury cars and asks him to pick anyone.
I stare at every one of them as Leo moves from car to car. “You own all of them?”
Matthew casually shoves his hands into his pockets and shrugs. “Yeah.”
My eyes are round as I look at him. “I thought they belonged to the other tenants. How come I only see you with that?” I ask, pointing at the black Audi A8 L he always drives to work.
“It’s my favorite,” he answers simply. “Besides, I don’t like the attention. Someone out there is bound to notice that I drive a different car to work every day.”
Sometimes, the nature of my relationship with Matthew and Jasmine makes me forget just how wealthy the Pierce family is. It’s a shocking contrast to how they both prefer to live their lives on the low.
“This one,” Leo says, pointing at the black Mercedes-Maybach. It commands attention like a king.
“Good choice,” Matthew grins, raising a hand for Leo to high-five. Leo breaks into a shy smile, before slapping his tiny hand against Matthew’s palm.
Matthew opens the door and safely tucks Leo in the backseat. Then he opens the passenger door and raises a brow at me.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Get in.”
***
The grand hall shimmers under the glow of crystal chandeliers, their light reflecting off the polished marble floors and the gold accents lining the walls.
The air buzzes with chatter and clinking glasses as guests in formal attire mingle, their voices blending with the soft hum of the live quartet in the corner.
On one side of the room, a silent auction display highlights priceless artifacts, artwork, and exclusive experiences, drawing clusters of well-dressed patrons eager to bid. There are familiar faces here, most I’ve either seen on the TV or read about in the newspapers.