Chapter 34
34
HE REEKED OF TOO EXPENSIVE COLOGNE AND DADDY’S MONEY
T he cheerful sound of everyone around me irritates me to no end. The aggressive slaps to each other’s backs accompanied by an obnoxious roar of laughter is like nails on a chalkboard to my ears. I look around at the sea of faces in front of me as I lean against the only place that’s offering me any sort of solace this evening—the bar. I’m nursing the Macallan in my glass out of fear that if I have too many, I’ll start spewing what I actually think about these people.
I stand as far as I can away from everyone while they’re busy congratulating the happy couple or kissing my father’s ass. The only person that could brighten this event for me is nowhere in sight. Leave it to me to accidentally leave my phone at the office so I have no way of checking in on Amelia to make sure she would be able to get here alright.
Then again, another part of me wishes she would back out. I still stand on the side of caution and want her as far away from this place as possible. Away from these people and away from my father. It’ll only be a matter of time before they realize who she is and not just as the woman on my arm tonight as my date. I’m just hoping it’s sometime after this party has ended and she’s no longer in the same room as them.
Needing a break from watching the circus in front of me, I turn towards the bar trying to ignore the fact that I’m here, in this room, pretending to give a shit.
Not a minute later, a small hand slithers its way across my back and around my arm. I shrug my sleeve to shake Cecelia’s hand off of me. I turn to look at the bride in her white, very fitted, Vera Wang engagement dress that screams more night out on the town than blushing bride with its short hem and plunging neckline. Her blonde hair is styled in vintage waves the tabloids dubbed her signature look. If I didn’t know who she was as a person I would consider her beautiful.
“Is that anyway to treat the lady of honor?” She pouts her bright red lips.
It takes every bit of willpower not to say what it is I want to say to her. “Bartender,” I raise my hand signaling the attention of the barkeep, “another Macallan.” He nods as I throw the remainder of my glass back. So much for housing this one.
“Oh, Riley,” her voice slithers out as smooth as silk, “it means everything to me that you’re here tonight. I’ve missed you so much and really want you a part of my life.” Her hands dramatically fold over each other against her chest where her heart would be if she had one.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world Cecelia.” I say flatly as the bartender hands me my second glass.
She sighs dramatically. “I hate the way we ended things Riley. I wish we could’ve done things differently, you know?”
“You mean you wish you didn't cheat on me wi th my brother or that you wish I didn’t find out?” I stare at her with a dead expression. I don’t even know why I ask. There isn’t a part of me that honestly cares one way or another anymore.
“I wouldn’t have cheated on you if you were more present, you know.” She blurts out to defend herself as if a justification of her actions negates the actual fuck up. “You had me, someone every woman envied, and you were the envy of every man. All you had to do was love me.”
My ears are practically bleeding at her statement. While there is truth to that statement, every man wanted to be with the socialite and every woman wanted to be the socialite. I just didn’t care. I didn’t care then and I don’t care now. “And now you’re with the man in line to inherit the largest law firm on the east coast when it's time. I’d say you leveled up.” I’m internally begging stating that fact will be enough to convince her to walk away and leave me alone.
“Yeah, I suppose I got the better end of the deal in this breakup,” she seethes. Clearly upset that she didn’t pull the reaction out of me like she intended. “I’m happily engaged to someone that offers me everything I can want out of life and you’re –”
“With me.” A velvet voice interrupts whatever verbal assault was headed my way.
Amelia appears at my side—dark hair in loose waves cascading down her back, the emerald green dress I picked out for her complementing her tanned olive skin tone and showing off every delicious curve of her body—with a smile so breathtaking I have a hard time looking away.
“Hi baby, I’m sorry I’m late. Traffic was horrific on the highway getting here.” Amelia offers while leaning into me with one arm wrapped around mine and the other hand placed gently against my chest. She looks up at me with her amber eyes and I can’t help but lift her chin a bit higher with the knuckle of my finger before kissing her hello.
She lets a soft moan escape against my lips that drives me fucking crazy.
Cecelia clears her throat annoyingly before reaching out her hand in a dainty gesture, “Hi, I’m Cecelia Vancent, of Vancent Real Estate Holdings, ” she offers snidely. “I’m sure you’ve heard of it. I’m also the bride, and you are?”
Amelia removes her hand from my chest to grasp Cecelia’s awaiting one, “Amelia Thatcher, of Thatcher Inc. Tech Solutions , I’m sure you've heard of it.” Her eyes sharpen in a challenge and I’ve never felt more proud of seeing her stand her ground. Cecelia’s face pales as she realizes who the woman standing in front of her is. Cecelia the socialite and daughter of a real estate mogul was nothing compared to the C.E.O. of a multi billion dollar tech company.
Amelia is a billionaire tycoon and Cecelia is a minnow in comparison.
There goes my wish of Amelia’s identity remaining a mystery until after this party but I can’t deny the feeling of pride I get watching her exude a level of confidence I haven’t seen before. She embodies a C.E.O., a queen defending what’s hers, and all I can do is stand here in awe lusting after her.
Jesus Christ. When did I become the damsel in distress?
The idea of Amelia coming to my rescue doesn’t bother me quite as much as having Cecelia still present within reaching distance of either of us. I signal to the bartender again and request a glass of red wine for Amelia, still hoping that Cecelia gets the hint that I am not encouraging her presence by not ordering anything for her. My hand slides down the silky material of Amelia’s dress before resting it at the bottom of her spine protectively.
I lean down so only she can hear, “you look stunning, Princess.” I would be lying if I said I didn’t get some pleasure in watching the goosebumps rise against her skin at the feeling of my breath so close to her ear.
“I heard I have you to thank for this beautiful dress.” Amelia says while trying to hide the flush in her cheeks.
“Actually you have Tiffany, my assistant, to thank. I told her your size and to find something fit for a queen. I just picked a dress from the selection she offered me. I’ll say now that I see how well it looks on you, she deserves a raise for finding it.” I offer a soft kiss against her neck that causes her to shiver against my touch.
A, too loud, harumph comes from Amelia’s left and I’m just now realizing Cecelia never left until I see her storming away back to Phil with rage in her eyes at my blatant public display of affection towards Amelia that I never showed to her.
“I think… she’s pissed.” Amelia says while watching Cecelia make her way back towards the center of the crowded room.
“I would be too if my ex’s new girlfriend showed up and put the bride to shame.” I say with a shrug, taking a sip of my drink.
Amelia scoffs. “Please, she’s like… Miss Vogue Magazine and I’m… just me.”
I move before I can think, gripping the back of her neck, and forcing her body to arch into mine. My eyes boring down into hers. “You, Amelia, are not just anything.” Her lips part in surprise and I can’t help but reach out to stroke my thumb across her bottom lip. “You’re fascinatingly smart. You’re surprisingly funny,” I smirk knowing she knows how much I love her sense of humor. “And you’re dangerously beautiful on a normal day, but today? Like this? Wearing that?” My eyes trail down the length of her body in this dress that accentua tes every delicious curve and I can see her chest rising and falling in a fast pace as she tries to control her breathing. “You. Are. Breathtaking. And I would happily die taking my last breath bowing at your feet, Princess.”
Amelia takes her bottom lip between her teeth and I have to mentally restrain myself from kissing her.
“Be careful Riley, a girl might forget you’re faking it and get used to this.”
There is nothing more that I want than to tell her I wasn’t faking any of it. Since the moment I met her, she’s weaseled so far into my life that all I think about is her. Tiffany thinks I’m in love with Amelia but I’ve never loved a woman in my life so I can’t say for certain if what I feel for her is love or not, but I do know that I can’t give her what she deserves. I have too much shit going on in my life to make her a priority. I need to get my life together before I even think to ask Amelia for anything more.
I’m here at my brother’s engagement party to my ex-girlfriend showing my dutiful support because I have that little say in my life, when all I want is to be about three glasses of whisky deeper than I am… anywhere but here. I’m not a man that deserves someone like Amelia if I don’t even have the balls to take control of my own life.
So instead of giving her false promises I offer the only thing I can… the truth. “I might be your fake boyfriend but I still think you are the most beautiful woman I’ve laid my eyes on.”
The crease between her brow tells me she’s disappointed at my response but quickly brushes it off, “always the charmer, Rye.” Amelia offers me the best smile she can muster to hide her barely there displeasure in my lack of confessing my commitment to her. She turns towards the bar and away to grab he r wine glass and I feel a sense of loss as she pulls away from me.
“Amelia…” I call her name but nothing follows. I’m not even sure what to say to her to make this situation better. I saw it in her eyes when she looked at me like she wanted me to give her more than the stupid deal we agreed on. She’s never insinuated that she wanted more before now so I was wholly unprepared for letting her down which is something I never wanted to do. She’s pretending to find whatever sports game on tv entertaining to avoid eye contact with me and that fucking breaks me.
I open my mouth to try to talk to her again when an aggressive slap to my shoulder grabs my attention. “Riley Anderson, where the hell have you been?” I half turn to see William Vancent, annoying fucking older brother of Cecelia Vancent and heir apparent to the Vancent family fortune, which is humorous because he’s the epitome of spoiled trust fund baby. I don’t think he’s worked a day in his thirty seven years and they’re trusting the future of their family name to him. He stands there with a smug look. The siblings share the same blond hair, blue eyes, and irritating personality.
I let out a low growl of frustration at the untimely intrusion, “If I can help it? Wherever you aren’t William.” I say flatly.
He lets out a sinister laugh, “always a charmer Riley.” I look over and see a smirk appear on Amelia’s lips at the same phrase she used a moment ago except this time coming from him makes me want to punch him square in the jaw. He turns to Amelia, “and who do we have here?” He takes a step to his left, draping his sleazy arm over her shoulder. “Well aren’t you beau-.”
I don’t let him finish that sentence before I grab his hand and bend it at the wrist at an unnatural angle, “the next time you put your hands on what’s mine, I’ll make sure it’s the last thing this hand ever does.” I threaten before throwing his hand off of her.
William winces while cradling his injured wrist with the other. “So possessive Riley. I wish you were more like this with my little sister. Maybe if you had, she’d still be with you.”
I see red and almost lunge at the smug bastard until Amelia’s voice practically purrs, “dance with me Riley?” She looks over her shoulder at William and warns, “this is the only mercy you’ll be granted this evening. Touch me again and I won’t stop him next time.” She laces her fingers with mine and tugs me towards the dance floor.
It’s still early in the event and the floor is practically empty but the band is in full swing playing popular cover songs in a classical music theme. Amelia takes my hand and places it on her hip before shifting hers to the back of my neck. Her nails graze my skin causing me to only see the woman in my arms and nothing else.
We sway to the music, my eyes focused on hers. “I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t have lost my cool.” I offer her an apology. I had no right to go caveman on her behalf, especially after not being able to commit to her like she wanted.
“Don’t apologize Riley. He reeked of too expensive cologne and daddy’s money. I’m not sure I’ll even be able to wash it off my skin without a heavy dose of bleach and a Brillo pad honestly.” She offers a lighthearted chuckle and it eases some of the tension from my shoulders. Leave it to Amelia to be the only one that can do that for me.
Which makes it that much worse that I can’t make her mine. She never breaks eye contact with me as we dance. The tune of the music transitions to a classical version of Disclosure and Sam Smith’s “Omen” and I can see the blush rising to her cheeks. I know Amelia’s replaying the first time we danced together at Sam’s birthday party the same way I am. My hand at her hip squeezes a little tighter and her breath hitches. She tilts her head down to hide the reaction she feels showing on her face and I instantly tip her chin up to look at me
“Don’t ever hide from me, Princess.” I’m not sure what comes over me but the need to kiss her overrules all sense of logic. The moment my lips touch hers, a soft purr escapes her as it always does when I kiss her which causes every rational thought to rush from my mind.
My hand slips from her chin to the back of her neck forcing her closer to me, her lips part even more and I trace my tongue across her bottom lip in return.
“Riley…” she breathes out and places a hand on my chest to stop me from deepening the kiss. “People are staring…”