13. Kash
Chapter Thirteen
KASH
Pluto is my favorite planet.
Pluto is technically not a planet.
I got my first tattoo when I was nineteen.
Sometimes, when I looked in the mirror, I saw a reflection of my father. Not because the Sutherland genes were a lot stronger than the Alvarez genes, so I got nothing from my mother. No, it was because I was shaped by him, molded by him to believe in the same things he did, to want the same things he did. To always put this family first, no matter what.
It’s why I distanced myself from everyone and kept everything to myself. I couldn’t give my father anything to use against me. If I was going to win, then I couldn’t show any weakness. It was the only way I could survive.
Then there was my darling bride.
I glanced down at my phone as a text from Grayson popped up, informing me he had arrived at the hotel to pick up Naina and Samira.
I walked out of the bathroom and grabbed a white shirt off the hanger, slipping it on.
Naina wanted to know me. I wasn’t even sure I knew how to let someone in. The idea seemed ridiculous and terrifying at the same time. What was I even supposed to share? I was afraid there wasn’t anything there.
Jo slinked out of whatever corner she was hiding in and rubbed against my pant leg. I picked her up, holding her in my arms.
“What am I going to tell her, Jo?” I asked. “Should I prepare a list? What do you think? Am I even interesting?”
She squirmed in my arms, trying to escape. I kissed the top of her head and set her down.
“Obviously you don’t think I’m interesting, I’m your father.”
She glared at me before curling into a ball.
I looked down at my watch. I didn’t have a lot of time before everyone arrived. Walking out of my room, I stopped by the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee before going to my office. There was just enough time to get some work down. I turned on the TV to the morning news before settling in my chair.
The files Grayson had given me last night were sitting on top of my desk. I opened the top one. Naina Marigold Hollister Rajput. For someone who wore her emotions so obviously, she was a complete mystery to me. Grayson was good at finding people’s secrets and not even the file he had put together on Naina revealed hers.
That’s because everything I wanted to know about her wouldn’t be found on a piece of paper.
My phone vibrated on the desk and I released a disgruntled sigh when I saw the caller’s name.
“Whatever this is about, I’m fresh out of fucks to give,” I answered.
“What makes you think I want your fucks?” Reid asked.
“You’re calling, so I assume you want something.”
It was odd to think of someone as my ex-best friend because it was a little too dramatic. That’s exactly what Reid was, though. Our relationship didn’t fade away into nothing. He fucking eviscerated it and then pretended all was good.
It had taken years for us to even get to the point where we can communicate somewhat effectively with each other. We did have to work together, after all.
“I heard you’re getting married to Crystal Sloane,” Reid said. I wasn’t sure, but I could swear he was gloating.
“You heard wrong. Are we done?”
“You’re not getting married?” Reid asked.
“No.”
“Does Edward know this?”
Standing, I opened the hidden safe behind my desk and put both the files Grayson had provided in there. No one came into my office other than the cleaner. Still, I couldn’t take the risk of this information falling into the wrong hands.
“Why don’t you ask him?” I said.
All I got back was silence. Yeah, no one wanted to go out of their way to talk to my father. A glance at my watch told me everyone would be here soon. Strange, for someone who never wanted to get married and was now getting married in a hurry to a woman I hadn’t even taken on a date, I was oddly calm.
“If I was getting married, what would you have done? Offered to marry me?” I scoffed. The anger simmering inside me was unmistakable. How did he expect things to return to normal after what he had done?
This anger had sustained me for years. I wasn’t even sure what I was without it.
“Fuck off, why do you always have to do this?” Reid grouched.
“The answer is so obvious it will surprise you.”
And this was how our conversations always ended. My preferred method of dealing with Reid was by email, and even then I took 2-3 business days to respond.
Hearing a noise behind me, I turned, expecting Lucy or Jo. It was only Vera, dressed in a black pant suit. That won’t do for a wedding, not even a clandestine one.
“Cousin.”
Reid inhaled sharply, sending him into a coughing fit.
“Who are you talking to?” Vera asked.
“The bane of our existence,” I answered.
Vera tilted her head, brows furrowed. Understanding seemed to hit her all at once and she stiffened, her face shutting down.
“Reid,” she breathed.
“Can I talk to her?” Reid asked.
“Absolutely not, you shouldn’t even ask,” I ground out. “And I’m done with this conversation.”
I disconnected the call and slipped my phone into my pocket. Reid was the last person I wanted to think about today. Every second brought me closer to Naina becoming my wife. If she hadn’t gotten cold feet and disappeared in the middle of the night.
“What’s going on?” Vera propped her hands on her hips.
“You’ll know soon enough.” I looked her over. “You can’t wear that.”
I lead her out of the office and down the hall to one of the guest rooms. I knew my cousin well and her propensity for dark colors, even in the middle of summer. A call to her designer had taken care of the matter. The same designer had delivered dresses this morning to Naina’s suite.
“What’s all this?” Vera looked in surprise at the racks of dresses. “Have you lost your mind?”
“You need to change, there isn’t a lot of time left.”
“For what?” Vera asked incredulously.
I stopped to meet her eyes. “My wedding.”
“Your what?!” Her eyes practically popped out of her head at my declaration.
“Do you trust me, Vee?”
“Yes, of course,” she said, without hesitation. “It would be nice to know what I’m trusting you about. Who are you marrying? You don’t even date. Oh god, it’s not Leslie, is it? Please tell me it’s not Leslie or I’m walking out and never coming back.”
I cringed at the sound of my ex-girlfriend’s name. I already didn’t marry that woman when everyone expected me to. After college graduation, I presented her with a break-up instead of a ring.
“No, it’s not Leslie. It’s—” My phone buzzed and I pulled it out, seeing Grayson’s message on the screen. “They’re here. Get dressed, you’ll know soon enough.”
I kissed her forehead and left her in the room to change, ignoring the frustrated look she sent my way.
Jo appeared out of nowhere, trotting ahead of me and even Lucy slinked out of whatever corner she was hiding in and joined us. Great, the whole family was here.
I shoved my hands into my pants to hide my nervousness and pasted a carefree smile on my face. I hadn’t felt nervous till now. A part of me thought Naina would leave in the middle of the night and I would have to chase after her. Should have known she wouldn’t give up that easily.
We were perfectly matched.
The elevator doors opened to reveal an amused looking Grayson, an exasperated Samira, my chagrined looking assistant, and glaring at him, my extremely angry bride.