12. 12 ADRIAN
12 ADRIAN
Irun my knuckles over the soft skin of her cheek. “It gives me so much satisfaction to know I adjusted your mood just by having my cock in your mouth. Maybe I’ll make you suck me under the table while we eat dinner.”
Her lips part, she trembles under my touch. “Not even you would risk Ava’s wrath.”
I brush my palm along the curve of her shoulder and trace her lips with my thumb.
“You wouldn’t…not in front of everyone,” she whispers. She shudders, and I smile.
“No. But I’ll be thinking about it the whole time.” I bring my hand down and hold it against her breasts, the nipple covers soft against my hand. “Are your nipples tight under these covers?”
Her lips tremble, she bites her bottom lip, as if she’s forcing herself to be civilized. She straightens her shoulder. “I’m fine. Where are we going?” Her tone is sultry. I grin, conceding the small victory.
“Some kind of private estate. It has gardens and an art gallery.”
“It must have a piano or Ava wouldn’t have chosen it.”
“You’re probably right,” I press my fingers into her thigh, just because I can, just to hear her gasp.
My sister is a snob, with a personality like spikes, but being a piano prodigy isn’t easy.
By the time she was five, she was playing Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major and shortly after that, Ava was composing her own music.
My parents whisked her to a child psychologist to ensure her talent wasn’t affecting her development. One said too much piano was terrible for her and that my parents should try to limit it.
My mother didn’t like that advice and sought another opinion. That second opinion said to let Ava have as much access to the piano as possible.
By the time she was twelve, she’d released three albums. Ava had performed on some big stages, but my parents wanted to protect her during her teenage years and kept the performances on the local scene.
That’s when horseback riding took more of a focus.
But I don’t think Ava wanted to do anything besides touch the keys on the piano, listen to modern composers, and compose herself.
Most girls would love horseback riding lessons, but Ava resented anything that took her away from her music.
Mckenna might not be a prodigy, but she earned college credits for biology, chemistry, math, and science while she was in high school.
My father always told me to find the best person for the job, so the fact that she was my sister’s age didn’t bother me when I asked her to tutor me in my chemistry class.
I don’t know why that rejection hurts all these years later, but it does, even though it’s only one of many rejections I have had by Mckenna. She’s always thought herself too good to be seen with me. Now, I pull Mckenna’s leg against mine because I want her closer and that lovely pink blush creeps up her neck.
Did this woman who melts like butter in my hands when I order her on her knees really think she was too good for me, or is it something more? I shift in my seat, not loving where my thinking is taking me. When she spoke to that journalist, it crushed me and hating her has become a habit I don’t want to break.
But for the first time, I’m starting to question whether Mckenna was intent on being the snobby girl who thought she was too good for everyone.
It still doesn’t excuse her poor behavior towards me or what she said to that journalist.
The car stops. Jared comes around, opens my door and then I extend my hand to Mckenna. She gives me a small smile and I clasp my hand over hers and she stumbles. My arm comes around her, pressing her close to me to steady her. I love the feel of her ass under my hand. “Remember, you are playing the part. We are seeing each other. I bumped into you while setting up the offices of Colossus Corp. We’ve been seeing each other ever since.”
“We’ve agreed to let the past be the past,” she says dryly.
“Yes, exactly.” I lace my fingers through hers, squeezing them tightly.
She swallows and nods, staring at my shoes. I don’t care if it makes her uncomfortable; I bought her for the weekend, and she needs to do this.
“Pretty flowers,” Mckenna mumbles as we walk along the path to a pair of grand wooden doors.
“This estate is also known for its winding walking trails.” We stride behind guests, on a curving path that leads to the entrance.
A man in a butler’s uniform held the door for us. The murmur of the crowd reaches my ears as soon as we step over the threshold. We follow the crowd into a vast hall lined with portraits of Detroit’s legends.
At the end of the hall, another pair of white wooden doors open to a large room and as we step through, Mckenna holds my hand so tight I’m sure my fingers are going to bruise.
Framed pictures of my sister and Oliver holding hands are on either side of a table with a guest book, and to the left, there is a receiving line.
In the center of the room is a grand piano. The tables are elegantly spaced around it, and each table has a tall vase with flowers.
Mckenna’s hand is suddenly cold in mine.
“It is chilly in here.” It isn’t, but I want to say something to her. I don’t want to offer comfort, not here, where I have to put on a mask of confidence.
“I’m nervous.” Mckenna leans against me.
“Adrian! Long time!”
I turn, my hand sliding between Mckenna’s shoulder blades, trying to give her reassurance. I could recognize Winston Furrow’s booming voice anywhere.
“Being her brother doesn’t get you to the head of the line?”
It’s not quite a question, more of a remark.
“Nope. I think our parents would be next to Oliver’s if they were here, though.”
I wish they were, suddenly, to see Mckenna.
My mother was upset with me for not protecting Mckenna and her mother, even though I tried to tell her I had done my best. My mom loves Mckenna. My father is supposed to be retired, but that’s only what we’ve told the media.
He will come on board Colossus Corp as soon as the investigation into MM Industries is complete.
“There is supposed to be a surprise tonight,” someone says behind us.
I glance over and can’t place the face, figuring it must be one of Oliver’s guests.
“I hope Ava plays.”
“At her own party? I don’t think so.”
I make eye contact with Mckenna and know by how she’s biting her lip, she is trying not to laugh.
There isn’t an event that Ava wouldn’t make herself the center of attention at.
If a piano is in the room, my sister will play it.
The line starts to move quickly, and suddenly, we are the next two in line. Ava is busy talking to a blonde-haired woman wearing a ton of pearls, and the woman is blocking her view of us.
But Oliver sees me and reaches out. “My soon-to-be brother! Happy to have you here tonight. It’s an open bar, and dinner is going to be served promptly,” Oliver checks his watch. “Ava! You have to talk less, or dinner will be late.”
Ava pauses mid-conversation with the woman decked out in pearls and glares at Oliver, her deep brown eyes flashing angrily. “Dinner will be served when I tell them to serve it. We are paying for this, darling.”
Oliver turns bright red and runs a hand through his hair. “What do I know? Did you like the performance?” he asks Mckenna, who has kept her head down this whole time.
She nods, and I press my palm firmly on her back, brushing my lips against her ear. “Answer.”
“Yes. It’s always a pleasure to hear Ava play live,” Mckenna says.
Oliver beams and shakes my hand.
The couple in front of us finally move on and the expression on my sister’s face is fucking priceless. Her fake smile turns into a mask of stone. “Mckenna. What are you doing here? Nobody invited you.”
With how tense my sister is, I can tell she’s trying to not fly into a rage.
“I invited her, Ava.”
Mckenna tries to scramble out of the line. I don’t know where she thinks she’s going, but she must stay by my side.
“Isn’t it nice to see Mckenna, Ava?”
My sister ignores me. “I didn’t think I’d see you ever again.”
“Sorry to be a disappointment,” Mckenna says in a gravelly low voice.
I don’t think Oliver can hear her; he’s talking to the people behind us.
“What are you doing with her?” My sister frowns, her gaze so angry I feel it burn.
I’ve been dealing with her ever since she came into this world, and I know the best way to handle her is to pretend that her tantrum doesn’t have any effect on me. In this case, it’s true, I don’t care how Ava feels about me standing here with Mckenna.
“We’re together.” I drape my arm around Mckenna’s shoulders, bringing her close to me.
“I have people here! Important people! Everyone is going to see you with her,” Ava hisses.
“That’s the point, Ava. When I ran into Mckenna after setting up the offices here, we hit it off and reconnected. Don’t you think people should be given a second chance?”
My sister stares at me, her deep brown eyes so much like our father’s. Her raven hair, loose around her shoulders, curtains her face as she shakes her head.
“Adrian, what are you doing?” She squeals out the question.
“Restoring my reputation. I imagine you have media here?” I say as casually as I can, but inside I’m cheering.
“Obviously! You can’t do this,” Ava pushes Mckenna, making her stumble back, but my sister grabs her shoulder. Mckenna cries out, trying to shake off Ava’s hand.
“Ava! What are you doing? Let go of her right now!” I grab Ava’s wrist and lift it off of Mckenna’s shoulder.
“What’s going on, Ava?” Oliver asks.
“Nothing, darling. It looked like Mckenna’s sleeve was going to fall down. I tried to adjust it, and I stumbled into her. Sorry.” Ava flashes him a smile, but she glares at us as soon as someone calls his name.
“Ava, relax. Mckenna is not her father, and she shouldn’t suffer from his crimes anymore. Now excuse us, we’re going to enjoy your engagement party. again, Oliver.” I shake his hand, startling him out of the conversation he was having about exchange rates with the couple behind us.
Ava’s hand curls into a fist, and she shakes her head. “Why did you have to ruin my night?”
“I didn’t ruin your night, Ava. I’m here to celebrate it with my girlfriend.” I lean down and kiss her cheek. “Think of how this looks for you, too. The children of the biotech industry giants are putting the past firmly to bed as one embarks on a new future.” I smile. “I can see the headline now.”
“You might be right, Adrian,” Ava’s voice is calm, but she is still glaring at Mckenna.
“We better find our seats.”
I smile, humming to myself, as we leave the line and find our seats, right close to the stage and within viewing distance of the piano.
“There, was that so bad?”
Mckenna’s face is pale, her lips are trembling. “Yes, Adrian, as far as encounters go with Ava, that one wasn’t bad.”
I frown, wondering what she means, but she stands on her tiptoes and her breath is warm against my ear. “Across the room, I think that’s Jana Whitters, the journalist who interviewed me.”
Mckenna gestures with her chin to a blonde lady in the corner, who is scrawling notes on her iPad.
“It’s hard to forget her face.” I know the journalist and she’s been a pain in my neck before. She’s the top journalist that reports for the society pages and is known for doing whatever she can for the scoop.
So, if she wants an update on that story, I’m going to give her one.
I pull out Mckenna’s chair for her, wait for her to sit, and then push it in. I sit down next to her, glancing to make sure Jana can see, take Mckenna’s hand in my hand, and lean in, slanting my lips over hers.
Mckenna is frozen for a moment before she kisses me back, and I am lost in the sweet taste of her tongue against mine. I slide my tongue down her throat, knowing she has no choice but to deal, and she deepens the kiss even more.
She whimpers against me, making my cock throb. I ease up and slowly trace her lips with mine before I sit back in my chair. Mckenna reaches for the water glass and takes a sip.
“People are staring.”
“I don’t care. I want them to stare, hellion. That’s the point, remember?” I cast my eyes around the room, grinning like I’ve won the prize.
Oliver’s father comes up on stage and taps the microphone.
“Good evening! Thank you for joining us at this party to celebrate our son’s engagement to a woman who is smart, talented, and too good for him.”
There is polite laughter, and I run my hand up to Mckenna’s thigh.
“We are so proud that Ava is joining our family, and I know this will be a successful marriage! Now, as you have appetizers, the bride-to-be will serenade us with one of her most popular compositions, Stars on the River. Esteemed guests, would you put your hands together for Ava McIntyre!”
A waiter places a tray of canapes on our table. The lights dim, and Ava strides over to the piano.
The first notes of her melody ring out. Mckenna closes her eyes as if she’s in pain.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she murmurs.
I watch her face as she opens her eyes and stares straight ahead, wondering about her reaction. Ava isn’t everyone’s favorite person, but you can’t deny her talent. The high-floating notes fill the room.
But I take my eyes off Mckenna because I hear a fumble in my sister’s notes. It’s so slight that I’m sure most people in this room won’t pick up on it. Her shoulders tense, but she gets through the rest of the piece fine, and applause breaks out.
“Thank you, Ava!” Oliver says, standing on stage now. “Isn’t my bride-to-be the most talented musician you’ve ever heard?”
There is more polite applause, and then Oliver looks to the wings, and the back of my neck suddenly gets hot.
“I couldn’t celebrate this night without the most important people in Ava’s life. It took some effort to have them cut their vacation short, but I’m pleased to welcome Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre to our party!”
People stand on their feet, breaking out into applause. Photographers snap pictures as my father, his black hair gleaming under the stage lights, holds hands with my mother.
Mom looks good. She is in a dark red dress, her hair swept up, her red lipstick as always matches her shoes.
“Surprise, Ava, darling. We wanted to be here today to offer our congratulations.” My mom says, her arms outstretched to Ava.
Beside me, Mckenna freezes.
I put my arm around her and bring her close to me. “Look, hellion, full circle. Isn’t that nice?”
My parents haven’t been in the spotlight since the dismantling of MM Industries, so this is the perfect photo op for them.
Mom makes her way through the crowd, stopping to talk to friends she knows before reaching Ava, who is still sitting on the piano bench. Ava hugs her, but her eyes are on my father. “I’ll be back,” I squeeze Mckenna’s shoulder.
She nods.
I make my way to my father, thrilled that he is here. It almost makes up for not fucking Mckenna senseless and sitting through another one of Ava’s events.
After his best friend’s betrayal came to light, he stayed in his study and didn’t come out or talk to anyone for a week.
The press wrote horrible things about him, saying that he must have known what Davis Moran was up to with the mafia.
Dad makes his way to Ava, hugs her, and my sister’s usually stoic expression changes to a beaming smile. “Daddy!” Ava sounds young and innocent. My dad has that effect on her.
“I couldn’t miss your party,” Dad says. He gives her a hug and Ava eventually lets go of my dad.
“Hey Dad,” I extend my hand.
“Son,” Dad shakes my hand but brings me in for a man-hug.
He looks much healthier than the last time I saw him.
My mother throws her arms around me. “I couldn’t miss this night! Your father tells me he’s ready to return to work.”
I’m glad to hear it because I want my father to be at work with me. That was always the plan.
Oliver’s parents come over to us. Everyone is shaking hands and people are surrounding my parents.
The servers clear the appetizer plates and bring out the main course.
Across the room, Mckenna’s eyes lock with mine. She looks like a deer in headlights, and I don’t know if it’s seeing my parents or being here among more people, a reminder of the life she used to have, or both.
But she needs to snap out of it.
“Mom, let me take you to greet my guest.” I loop my arm through my mother’s.
“I’m so glad we’re here. I didn’t want to miss this party. Ava has said it wasn’t a big deal, and they’d throw another party at home, but I wanted to be here to thank Oliver’s parents. They are good people.”
I grit my teeth because my mind isn’t made up on that, but I don’t care.
“Mckenna.” My mom breathes out the words, and the next thing I know, she’s hugging Mckenna to her and blinking back tears.
“Jackie,” Mckenna says. “It’s good to see you.”
“Oh, honey, you have no idea how worried I’ve been. How’s your mother?”
Mckenna looks like she’s going to cry as my mom squeezes her shoulder.
A weird sense of irritation climbs up my spine, and I don’t know why. The McIntyres and the Morans were more than just partners, so of course, my mom asking about Liz makes sense. I don’t know why it bothers me. Maybe it’s the concerned tone in her voice? I try to shake it off.
“She’s okay,” Mckenna says.
“What are you doing here?”
“We’re dating,” I say smoothly.
My mother raises an eyebrow. “Oh? I’ve missed a lot. Mckenna, tell me what’s been going on with you.”
She slides into an empty seat while my father claps me on the shoulder and leans in close. “You brought Mckenna Moran? I thought you two hated each other.”
“Change of heart.”
“Good,” my father slaps me on the back. “If she knows Davis’s formulas, that will help launch Colossus Corp in a way that nothing else ever could. Do you think she does?”
“I’m working on it,” I tell Dad.
He nods, his eyes darting across to the side of the room where the press is gathered. “Make sure you give a statement to that reporter.”
“Don’t worry, I will. You’re good with this?” I gesture to the room, the people. He knows I mean Ava’s engagement and being back from vacation.
“It was time to step into the spotlight again. But I won’t obliterate you.”
“I’m not worried about that,” I grin.
My Dad laughs. “Oliver’s mother is going to have a heart attack, jumping up and down like that. I guess we better go and see what it’s about. Come on, Jackie.” My father raises an eyebrow, and like she has for nearly four decades, my mother steps behind him and follows.
I sit, slice a piece of my beef, and hold the fork for Mckenna. “Eat.”
She opens her mouth, the stunned look on her face still in place.
“Your mother doesn’t hate me,” her voice is so sorrowful, I can’t help it. I need to touch her, to soothe her. We’re supposed to be dating and in love.
I drag my chair back and then pull her onto my lap, so her back is to my front.
“Adrian!”
“Come here, hellion.” I nuzzle her neck, loving the feel of her skin against my lips.
“I can’t eat like this!” Mckenna protests as I feed her another bite.
“Of course you can. Remember, you could be under the table.” She blushes and squirms on my lap. “Of course my parents don’t hate you, Mckenna. My mother has always considered you the daughter she wishes she had.”
She leans back against me as if she doesn’t have the strength to hold herself up.
“I thought they hated me.” her eyes were bright with tears.
“No. Only I have that privilege.” I methodically feed her bites, commanding her to swallow.
Sensing someone on my shoulder, I turn and see Jana Whitters.
“Do you have a moment, Mr. McIntyre?”
“Yes.” I fight to keep my calm but seeing this woman makes me want to flip the table over, pin her against a wall, and scream.
Mckenna wiggles on my lap as if she’s going to get up.
“You’re not going anywhere, Mckenna,” I say against her ear. I tighten my grip around her waist.
“This is certainly a surprise, Mckenna. Do you remember what you told me last time?” Jana raises her eyebrows.
“I was set up,” Mckenna says.
Her voice is high-pitched, and her eyes dart all over the room.
“Shh. Tell me what you said to her, exactly, Mckenna.” My pulse is speeding through my veins. The tremendous anger I feel for the woman across from me is almost unmatched.
Mckenna squirms on my lap, but I tighten my grip around her waist.
“She asked me if you ever asked me out, and I said yes, you had repeatedly asked me out. Then she said, “‘So Adrian McIntyre isn’t the kind of guy to take no for an answer?’”
My hand curls into a fist.
“I read that, yes,” I give Jana a cool look.
Jana shrugs. “I wrote the truth as I heard it.”
“And I said, “He doesn’t give up on what he wants.” But that’s not what you wrote,” Mckenna says.
No, what Jana Whitters wrote was that I harass women into saying yes. My lawyers have looked at whether that’s enough for slander, but it doesn’t quite meet the threshold, so they went on an offensive campaign.
“Miss Moran, I must remind you that you were paid handsomely for your time.”
“Yes, my time! Not for saying what you wanted to write. How did you even find me?”
Jana’s lips purse together. “I protect my sources.”
Mckenna stares across at the front of the room, where my parents, Oliver, and my sister are talking to a group of people.
“Well, now you can write that Miss Moran and I have known each other for years and have always been attracted to each other. We’ve finally decided to act on that and have been dating for several months. We hope our relationship will serve as an example of letting the past be the past and restoring luster to our parents’ legacies as we embark on Colossus Corp.”
Jana scratches something on her iPad.
“Can I quote you, Adrian?”
“Of course.”
“Okay. I can’t control how my readers interpret what I write.”
“No, but it is your responsibility to be accurate. Painting me as a man who assaults women was not doing your due diligence, Jana.” I’m going to owe my dentist a new yacht with how I’m grinding my molars. I force myself to relax the tension in my jaw.
“Well, as you say, let the past be the past.” The journalist gives me her widest fake smile.
“That’s an excellent idea, isn’t it, Mckenna?” I nuzzle my chin against her neck. She softens slightly in my arms and leans against me.
“Yes, Adrian.”
“Thanks for the scoop,” Jana says. “Mckenna, I hope your mother’s health is better.”
Jana gets up and leaves.
Mckenna shifts in my lap, and a hand on my shoulder makes me turn.
“Adrian, can I borrow you for a moment?”
It’s Greyson Smith, one of our scientists at Colossus Corp.
“Greyson! I didn’t know you were here.”
“My parents play golf with Oliver’s.” Greyson says.
“Small world,” I mumble, lifting Mckenna off my lap. “I won’t be long.”
“I’m just going to the bathroom,” Mckenna whispers.
I arch an eyebrow at her. “Make sure you’re back here before I am.”
She nods, and I follow Greyson out of the room to a quiet corner.
“I hate to tell you this, especially tonight, but another firm has made me an offer.”
This isn’t what I need to think about right now, but it’s part of the job.
“Give it to me straight, Greyson. How much do you want?” I need to take care of this quickly before getting back to Mckenna. I’m going to fuck that woman so hard she’ll never question how I actually feel about her.