Chapter Thirteen #3
But, in Reynard’s case, he jumped on the chance for a night off and decided he’d rather meet up with some friends and spend the night with people he did know, instead of partying with a bunch of strangers that he didn’t.
Our group traveled through the shabby east wing and out onto the circular landing, bypassing the second, third, and fourth officer stationed on the second floor.
Music streamed through the vents, doorjambs, and cracks of the drafty manor—welcoming one and all to a good time, and I made sure of it.
Christie wanted the classical music and band that Sue and she agreed to, but I was in charge now, and I wanted to party like a woman in my late twenties, not like a woman in my late eighties.
“We’re about to blow this shit up,” I crowed, head bobbing and body bouncing down the stairs. “Christie, I better see you on the dance floor shaking it with the rest of the rich and gorgeous.”
“Mrs. Kim, please,” she cried, blushing away. “I couldn’t possibly. I’m here as a member of staff, not as a guest.”
“Well, between you and me,” I started, dropping my voice. “I won’t rat you out to the boss.”
She giggled, swatting my arm like we were conspiring to get away with something.
My party brought me to the doors of the ballroom, and then melted away. Whispering, giggling, and throwing me thumbs-up—the makeup artists escaped down the hallway toward the second sitting room where a nice dinner was waiting for them before they made the long drive back to the city.
That left me, Christie, Davis, and the two tuxedoed gentlemen—yes, tuxedos, gloves, and hair slicked back in the full pomp and circumstance. The men bowed to me, then to each other, before grasping the door handles and welcoming me inside.
Time stopped. Slowing to one awe-filled moment.
Soft, ivory flakes fell from the rafters, blanketing the snowy-white world in a dusting of magic. High above, aerialist angels wrapped in silk spun, soared, and danced through the air—transporting us to a world unknown.
Every detail down to the patterns on the forks was deliberate.
The cream platform placed over the worn hardwood.
The cream linens. The white rose centerpieces, and the white gowns, heels, tuxes, and bowties on all the laughing, flirting guests.
Christie promised me she’d take the simple of simplest themes—white—and give me something that had never been done before.
And the statement piece to her creation—
—was me.
The music stopped—a hush fell—as my dress and I swept into the room.
My wings crested overhead, catching the light from the chandeliers in its diamonds and thanking them with dancing rainbows.
A pitch-black sheer bodice hugged my frame like a lover, delicately preserving my modesty with a swirling pattern of rubies that flowed down to my voluminous layered skirt—lining the hem of each tier with more rubies.
And that’s where the effort to preserve modesty ended.
The skirt barely covered the apex of my thighs, and that’s because it was too busy parting down the middle and fanning out to reveal my black, ruby-encrusted stockings and black stiletto heels—those same, gorgeous satin heels stubbed with the citrine gems that graced my train.
Midnight gown, diamonds on my wings, rubies on my body, and citrines on my hem—I was the red admiral butterfly. A tiny, beautiful delicate creature that carried their multicolored bands and spots like I carried the loves of my life with me always: Micah, Rhodes, and Alexander.
Or at least that was the flowery shit Soo Min poured in Christie’s ear when she told her to find a dressmaker who could bring this spectacle to life.
But if I knew my sister, the real reason she wanted a dress decked out in real diamonds, rubies, and citrines was so she’d get worldwide attention from wearing one of the most expensive gowns that ever existed—and with the dress coming at a cool eight million, she put herself at number seven on the list.
That is until the party was over and Sanders and Sanderson’s Jewelers ripped the thing off my back and pried every rented gem off of it—along with the ruby choker, earrings, and tiara.
That was why we had to endure armed cops at every entrance and exit, and one following me at all times.
The jewelers would make sure they collected the publicity coming their way, and their stones—before the night was over.
The hush gripped the room, stealing the speech of almost a hundred perfect and near strangers.
It broke in a blink.
“Aaahh,” an orgasmic cry broke through the silence. “Amazing. Magnificent! Bravo, bravo!”
The tide unleashed. Cheers, claps, and shouts of praise trumpeted my entrance, and put a silly smile on my face. Okay—maybe Sue did have a point about this dress.
The crowd parted, making way for three men more gorgeous than my gown ever could be.
Micah reached me first. Taking my hand, he dropped on one knee as he bowed over my hand—pressing soft, dusky lips to my knuckles.
“Gods above, you’re the most contrary woman I’ve ever met, Soo Min.
” His wicked grin thumped my heart hard in my chest. “I tell you that you couldn’t possibly get any more beautiful, so you had to go and prove me wrong. ”
Rhodes leaned in. Taking my chin softly between his fingertips, he kissed me slow and sweet over the aahs from our audience. “Perfection,” he whispered against my lips. “Simple and absolute perfection.”
I was fluttering. I was on such a high, my wings truly could’ve lifted me into the air and carried me to the heavens. Why not? I was already there. Of course I was... because there was Alex.
Dusky-brown tousled hair was slicked back, showcasing his hazel eyes with no impertinent obstruction.
The white tux he chose fit his form in all the right ways—doing nothing to conceal the rippling of his muscled thighs as he closed the distance.
Gazing at me then, he did something I hadn’t seen him do since I walked through the door.
Smile.
“Wow, Sue, you look...” he breathed. Leaning in, his nose tickled my cheek—drawing a line in goose bumps from the corner of my mouth to the soft, sensitive spot beneath my ear. “...like the winged specter of death.”
Illusion shattered.
“For eight million dollars, you rented—rented—this ridiculous eyesore.” He drew back, still smiling away, but now I knew it was for the dozens of cameras and eyes on us. “You should be studied, because for fuck sure there’s something wrong with you that medical science has yet to diagnose.”
My jaw clamped down hard. Again, I knew his words were for Soo Min—the person who admittedly did throw away an astonishing amount of money for a dress she’d only be wearing for a few hours—but nonetheless, it was Sarang who was about to punch him in the face.
“This from the guy who wouldn’t let me cancel the party,” I gritted. “Can we just be civil, please? Can you manage that? Or is your unemployed ass secretly getting paid to be an unsucked dick, and you’ve got to commit to the only work you can get?”
“Guys,” Micah hissed.
But Alex just chuckled. “No, dear, I’m not being paid to be a dick, so if it’s your request, my love, I will take the night off.”
My eyes narrowed. I knew I shouldn’t have said that.
Alex wasn’t unemployed. He devoted himself full-time to raising Lily, and considering that she was the best kid in the world, he was doing a great job.
But being attacked, insulted, and punished for a crime Sue committed was a big-time trigger for me.
Every time he did it, I lashed out thoughtlessly—
—and he never responded like this.
“What’s this?” I demanded. “What are you doing?”
“I’m doing as you ask. And to kick off this perfect night with my perfect wife...” He held out his hand. “May I have the first dance?”
I flicked from him, to the hand, then to our watching audience.
“No,” I dropped, stealing surprise across his face.
“But you can walk me to our table and signal the start of dinner. Not only did the beauticians refuse to let me eat, but it turns out eight million dollars’ worth of rocks is heavy.
” I took his hand in a firm and steady grip. “Thank you, dear.”
A tight smile stole across his face. “Of course.”
“A ceasefire. I like it.” Rhodes kissed my cheek. “Alex, you help her to the table and I’ll tell the chef it’s time to serve.”
Micah pecked another quick kiss on my lips. “I’ll tell the deejay to turn down the music, so we can start the toasts.”
They went their separate ways, leaving me with Alex.
“Lean on me,” he said simply.
I did as he asked even though it quickened my pulse to do so. At some point in the last couple weeks I accepted that it didn’t matter how much of a jerk Alex was—my body would never stop responding to his nearness.
Together we walked through a sea of white, collecting greetings and well-wishes, but exchanging no words.
I broke first. Turning my head, I spoke into his ear.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that shit about you being unemployed the first or second time.
I respect what you’re doing as a stay-at-home dad.
” I saw his brows pop out of the corner of my eye.
“You’re doing the most important job in the world, and you’re crushing it like you crush everything else because Nari is the best kid there will ever be.
I’m sorry,” I said clearly, “and I make no excuses for lashing out like an immature baby, but, Alex, you have to know you’re not being fair.
“I agreed the party was too over the top and expensive, and I tried to cancel it. You were the one who wouldn’t let me, and now you’re turning around and insulting me and calling me wasteful for wearing the dress you wanted me to get.
I just can’t win with you,” I cried, emotion leaking into my voice.
“Everything I say and do is wrong in your eyes, and it hurts. It really hurts, Alex. Do you truly not see that I’m trying? ”