Chapter 29 #2
“We use the truth behind what’s already been published.
The fake news about you offering me money to leave Konni brought us together.
You met my Mom because of it and formed a friendship.
We lost our home, and you insisted that your new friend and her daughter stay with you because you now know someone is trying to target the people you care about. ”
She slowly nodded. “And living together would explain growing feelings between the two of you. We’ll need public opportunities to show a visible whirlwind progression of your relationship.”
I’d been thinking of a slow progression, but she was right about it needing to be a whirlwind. Anything slow would either be uninteresting to the media or give someone time to sabotage us. And now that I was ready, I didn’t want to give anyone that opportunity.
Kaya opened her phone calendar.
“This is perfect. There’s a gathering at Clay and Leaf tomorrow afternoon. I wasn’t going to go, but I’ll RSVP for three. We’ll go without Konni so I can introduce you both as friends gained through misunderstanding and misfortune.”
Butterflies danced in my stomach, and Konni’s fingers threaded through mine as she continued.
“Sunday, there’s a golf outing. Wednesday evening, there’s a fashion show. Saturday, there’s a charity gala at a hotel downtown. We’ll need gowns for Wednesday and Saturday.
"It’s a good thing we already have options for you, Abbye. You have an amazing figure, but that cast was a big wrench to overcome.”
I glanced at Mom. “When did you buy gowns?”
She grinned. “Tuesday.”
While I was worrying at work, she and Kaya had been shopping? No fair.
“That means we can dedicate tonight to finding something for you,” Kaya said.
“Not tonight,” Konni said. “You can have her tomorrow after I leave for the office at seven.”
Kaya beamed and quickly agreed.
Stomach churning nervously over what I’d set in motion, I picked at the rest of my dinner. When Konni asked if I was done, I nodded and let him lead me away.
As soon as we were in our room with the door closed, he pulled me into his arms.
“I’d rather rip out my heart than change your mind…but are you really ready, or are you agreeing because you feel guilty?”
I snuggled into him. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel guilty. But that’s not what’s motivating me. You are.
“You respect my boundaries, my dreams, and always put me first. People will think what they want, whether I’m social climbing, after your money, or not. I want to stop being afraid and do what feels right.
"And being with you has felt right from the beginning. I think that’s why it’s so scary, too.”
He groaned, capturing the back of my head.
“Remember you started this,” he said.
I eagerly met his demanding kiss.
Morning arrived too early after how late Konni kept me up. Hickies that took a lot of effort to hide decorated my neck.
He kissed one as I applied some lip gloss.
“If you leave another mark, I’m sleeping with my mom tonight.”
Unfazed by the threat, he chuckled and nuzzled my neck, pressing into me—his affection when we were alone involved as much contact as possible.
“I’m curious about something,” I said.
“What?” he asked between kisses.
“You’re not going to do this in public once we’re officially out, are you? I’m not against PDA or anything, but this might offend some people.”
He flashed me a grin in the mirror.
“That wasn’t an answer, Konni.”
“I’ll give whatever you need and do whatever you allow. I will always like the feel of you against me, but I crave it even more now because of my molt.”
“When will that mysterious event take place?”
“Soon.”
“That’s what you said last time.”
“It’s not something I can schedule. This skin-too-tight and itchy feeling increases until the first scale breaks loose in my other form.
That signals my need to molt. Until then, rubbing against you helps ease the discomfort.
Once I’m past my molt, I’ll still want to do this—you feel so good—it just won’t be as compulsive. ”
I smirked at him. “You mean you’re having a hard time stopping yourself?”
“You have no idea how hard it is at work.”
I didn’t yet, but I was sure going to find out on Monday.
“You’d better get going,” I said, tucking the lip gloss into my clutch. “It’s not nice to make Marius come in on a Saturday if you’re going to show up late.”
Konni kissed me again and walked downstairs with me.
Kaya and Mom had already finished their breakfasts and were sipping their coffees.
“I have great news,” Kaya said as soon as she saw us. “We’ve settled on a guest list for your welcome party and booked the venue, that old clock tower hotel between downtown and the southside, for a month from now. It has the space we need to accommodate five hundred people.”
I almost missed the chair mid-sit. “How many?”
“It was over eight hundred,” Mom said. “We trimmed it down.”
Kaya took my hand and patted it soothingly. “I know you’d rather keep it small, but if we want the Cinderella story, we can’t hold back. Steele family and business connections are a must to establish your place beside Konni. Both circles are large.”
“I also suggested we invite your father and Hestian,” Mom said.
“Good.” Konni put a pastry on my plate. “The sooner they understand Sophia is mine, the better.”
His possessiveness didn’t bother me since he mostly kept it to the bedroom—and I loved how he possessed me there.
“What Sophia wants matters most,” Kaya said, watching me, waiting for a response.
“Inviting them makes sense. Just don’t give my dad anything. Deals, money, basic courtesy…none of it.”
Konni stole my hand to rub his cheek against it. “I know how you feel about him. He won’t get any benefits because of our relationship. I promise.”
He continued rubbing, and I saw his scales flash. More of them looked duller, and I felt a tug of compassion.
“Don’t even think about it, Konni,” his mom said. “You need to go to work and distract yourself so we can do what we need to do. A little sacrifice now wins you what you really want a lot faster.”
He heaved a sigh and released my hand.
“You can have her until three.”
“Drokonnen Luka Steele, the tea starts at two. You can have her again at six.”
“Five, Mother, or I find her.”
“Fine. Five. Go.”
I met Mom’s gaze as he stood. “I feel like I was just auctioned.”
“I think you were,” she said with a grin.
After kissing the top of my head, Konni left, and I listened to Kaya’s game plan for the day.
It included shopping, appointments at two boutiques for fast turnaround couture, a quick lunch, then home to change before the social at Clay and Leaf.
I was looking forward to the shopping part. The socializing? Not so much.
Thankfully, the thrill of shopping and trying on clothes I’d only dreamed of owning distracted me until we were back at the estate with our impressive haul.
“Wear that cornflower blue silk top with the white palazzo pants,” Mom said. “You looked amazing in them.”
Nodding, I went upstairs and sat on the bed.
Konni’s mom had started a group chat for the four of us so she and Mom could get his feedback on the clothes I was trying on—and to torment him a little, I think.
He’d messaged me privately several times, mostly commenting on the outfits. The last one, which I’d gotten on the way home, said he missed me.
Me: Would it help if I sent a selfie?
K: Yes.
Grinning, I stripped down to my bra and underwear, lay back, and took a picture in a pose that wasn’t any more provocative than what you’d see on a beach.
K: That didn’t help.
K: Send more.
I snorted, tossed my phone aside, and put on the assigned outfit.
The moms were waiting for me when I returned to the entry.
“You have no idea how badly I want to run upstairs to get a diamond necklace that would go perfectly with that.” Kaya sighed regretfully. “Baby steps. We can work up to loaning you my jewelry by the gala.”
“One of the small pieces, maybe,” Mom said. “The bigger ones will draw too much attention too soon.”
I looked between the two, understanding that they hadn’t just gone shopping without me. They’d bonded over Kaya’s expensive jewelry, too. Jewelry I didn’t get to see. I loved gems of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
“Any chance we can skip the tea social and do a jewelry fashion show at home instead?” I asked.
Kaya had me in the car minutes later with a simple bribe—we’d stop at Zellon before the fashion show on Wednesday to select what I’d wear to my welcome party.
Me. I would own a Zellon’s original.
Did I feel guilty about that? A little. But I’d been serious when I promised Konni I’d stop letting my fears hold me back. I wasn’t my father any more than Konni was. I wasn’t using Konni to gain jewelry. Pretty things—jewelry, clothes, maybe even cars—were just part of accepting the Konni-package.
And I really, really liked his package.
Me: I’m thinking of you.
Konni: I’m thinking of you, too.
Me: Make sure you have snacks in the room before I take you to Pound Town tonight.
I watched the ellipses start and stop several times and grinned, knowing I’d probably just wrecked what little concentration he had.
“What are you grinning about?” Kaya asked me.
“Tormenting Konni.”
She chuckled. “Remind him he agreed to five so he doesn’t try to steal you sooner.”
Me: Tonight’s schedule: dinner at 5:30, all-you-can-eat dessert in our room at 6; Pound Town from 6:30 until 11, with brief snack and shower breaks. You in?
Konni: Not yet, but I will be promptly after I eat my fill.
“Did he argue?” Kaya asked as I put my phone away.
“No, he’s fine with five and dinner at five-thirty,” I said, fighting to keep the pleased smile off my face.
Harlow parked in front of Clay and Leaf and went to open Mom's door so she wouldn’t bump her arm.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling at him.
I did a double-take, and Kaya nudged me. When I looked at her, she smirked and shook her head. The need to turn and study Mom was almost impossible to resist, but I managed. Not once since she and Dad split had she ever shown any interest in a man. At least, not anywhere in my vicinity.
A list of questions started to grow in my mind, but I didn’t ask any of them. I’d wait to talk to Konni about Harlow tonight during one of our breaks.