Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Audrey
The Cristof brother, Griffin, led me down a long hallway that was completely empty. There weren’t any pictures or artwork on the walls. The sound of my heels echoed horribly and I cringed at the loud clacking they made.
At the end of the long corridor was a single door.
“This is my mother’s favorite place,” He pushed the door open and I was in awe. It was a massive, private art gallery.
“Do you bring all of your dates here?” It was a snarky question that didn’t really need an answer, but his cherry-colored cheeks told me everything I needed to know about this flirty brother.
“You look incredible tonight,” He changed the subject and I wrapped my arms around myself. I didn’t know how I was going to move forward with this conversation, especially since I was with Brian. There was nothing wrong with feeling flattered, but flirting was a different story. I wouldn’t do that to Brian.
I smiled politely anyway. “Thank you.”
“What do you like to do for fun?” There it was.
My polite smile turned into one of sympathy. “I have a boyfriend, Griffin.”
He scrunched his nose up. “Then why was Alexei acting like he was claiming you for his own?”
One of my brows rose up on its own accord. “Oh? Is it a competition?”
“Shit, that’s not what I meant, I just thought you were single and up for grabs.”
“She is not a prize to be possessed,” Alexei growled from behind us and I whirled in surprise. Had he been there the entire time? Had he followed us?
I pinched the bridge of my nose and exhaled. It hit me like a ton of bricks immediately and for whatever reason, I felt my nose burn. This was a joke, right? There weren’t enough poor girls in the Big Apple? They needed to find entertainment with the new poor girl in town? I blinked a few times and pushed the emotions away.
I didn’t think so. I narrowed my eyes at the two of them and flicked my hair over my shoulder. They could fuck off. The last thing I was going to do was throw myself at the two rich, single boys who glanced my way, even if I didn’t have a boyfriend. I wasn’t going to be their entertainment. Not tonight and not ever. But I also had to play my cards carefully, I didn’t want to upset my best friend. She was marrying into this family, after all. I couldn’t hurt the rest of her life.
So, instead of blurting out the scathing retort on the tip of my tongue, I shook my head and marched out of the private gallery. These two weren’t worth it. Fuck this place, fuck these people, fuck their money. I wasn’t going to be easily pushed or swayed. I didn’t want private tours of their mansion. I didn’t need the dollar signs to be flashed in my face every chance they had. No matter what they did, I wouldn’t forget that I was beneath them. With my head held high, I went to find my best friend.
The soft music that had been playing when we got to the mansion was now a quicker beat and much louder. People were chatting animatedly and the small group of people was now a much larger one. I didn’t know how it was possible. I didn’t know how anyone could possibly know this many people but there they were. Carina was sipping on a glass of champagne while Ace nodded about something someone was telling them. They both looked bored, but at least Ace played it off better than my best friend did.
“Excuse me,” I said as I grabbed Carina’s hand and yanked her away from the biggest snore fest.
“Thank God, I never thought you’d come back.” One of her brows hiked up her forehead. “Where was it you escaped off to?” She smiled behind her glass of bubbly and I shook my head.
“Ace’s brother Griffin tried to make a pass at me,” I grumbled as I thought back to the whole disaster. I wanted to be as far away from them as I could be, but that wasn’t an option at the moment.
In the small amount of time I’d been gone, Carina found herself one too many bubblies. I could tell when she started to giggle, instead of being concerned. “That doesn’t sound like such a bad thing to me.”
I rolled my eyes to the clear night sky. “It’s a bad thing when I’m hoping to get proposed to by Brian.”
Carina grimaced and tried to hide behind her flute of bubbly. “I mean do you really want to get married to Brian?”
I blinked. What was she asking? How could she ask that? My eyebrows pulled together in the center of my forehead. “Are you serious?”
She downed the rest of her champagne and shook her head before her face smoothed out. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that. Of course you do, you love him.”
But does he love you? My treacherous thoughts came back around to bite me in the ass. I squeezed my eyes closed and pasted on a fake face to not give away my conflicting thoughts.
“Don’t give me that look,” She put her glass on a tray floating by us, the waiter a quick blur moving through each crowd of people to collect trash and cups. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t know what got into me.”
“Your fairytale,” My nose burned and the last thing I wanted to do was cry here, in front of all of these people who thought they were better than me.
She nodded. “I want you to have that too.”
I scrunched my nose. “I don’t think it’ll be with one of the Cristof brothers even if it isn’t with Brian.”
Carina worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “I just want you to be happy and live again. I hate to say it but you’re really boring now. The Audrey I remember wouldn’t have let Brian control her calorie intake or change her alcohol of preference. I just want you to find yourself again.”
“I will,” I fought to keep a sad smile off of my face. She was right, I hardly knew myself anymore. “Things will be different when I get home. I’m sure Brian won’t be able to keep his hands off of me and things will loosen up.”
One of Carina’s brows lifted on her forehead but before she could say anything she was whisked away to meet some of Ace’s family that flew in from Russia to be involved in all of this. I ran my hands down my arms to warm myself from the chill and tried to give myself an internal pep talk.
I could do this.
The rest of the night was filled with laughter—though sometimes forced— lots of dancing between the future bride and groom, and many, many drinks. I’d honestly lost count and when I lost my left heel, I knew it was time to slow down and potentially call it a night.
“I think you lost something,” I thought I kept the scowl off of my face as I stumbled to turn around to set my eyes on Alexei. He had my left high-heel strap hanging off the end of his pointer finger. He took in the nasty look on my face and his lips turned up in a sly smile. I hated him. I hated him and all of his money and the stripper glitter he donned when we met. I hated how attractive he was more than anything and the fact that he knew he was one of God’s gifts to women.
“I don’t think so,” I slurred. I could have slapped myself in the face. How had I allowed myself to get this far off?
“I think we might need to take you upstairs.”
I reared back as if he’d struck me. “You aren’t taking me anywhere.”
He rolled his eyes and let out a breath as if I was the annoying one. He had a rude awakening coming. “I don’t want to take you upstairs to have my way with you. If I did, the last thing you’d be doing is scowling at me.” He held up two fingers. “Second, if I wanted to have my way with you, you wouldn’t be drunk in order for me to do that.” He stepped closer to me and I felt all of the oxygen leave my body, especially my brain. “Three,” That third finger went up. “You would beg me, completely sober to do very, very wicked things to you.” He took a step back, gazed around the room for a second before he tucked the hand not holding my shoe in his pocket. “I am merely suggesting that you go upstairs so you don’t embarrass my brother, Carina, or yourself. These people don’t forgive easily.”
Why was he helping me?
He sighed and I realized I asked it out loud. “Because I’m bored and I hate these people and I just really want a break from all the noise.”
His words shocked me and before I knew it, my hand was wrapped around his elbow and he was guiding me up the stairs. I didn’t know if anyone noticed us leaving or if Carina would be upset, but Alexei was right even if I couldn’t admit it to myself.
The next morning my head was pounding, I was lying on top of the covers in a room that didn’t look familiar. Both of my shoes were off and I smelled like whiskey. Thankfully, it was just whiskey and not bad decisions too.
I scrubbed my hands down my face and rolled over, right off the side of the bed with a soft oomph. I closed my eyes against the plush carpet and took a deep breath.
Little bits and pieces from the night before started to come together in my head and this time I let out a sigh of relief. I was in the right room, as my head had come dangerously close to making an impact against my suitcase on the floor. I groaned as I thought back to my mingling and realized there hadn’t been much of it, pretty much all I’d done was ogle the happy couple and imagine a life where I got the same. It seemed like a fairytale, but too good to be true. A fairytale that was so far out of my reach, so completely unattainable.
I patted the ground, with my face still in the carpet, until I found my phone. It wasn’t dead, surprisingly, and there was a text from Brian. I groaned as I read through the texts I sent him.
You should send me a dick pic.
Brian
Why on earth would I do that?
It would be fun.
Brian
No it wouldn’t be.
Pleaseeeee. It feels like its been forever since we’ve had sex.
Brian
A dick picture isn’t going to solve that problem.
Ughhhh. Brian please be fun for once.
Brian
Are you drunk?
Nooooooooo.
Brian
I really wish you would be more responsible. You’re in a strange city with strange people. Anything could happen, you need to take care of yourself better and be on your guard. You could get hurt.
He had a point. But there was no way I was going to even acknowledge it. I hadn’t the night before and I wasn’t about to now either. He could have been here with me. He could have taken off the work and been here to have fun with me but in Brian’s eyes, this wasn’t fun. He didn’t see the point in all the parties or all the alcohol. Brian’s idea of a wedding was something quaint, which was fine. Something inexpensive and not lavish or over the top. When we talked about marriage, the few times, I went along with whatever he said. I’d never thought of myself as the wife type before him. A dream wedding wasn’t something that crossed my mind. When I thought of my future, it didn’t really come with a white dress and a little white church. Before Brian, there was just me. There was just what I planned to do next. But after Brian, it seemed like my future was full of things he’d scribbled down.
My phone dinged and I blinked my eyes at the new message coming in.
Brian
Are you feeling better this morning?
My head is pounding, so I’m not sure that means it’s better.
Brian
I miss you.
My heart skipped a beat. Since when did he send messages like this?
Brian
I can’t wait to have you in my arms again
Was I still drunk? Had someone drugged me the night before? Who was this man? Was this really Brian?
Just a few more days and I’ll be in your arms again.
Brian
I can’t wait to rock your world.
Finally!!! Whatever hangover I was expecting to have was gone. His words had cured whatever ailment I could have. I rolled onto my back and clutched my phone to my chest. Things would look up, things would get better!
Wanna give me a hint of what that means?
Brian
I rolled my eyes and let out a giddy giggle. This was so unlike Brian. I could hardly believe we were having a conversation like this. Maybe my mom was right. All some couples needed was some distance.