Chapter Fifteen
Iris
Applause thunders around the cavernous room once Rosalie finishes her heartfelt speech. A proud and starstruck Nova stands two steps behind her, clapping the loudest.
“You better pull out your checkbook, Mr. Stern,” Bianca says to Dash teasingly.
Kissing the side of her head, he murmurs, “Yes, wifey.”
Nathan’s body heat teases my back as he stands behind me. I half expected him to disrespect my wishes and touch me under the pretense of us being a couple. It’s not like I would’ve been able to stop him, lest I make a scene.
However, he shocks me by being courteous as we interact with his business associates. He stands close but never lays a hand on me as people meet and congratulate us on our engagement.
It’s a good thing we were never touchy-feely in the past, or people would’ve been suspicious, especially my best friends.
Yet tonight has been the hardest performance of my life. I put on a fake smile and shared a hollow laugh while my heart suffocates behind my ribs.
I didn’t even get a chance to reply to Kian.
Nova and Rosalie get off the stage, immediately ambushed by the riveted crowd.
“Iris, do you wanna get a drink?” Bianca asks, nudging my arm.
“Oh yes,” I reply, a little too excitedly.
Looping her arm around my elbow, she pulls me in the direction of the open bar. Before we can even take a step, Dash seizes her other elbow and dips his head to press an indecent kiss against her lips.
Bianca stares up at him in a daze after he ends it.
“Don’t take too long, kitten,” he commands huskily.
Blushing, she nods.
When we finally walk away from our respective men, I take my first relaxed breath. Bianca waves at the bartender who’s busy serving on the opposite end. Turning sideways toward me, she asks, “You seem distracted tonight. Everything cool?”
I swear no one is more attuned to people’s moods than Bianca. She’s the most caring person I know. It’s a shame her parents didn’t appreciate this quality of hers.
“Yeah, I’m great.”
Tilting her head, she gingerly says, “I hope you’re still not upset with Rosa and me from the last time we chatted. You left in such a hurry before either of us could apologize. We didn’t call to give you some space.”
Because I was desperate to explain to Kian that there was nothing romantic between Nathan and me. The way they’re constantly doubting Kian didn’t help my anxiety that night either. It’s not their fault. They don’t know him like I do. Plus, their loyalty is to Nathan.
“I am not, Bee,” I murmur, squeezing her hand. “I know you guys were just looking out for me. I love you both for it.”
Her beautiful face brightens, eyes shimmering. “Oh, I’m so relieved.”
The bartender appears. “What can I get you ladies?”
“A gin and tonic, please,” orders Bianca.
“I’ll have a cranberry vodka.”
Tapping the counter, he politely says, “Coming right up.”
As he goes to make our drinks, I lean against the bar, surveying the crowd. The whole city might be here. Except for the man who completes my world.
Over the years, every time I attended these lavish and glittering parties, my eyes religiously searched for a glimpse of my scary reaper. He was the only reason I never missed a single one of these events. Even though there was never any guarantee he’d come.
I can count on one hand the rare times he showed up. His appearance would create such a buzz among the guests that there was no way to miss him. He would never stay for long and would always be alone.
I don’t think I could’ve survived seeing him with a date. I’d most probably be trying to kill the woman by throwing daggers at her with my eyes.
“Thank you!”
I drag my gaze away upon hearing Bianca thank the bartender. Picking up my drink, I take a sip. It instantly soothes my nerves. Well, some of it.
“Where’s Aunty Lily?” I question about Rosalie’s mother. “Didn’t she help organize this? I thought she’d attend.”
“Oh, no. She and Uncle Danish flew back to France last night.”
“Wow, they’ve really stepped away from all the limelight.” Their love story is the kind that puts one’s faith back in love after they stop believing in it.
“Yeah, I’m happy for them.”
“Me too.” Sipping on my drink, I remember the announcement I read in a tabloid last week. Cautiously, I ask, “I heard Arya is getting married soon.”
Bianca tenses at the mention of her younger sister, for whom she got into a marriage of convenience with Dash. When her parents shunned her, she ended up losing Arya too. Yet I hope maybe now she’d reach out to her big sister.
“Did she call you to tell you the news?”
“No.” Sadness laces her voice. “I haven’t talked to her in two years.”
“I’m so sorry.” I step closer, rubbing her shoulder.
“It’s okay.” Wiping a tear away, she smiles. “I’m happy for her and Aryan. I just never thought I wouldn’t be at her wedding, you know?”
I hug her, whispering, “I know, Bee.”
Pulling back, she finishes her drink. “We should find Dash and Nathan.”
“Why don’t you go ahead?” I reply, not yet ready to be around Nathan. “I’m going to step out for some air.”
“Okay.”
Downing my drink, I saunter to the glass double doors in the corner that lead into the garden in the back. On my way, I catch my reflection in a mirror mounted against the wall. Slowing down, I study myself.
The fitted rose gold silk mermaid dress is a work of art. The thin straps hold the cups and the deep V neckline in the front, which accentuates my breasts. My back is completely bare as the dress dips to just above my ass. The gown is the perfect blend of daring and elegant.
The makeup artist did their magic, making my hair and makeup flawless. I look so different with my strands curled in beach waves while keeping my bangs straight and falling over my forehead.
Every inch of me is perfect, yet the sparkle in my eyes is missing.
The light only seems to shine bright like a diamond when I’m with Kian. The dress is gorgeous but I don’t feel beautiful or confident. There’s a hollowness inside my chest, like someone drilled a gaping hole inside, leaving me to bleed out.
Finding it difficult to breathe, I tear my gaze away from the mirror and storm outside. I keep walking until the light spilling from the hallway is no longer touching me. Until I’m away from the microscopic eyes of the partygoers inside.
Noticing a bench under a stunning flower arch, I go toward it and sit down.
The soft evening breeze teases my flesh, raising goosebumps. The pressure in my lungs recedes and I exhale into the darkness.
It’s so much more pleasant out here, sitting under the glittering stars and the moon. I remember from when I was little, my mom and I would lie on the terrace and count the stars whenever there was a power cut at home. Doing so would put me to sleep.
I’m reminiscing over the memory with a fond smile when a noise coming from the bushes on my right startles me. I abruptly stand and move backward, scared some animal will jump out.
A yelp escapes my mouth when my heel gets caught in my dress and I go tumbling down. I smack against something hard just as strong hands grip my waist, breaking my humiliating fall.
Mischievous blue eyes gaze down at me. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Justin!” I gasp.
“You can’t go falling into my arms or I might fall in love,” he teases, before adding in mock pain, “which would be terrible since you’re engaged.”
“Oh, please.” I roll my eyes, straightening. “Everyone knows you’re obsessed with a certain someone.” Or what we all refer to as the mysterious spitfire.
“A ghost,” he mutters low.
“What?”
“You shouldn’t listen to Dash. He’s spreading false rumors.” Winking, he boasts, “Women get obsessed with me, not the other way around.”
“Liar.”
“You wound me.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“You look beautiful tonight.”
“You call every woman beautiful, Justin.” I swear it’s this man’s default setting. I sometimes think he just forgets their names.
“Not my fault I’m surrounded by them.”
I shake my head at his antics.
“So why are you hiding out here?” he teases with a tilt of his head.
“I could ask you the same.”
“Hmm, deflecting. Must be serious.”
“It’s nothing.”
He must sense something in my tone because he grabs my hand, putting it in the crook of his arm. Turning us away from the double doors, he softly says, “Until you decide to go back inside, you and I will take a walk.”
A lump forms in my throat at his sweet gesture. Leaning against him, I murmur, “Spitfire will be one lucky girl to have you, Justin.”
He sucks in a sharp breath. I expect him to joke like before. But all he says longingly is, “If I can find her first.”
“If she’s meant to be yours, you’ll both find your way to each other. Don’t give up hope.”
I had given up on Kian ever noticing me, but then fate put us in each other’s paths. I have to believe there’s a happily ever after written for us.
That there’s a silver lining to Nathan’s treachery.
I can’t lose hope either.