Chapter 25
The next day, when common sense has found its way back into my brain, I realise how stupid I was. I should never have had sex with Aiden. It only adds another layer of complication and confusion to everything. Aiden isn’t some stranger I’m never going to see again. He works for my father, a man that I know I cannot trust, and that is definitely bad news.
By association, that makes Aiden and Tyler bad news. I need to be staying away from them, not getting myself further invested, and all caught up in chemistry and sexual tension.
My vagina needed a little lovin’ but now she’s gotten it and that’s all she’s getting. My head is running the show from now on. I will just have to relive the highlights on my bean screen from here on out.
I also woke up this morning to a text from Neill, apologising for last night. I’m not sure what to make of that. What he said was out of line, and I have no intention of forgiving him, but I am also aware I have been stringing him along these last few weeks, which wasn’t fair of me either. Our relationship has definitely reached its natural ending though, and, considering his behavior last night, I’m totally okay with that. Not knowing what to say to him, I ignore his messages, deciding any discussion we have should be face to face.
Today is Thanksgiving, which would be like any other day if it wasn’t for the fact we have to share it with the Donaghues and Belmonts. As if it isn’t bad enough that I have to see Preston and Barrett at school, I now get to spend my downtime with them too. Yay. I just hope we don’t have to go around the table and say what we are thankful for. It might get awkward if I have nothing good to say.
I’m also not looking forward to seeing Mr. Belmont again after our last run-in at the party. I can only hope, since there will be fewer people here today, that he won’t risk doing anything inappropriate that someone else might see.
I’m dressed in a simple red dress that hugs my new-found curves. It stops mid-thigh and dips low in the middle showing a hint of cleavage, and does the same down my back, while having long sleeves so as not to show off too much skin. I combine it with a pair of Louboutin’s - I’m really not a heel girl but damn my legs look like they go on for days in these things, and they are way comfier than any heel has a right to be.
Once I’m ready, I head downstairs, finding Thomas bossing around the catering service that has been hired for today and perfecting the already immaculately decorated table.
“Hey Thomas, everything looks and smells amazing!” I praise him, knowing my father never would, and Thomas works his ass off to look after us day in and day out.
“Thanks, Miss” he replies, giving me a quick smile before moving on to sort out something else just as the door goes, announcing our guests.
“Ah, your guests are here; your father wants to have a pre-dinner drink in the sunroom, and I will call you in to eat in an hour,” he lets me know, before heading to answer the door and greet our guests.
Deciding there is no rush to greet them, I take my time, inspecting all the hard work Thomas has put into today before slipping into the kitchen. The room is bustling with servers and has food prepared and ready to be served on every available surface. Spotting a stack of champagne flutes and numerous bottles of bubbly, I make my way over to them and pour myself a generous glass in a bid to calm my nerves before this shit show of a day begins.
Not being able to put it off any longer, I finally saunter through into the sunroom to join everyone else. The sunroom isn’t a room I’ve been in very often, although it is a beautiful room, with floor to ceiling windows and a glass roof, all of which can be retracted in the summer to provide an extra outdoor patio, if needed. It also has underfloor heating for this time of year and is split into several different seating areas, ensuring you can sit in the sun’s rays as it moves across the sky throughout the day.
“Ah, there she is,” my father announces, giving me a stern look to remind me I need to be on my best behaviour today.
“Sorry I’m late,” I say without any sincerity or genuine regret.
“Ah don’t worry dear, perfection takes time to make,” Mr. Belmont says, giving me the same leer he did at the party. Well that’s not a creepy thing to do or say to someone half your age. Thankfully he doesn’t attempt to kiss me on the cheek this time.
I smile politely at him and notice Barrett flash his father a look of disgust, carefully rearranging his face into a blank mask a second later, before anyone else can notice it.
“Pleasure to meet you again Mr. Donaghue, Mr. Belmont,” I greet pleasantly. The last few run-ins I had with my father are still fresh enough in my mind that I don’t need any new threats from him to keep me in line.
I move on to take in Mrs. Belmont. She, once again, looks like she is totally out of it, clinging to her husband and already holding an empty class of champagne, even though they have been here for less than twenty minutes.
My father, Mr. Donaghue, and Mr. Belmont sit down in one of the seating areas and start discussing work and the Governor election campaign, while Mrs. Belmont stares unseeingly out the window, sipping on a new glass of champagne her husband just put in her hand, leaving Preston, Barrett and I to take the remaining seats on the other side of the room.
Not wanting to have anything to do with either of them, I choose the seat instead of the accompanying sofa and blatantly ignore the two boys as they sit down opposite me. Of course, that doesn’t stop me glancing at them out of the side of my eye, taking them in.
Preston is smartly dressed in blue chinos with brown dress shoes and a maroon shirt and jumper combo. His hair is styled neatly back, looking as put together as always.
Barrett on the other hand is his usual nonchalant self, wearing a pale pink shirt rolled up at the elbows and a navy tie knotted loosely around his neck, with matching navy trousers and white trainers on.
Watching the two of them sitting side by side, the difference between them is striking. Uptight, put-together Preston vs laid-back, unconcerned Barrett.
Intent on ignoring my presence as well, the two of them start discussing some party they are going to tonight, likely thinking it will upset or annoy me if I know I wasn’t invited.
Oh, how little they know me. If they did know me, they would know being left out of a simple party means nothing when you’re dealing with a mentally unstable mother, scrounging for money, and so hungry you can hardly think straight.
Instead of rising to the bait, I pretend to find my nails super interesting, tuning them out while I debate how long I have to show my face for before I can duck out. I’ve already had enough. I definitely have to stay until dinner is finished. But I’m sure then the men will go to my father’s office and I can sneak away.
Realising that they aren’t getting to me, Preston switches tactics, “Did you see Neill last night? He was all over that chick. Guess he must have had enough of hanging around trash,” he says, laughing. Barrett, the asshole, just laughs along with him, as though he hasn’t kissed me stupid or sunk those thick fingers of his inside of me. I knew those encounters meant more to me than to him, but damn it hurts having it confirmed.
Not wanting to give them the satisfaction of thinking they are getting to me, I make sure to keep my facial expression neutral, not showing how pissed off I am at their digs at me. So, after Neill left me in buttfuck nowhere last night, he went to a party. What a douche. I don’t even care that Neill got with another girl last night. I was waiting until we were face to face to end it, but whatever.