17. Adelaide
SEVENTEEN
ADELAIDE
There were over five hundred people in the room and stress unfurled itself in my stomach, obscenely licking at the edges of my abdomen.
It trespassed through my tranquillity, causing an eruption of disease.
Despite it being my engagement, I stood near the doors—in case I needed to run away.
The only time I’d leave my private little sanctuary was after seeing Harry alone. A group of women surrounded him, giggling, brushing his arm, and looking distracted by whatever he said.
Christian spoke with a couple of business looking people, his presence demanded their attention. He stood tall, dominant, and adamant which forced the rest of the men to listen. Drinks were forgotten in their hands, they stared as he talked, despite Christian taking a sip of his drink every now and then. The scene looked quite close to a politician controlling the people of a country.
He had to stop looking good while being the devil’s spawn.
Maybe I should go to him, but this dress was long enough to trip over and being the idiot I was, I’d rip it in front of all these people. They must be thinking how odd I was—standing alone in the middle of my own party—while Christian talked to them.
I’d thought he reserved his smiles for special moments, except here he was—giving it out to everyone who approached him—pissing the heck out of me. Well, maybe I wasn’t standing next to him and playing the part of being in love , but neither was he.
Distracted and utterly annoyed. I searched for the heavy ring to give me comfort only to remember Christian took it from me when we reached.
Note to self, don’t get used to it.
“Where’s your friend?” Osama’s dashing features interrupted my train of thought. He stood before me in a dark green suit with his hair tied back, looking somewhat of a classical musician. He fixed his loose tie—a shiny silver ring glanced in my direction. The elegant designs engraved into the ring looked royal. I’d never seen one like it before. He’d look much better if he chopped his hair off.
One side of my lip quirked. “She’s staying at home with a sick baby.”
“What if she gets sick too?” Osama commented, concern lathered on his forehead. My pinched brows and questionable look had him slathering a cool face. “I mean, is Yunus, okay?”
Pressing my lips together, amusement hummed in my throat. Umaima and Osama had a thing going on between them. I saw it the first time they met.
“Where’s your man at?” He asked, changing the subject with a hoarse laugh.
When my gaze flickered towards Christian, he was already looking at me. Deep, molten eyes challenging mine to stay put. He took an elaborate sip of his champagne, leaving a languid shimmer of the liquid against his parted lips. And when his tongue darted out to lick them, I almost combusted from the memory of us in the limo, me panting, and him looking down at me with a downright ravenous expression.
I can smell you dripping from here.
I bet I’d find your pussy dripping.
“Adelaide?” Osama waved a hand in front of me.
Looking away from Christian, I fanned my face. “Is it just me or is it hot in here?”
“It’s not— Did something happen between you guys?”
“ No ,” I quickly added with an aggressive headshake. “Nothing.”
“Right. Totally believe you.” He knowingly smirked and was smart enough to keep his mouth shut. “If you need help when you’re talking to Harry...” He trailed off.
My heart warmed at his concern. “I’ll be okay. I have you watching me, right?” It was nice feeling cared for.
“Christian’s here for you too,” he added grimly, raising his brows as a reminder that my soon-to-be husband existed.
Trust me, I couldn’t forget that if I tried.
Glancing back at him, my stomach dropped.
There he was, with the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
Her dark brown hair cascaded down her back, a diamond headpiece adorning the crown of her head. Tall and likely a supermodel, she wore a beige V-neck bodice with intricate lace detailing that extended down the A-line skirt. Her cape flowed gracefully behind her. She had a hand on Christian’s arm and Christian smiled .
A gravelly breath tumbled out of me. My body fought the sensations of jealousy—gripping its arms and struggling to reel it back in—but it wasn’t working. They were talking like they had… history .
The mucky, adhesive feeling became overbearing.
“Adelaide,” Osama interrupted. “She’s just an old friend.”
He must have caught me looking but I didn’t care. It was whatever. Christian could talk to whoever he wanted whenever he wanted. Even after we were married, if he wanted to go sleep with someone, he wasn’t friends with, who was I to stop him?
I didn’t want him to sleep with anyone.
She shouldn’t pay attention to someone like him. Someone who was marrying another woman for the sake of power. Someone who was selfish, indignant, and ruthless.
Maybe he’s in love with her. Which is why they haven’t parted ways yet. They must’ve met a couple of years ago. He fell for her at a business meeting, but she couldn’t— didn’t want to cross the limits of professionalism. She kept her distance. But he pined after her. Wanted her. Loved her.
Maybe I was an excuse to make her jealous. For her to realise that Christian was the right man for her.
Then he’d break up with me. I’d lose Starlight— everything . I’d completely and utterlessly by myself with no one to hold onto.
“I should go talk to Harry.” My heart beated insanely fast in my chest—nerves or envy—I didn’t know. But it was there, and it was persistent, and it felt terrible.
Harry stood in the middle of the hall. The group of women walking away from him congratulated me which I returned with a short thanks.
One hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass flute, Harry watched as I walked towards him.
Adding an extra sway to my hips, I purred his name. “Mr. Samuels.”
He stared down at me, a murky twinkle in his eyes. Unbothered and distinguished, Harry was grotesquely handsome. To seduce a man was one thing, but to entrance the man who was the reason for my downfall and the pivotal person behind someone’s trauma was another.
“Adelaide,” his tongue subtly peeked out and damped the bottom lip as he acknowledged me from head to toe. “I believe congratulations are in order.”
“Thank you, Mr. Samuels.” Discomfort protruded through my bones. “I was hoping to talk to you, but you’ve been…occupied.”
Something amusing lit in his gaze. “You sound a little jealous, Adelaide.”
People were around us and it was crucial to keep distance yet pull Harry in for more.
He lived for the chase. For the thrill .
Going after a woman who’s about to be married is about as thrilling as it gets.
“Maybe I am,” I faked a rasp.
“Then what, Adelaide,” he responded with a similar rasp to his voice. Except he sounded more real than mine. “Should I do about that?”
Harry noticed my shoulders tensing when he moved closer. “ Hm , do I make you uncomfortable, Adelaide?”
Yes. “The opposite, actually.” I looked down at his lips. Cracked and too thin. “I’ve…” A beat. “Wanted you for so long, Mr. Samuels.”
Harry hummed, “I see.” His hand rubbed up and down my arm. To keep him entertained, I pushed my breasts together.
“I should apologise.” He then pulled me in for a hug. At first, my body remained rigid as his arms enveloped me. His hands rested on the bare skin of my back, violating me with rough circular caresses.
In my ear, subtle, slimy, and brackish, “I’m a little surprised that it’s taken you this long. I’ve been watching you, shifting uncomfortably in that seat of yours—trying to take control—but I see you, Adelaide.” The shifting is from anxiety, bastard.
It took immense strength to not cringe when his dry lips brushed against my ear. “I know you want is for me to fuck you in front of all these people.” He pulled away with a rakish smile.
“Harry,” I whispered. “People are watching.”
He merely pressed me closer to him. A stiff erection prodded against my stomach.
Panic expanded in my chest.
I needed someone to…
I didn’t like this… please… no… I…
“If I was a gentleman, I’d ask you to kindly let go of my woman. But since I’m not, I’ll tell you to get your dirty fucking hands off my wife.”
Christian.