“True. Oh well, Sucks to be you, I guess.” He downs his drink before he grabs the bottle and starts taking mouthfuls from the bottle itself, his glass no longer needed.
“Oh no. Clearly, I have it all,” I say sarcastically, and he chuckles but stays quiet.
“Are you angry with me, Aeron?” How does that saying go? Loose lips sink ships.
“Why would I possibly be angry with you?”
“I don’t know, maybe because I didn’t choose you,” I say and his scoff and the narrow of his eyes make me think I may be onto something.
“Please, you think too highly of yourself. I couldn’t care less who you spread your legs for. Saying that, maybe I should have a go before you have too much cock that you can no longer tighten around me.” His words stoke a fire within me, add that to the alcohol, and I think nothing short of a gag could keep me quiet.
“Hmm, let me tackle this in order, just so you can keep up.” I tap my lips as I brace my elbows on my thighs and lean forward, steepling my hands beneath my chin.
“Are you calling me stupid?” He seems so affronted, and I hold back my laugh as I slowly shake my head at him.
“Now, now, Aeron. Interrupting is awfully rude, having a bitch for a mother is no excuse for poor manners.” Oh my gosh, shut the fuck up right now, Luna. You’re clearly drunk. His eyes widen but he doesn’t say anything else, and I smirk at him, taking a move from his playbook.
“Anyone who has taken the time to get to know me will be able to tell you I think very little of myself. I still don’t understand why I am garnering so much attention from you guys, and honestly, it’s baffling. As for your vulgar comment, all I can say is that, just because your mother is a pretentious asshole who likes to look down on us lowly people, does not mean that you have to be one. The son does not have to become the mother and honestly, you could be so much better. If only you were willing to try. So you can make your orders but if it was left to me, then I wouldn’t choose you, Aeron, not while you are so much less than you could truly be.” I stand up, swaying ever so slightly before I walk over to my door.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asks, and he sounds so dumbfounded, it would be comical if it wasn’t so sad.
“I have nothing more to say, so either order me to stay or let me go.” His lack of response tells me all I need to know. So, I walk into my room and close the door.
Aeron spends the next couple of days out, and I don’t have the urge to find out where he goes. If it’s to his mother, then I’m more than happy to stay in my room. Darius hasn’t tried to coax me out to talk, and aside from ordering room service, I just want to keep to myself, and not speak to a single person. If only life could work out the way I planned and would listen to my wishes.
My door opens without so much as a knock, so I already know it’s Aeron. At least Darius has the courtesy to not walk into my room without an invitation.
“We’ll be leaving tomorrow, but we have to attend a family matter first. A dinner with my mother and uncle I’d wear the cocktail dress I suggested you bring.” Oh yes. The annoying little list he left with me, with the clothes he required me to bring. Asshole.
“Okay, is there anything else?” I ask, keeping my tone void of any emotion.
He glances out into the sitting area before he steps further into my room and closes the door behind him. He leans himself against it and stares off to the side of my head.
“My mother didn’t want children, but she was encouraged to produce an heir to take over her area of work once she was ready to step down.”
“Okaaaay,” I stretch the word out, not sure where he’s going with this. Why is he suddenly in the sharing mood?
“She felt that a pregnancy was an impediment that she couldn’t afford and didn’t care for. Anyone can see that she spends a lot of time with plastic surgeons and has a fierce regiment to keep herself looking young for as long as she can. Ruining her body to have a child was abhorrent to her, so she decided she wouldn’t bother.” He drums his fingers against the door, his face drawn as he continues to speak. “I’m a test-tube baby. She had her eggs inserted into a surrogate, and I don’t even know who my father or better yet, sperm donor, ended up being. She didn’t care to ask. As long as he came from money then he would do for the task at hand. A nanny raised me, and I spent the entirety of my school years in a private school where I could only leave for Christmas and summer breaks, if my mother allowed it. Suffice to say, it did not happen often, and the times it did, I spent with Maddox, his sister, and his brothers. He was the only one I could tolerate, he was genuinely nice and my uncle couldn’t ruin that, no matter how hard he tried,” he tapers off and I don’t know what to say after that bomb he just dropped at my feet.
“Why are you telling me this?” I ask, as I get to my feet and stand at the foot of my bed.
“Because everything you said that night was true, I’m just not sure I can be better, Luna. I don’t even know if I’m willing to try, I don’t know any different. You’re the first person I’ve met who hasn’t been taken in by the glitz and glam of my life. I think that’s what drew me to you. That and your penchant for stuttering when you get worked up, but then you went and chose someone else, and it cemented the notion in my mind that I’m as worthless as my mother says. You’re not worthless, Luna, no matter what you think but… I can’t be the guy you think you see, I don’t have a reason to.” He seems so resigned to his fate. I want to grab him by his shoulders and shake some sense into him, but I doubt it will do any good.
“I hope you’ll change your mind someday, Aeron, because the man I can see within you? He deserves everything he could ever imagine. Happiness, fulfilment, even love. Maybe one day you’ll meet someone who can help you realize it, and when that day comes, there will be no stopping you.” He glances up at me. He makes a move to step forward, but he turns around, opens my door, and walks away.
What more can I do, but get ready for yet another meal that can only end in disaster? Welcome to my life.
By the time I’ve finished getting ready, we have to leave. I have worn the dress he ‘suggested’. A long, figure hugging cocktail dress that falls to my ankles with a slit that travels up mid thigh. It’s black and effortlessly sexy, without being too revealing. It’s fairly decent at the front as it crosses over my shoulders, but the back is non-existent as it drops to the dimples at the base of my spine. I pair it with a pair of heeled pumps, and my hair is swept up into a bun with a few loose tendrils framing my face. My eyes are subtle, with just a simple black line over the top and across the bottom, and my red lips are the only bit of color in the entire ensemble.
I meet Aeron at the door and he offers me the crook of his elbow, before leading me down to the car. Not a single word is spoken even as we pull up to the restaurant, and he leads me inside.
We don’t even have to give our name before we’re being escorted to a private room, and the moment we enter, all I can think about doing is slamming my fist into his pretty face. He didn’t even bother to warn me who his uncle is. So, as my eyes fall on Sir Harkwright, all I can feel is the anger coursing through my veins, and the icy fear that is Hell bent on putting it out.