16. The After Party
The After Party
Electra
T he reception after the main program was an endless parade of luxury. A trendy band was taking care of the music while the people enjoyed terrific food and drinks, and I secretly admired the stylishly dressed waitresses offering us extravagant drinks.
"Look at her legs," Peter whispered behind my back, and Frederick chuckled. Obviously, Pete knew about his brother's disability and made sure that he saw his face when he talked. I often noticed that he only mouthed so no one could hear their gossiping about the sexy girls.
I turned to them, raising my glass, and Fredy winked at me while Pete flashed me one of his best smiles.
"Of course, you're the queen here, Electra," he stated, wiggling his eyebrows, but I ignored him. My mood was too good to be destroyed by his lame attempts to flirt.
"I would like to know where my king is," I said, reminding him that his comments and compliments were inappropriate. I suspected he was doing it intentionally, but I couldn't be sure. And I didn't want to draw more attention to us than necessary.
"He's dealing with some unpleasantness," Fredy clarified, handing me another glass of champagne. I took it, mentally noting that I shouldn't drink more before Bastian's return.
"Oh, you must be kidding me." The sweet, mocking voice of no other than Rose Adelaine cut through my ears, and I grimaced. Just the person I wanted to avoid. "A secretary, bastard, and," she gave Fredy a quick once-over, smirking, "have you thrown a bucket of yellow paint at yourself, darling?"
"Good evening, Rosalind." Frederick smiled at her, acting like she didn't insult them, but his brown eyes glowed with anger. "Are you here to enjoy our company?"
"I'm here because I'm the best manager working for your brother, sweetie," she pointed out as if we should already know it. "The real question is, what are you doing here?" She directed her attention to Peter. "What kind of scandal are you planning for today?"
Peter didn't look fazed by her words at all. He was probably used to being humiliated by people because he was an out-of-wedlock child.
"Something surprising, of course." He winked at her, placing the empty glass on the table and approaching her. I heard what he said because I was only a few feet from her. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known how he wiped that stupid, arrogant smile from her gorgeous face.
"A few weeks ago, I saw a video, and the main actress looked exactly like you, you naughty girl." Her expression fell, and her eyes widened in shock. In a millisecond, she looked horrified. "What will all these people say if they know that you love latex and ropes?"
"H-how?" she stammered while I was watching them with my mouth wide open. She had a dirty secret, and somehow, Peter knew about it. He may have been a troublemaker who made some stupid mistakes, but he surely understood the power of that information. And he knew how to use it to his advantage.
"It doesn't matter how, you little whore," he whispered, and she gulped, staring into his face.
I took the tiniest step closer, acting invisible, wanting to hear what he was saying to her.
But even if I didn' t comprehend his words, Fredy walked to the other side with a perfect view of his brother's mouth.
"Call me bastard again, and you'll find out that Bastian is nothing compared to me when it comes to being vindictive.
" He gave her a fake smile and showed her his broad back while she was fuming.
I expected her to yell profanities or insults at him, but she didn't. She clenched her palms, and with one last deadly stare, she left.
"You didn't make a scene. That's new." Fredy slapped Pete's shoulder hard. His dark eyes glowed with pride. I could only imagine why he was so happy about his younger brother handling this situation like an adult man. Peter had a reputation as a hot-headed person with a long list of escapades.
"I don't want Bastian to kick my ass out of here just after he invited me in," he mumbled, taking a glass of whiskey from the waitress. I noticed his hand slightly trembled, and his expression was somber. He was angry.
"C'mon, you're not a bastard," Fredy stated, studying his brother closely. I didn't know what kind of relationship they had, but I was sure Fredy meant his words. He accepted him as his other sibling, and he was on his side.
"Who isn't a bastard?" I winced when Bastian spoke from behind me, and he chuckled in my ear and pulled me into his chest. Pete shot him a glance before he drank the remaining whiskey.
"I just threatened your best manager to show her cunt to every person in this country if she calls me a bastard again," he announced, probably waiting for Bastian to scold him.
"What?" my man muttered, and I turned my head to the side to see his flabbergasted expression.
"Rose," I whispered, exactly as I thought it was enough for him to understand.
"What the hell did she say to you?" he rumbled, letting go of me, expecting an immediate explanation from his brother.
"It's not important." Pete waved his hand, plastering on a broad smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm going to say hi to a lovely woman I noticed before." And he walked away .
Surprisingly, Bastian didn't stop him, but after a few seconds, he turned to me. "Can you please tell me what happened?" he asked, and I glanced at Fredy, who grinned and left us alone. Great! They both knew Bastian would be livid about Rose's words, and I was the one who had to calm him down.
"She was bitchy as usual," I replied neutrally, trying to avoid his probing gaze. He was overprotective about his siblings, and despite Rose being, well, Rose, she didn't deserve to suffer his wrath when Peter discreetly reminded her that she should be nice.
"I would like to—" Bastian started again, but I cut him off. I didn't do it often, yet I didn't want to spend the night thinking about that woman.
"Pete took care of it," I said, touching his chest and tilting my head. I gave him a seductive smile, using my charm to get him off the topic. And thankfully, it worked.
"Do you want something, Miss Hernandez?" he asked, his voice deep and husky, sending pleasurable shivers down my spine.
"I'm tired." I sighed, playing with his dark blue tie, which matched the color of my dress. "Can we go home?"
"Of course, princess." He took my hand and put it on his elbow, leading me out.
I believed he had forgotten about Peter's little fight with Rose, yet I couldn't be more wrong.
When we were outside, and the bodyguard appeared out of nowhere next to us, opening the door for me, I overheard Bastian's words to the head of his security team.
"You'll pick up Miss Adelaine at work tomorrow and bring her to my office in Thorn Enterprises," he commanded in a tone that didn't accept any objections, and the bodyguard quickly nodded. "I'll expect her to be there at ten."
"She will argue with me," the security guy pointed out with a sly smirk. "She hates to be summoned."
"I don't care about her feelings," Bastian growled, his voice soaked with anger. "And I'm sure you know how to handle her."
"Yes, boss," the man replied, bowing his head. The other bodyguard slammed the door behind me just in time, so Bastian didn't notice that I heard his conversation.
My jaw clenched, and my stomach twisted with uneasiness.
Rose had been provoking my man with her behavior and comments since we met for the first time, but it wasn't anything harmful.
Yet this time, she was in trouble. I knew it.
The murderous glint in Bastian's eyes and his tense body told me that if she were in front of him, he would've shown her where she belonged.
He wasn't stupid. He quickly put two and two together and deduced what she could have possibly told Peter that he threatened her.
He took her mocking as an attack on his family, and he was ready to teach her some respect.
I just hoped that he wouldn't let his anger control him and wouldn't make her his enemy.
She was unbearable when they were friends.
I didn't want to think about what she would do if he sent her to hell.
"You're quiet, baby girl. Everything okay?" Bastian asked, interrupting my musing about the situation with his ex, and I turned to look at him. He suppressed his anger, and his face showed no unwanted emotions. I wouldn't have noticed anything suspicious if I didn't hear him talking to his men.
"What are you going to do with Rose?" I whispered, letting him know I had unintentionally overheard his conversation.
One secret between us was enough; I didn't need to hide something like this from him.
And at the end of the day, I would be the one who would be bothered about him getting into the fight with that goose.
He raised his eyebrows at me, and a small smile appeared on his lips when he motioned for me to move closer. When I did, he lifted me, sitting me on his lap.
"Rose is doing it on purpose," he uttered after a few moments of silence, stroking my back gently. His other hand was placed on my thigh, moving up to my hip. "She wants my attention, so I'll give it to her."
"But..." I frowned. Many scenarios popped up in my mind at once. He put his index finger on my lips, silencing me.
"I'm going to strongly remind her of our agreement," he said. I calmed instantly when his words reached my ears, and his eyes pierced my soul. Instead of panicking, I gently bit his finger, playfully licking it.
"And if, in the future, she plans to insult my family again, which includes you as well," he muttered, watching me as I sucked on his digit, teasing him with my tongue and teeth, trying to disturb the flow of his thoughts, "I'll kick her ass from my company, and I'll cut all ties with her," he finished in a low voice, pulling his finger out of my mouth.
He grabbed the back of my neck, holding me in place while he rested his forehead against mine, grazing my lower lip with his thumb.
"I promised you I wouldn't let anyone hurt you, princess," he whispered, almost kissing me. "And I intend to keep that promise."
"Do you want me to thank you for it, sir?" I asked innocently, batting my eyelashes. He smirked, placing his hand back on my thigh and moving it up under my dress and between my legs.
"Are you ready to perform in front of an audience?
" he countered, and his smile widened when I gave him a confused glance.
But I quickly understood when he nodded in the direction of two bodyguards sitting with us in the car.
They both had stern, emotionless faces staring at the road, yet I surely didn't want to ride my boss with them keeping us company.
"Not really," I muttered, biting my lower lip. I felt strange about the idea, but he didn't mind that someone would watch us during our playtime. Still, it was weirdly arousing to muse about being fucked while someone was watching.
"Then, we must be patient," Bastian whispered against my cheek while he was grazing my clit through the fabric of my panties with his finger.
I dug my nails into his shoulders, suppressing a moan when he pushed harder against my sensitive place.
He attacked my neck with his lips, nibbling my skin while I was pressing my thighs together and wriggling in his lap.
"Sit still, princess, or I'll make you scream," he warned, and I stiffened. We were a few blocks away from our apartment. I had to hold myself together.
But it was easier said than done. Bastian surely knew how to get me into a state where I didn't mind if someone was with us. He was teasing my pussy while kissing and licking me, but when I wanted to return the favor, he instantly stopped me.
By the time we got out of the car in the parking lot under the building, I had difficulty standing on my wobbly legs.
I desperately needed a release and shuddered when I remembered Bastian's words before my speech.
I just hoped that he didn't want to use the flogger again.
Our intense morning session was imprinted not only in my memory but on my bottom as well.
"I have to take care of something," Bastian rumbled when we entered the spacious living room.
He fished the phone from his pocket, glaring at the screen before tossing it on the couch and turning to me.
"Take off that pretty dress and wait for me in the bedroom," he ordered, stroking my naked forearms with his palms. "We'll shower together, and then you'll tell me if you're ready to pay your debt tonight or want to transfer it to another day. "
"Debt?" I echoed, excitement filling my body only because of that choice of words.
"Yes, princess." He slightly nodded, smiling softly at me. "Your mouth has written some checks your body has to pay for."
"Tonight," I breathed eagerly, beaming at him. I didn't care that it was late and that early in the morning, I had a scheduled meeting in the gym. I was ready to pay for anything with everything.
"Perfect," he muttered, leaning closer and pecking my lips gently. "Give me five minutes."
"Of course, sir."