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As we enter we are met by a thin blonde lady, she hands a glass of champagne over to Mallory. She looks me up and down with a critical eye before she returns them to the witch, “What can I do for you today?”
Taking a sip of her champagne before answering, Mallory politely responds in a way that I didn’t know was possible “We need a dress for my step-daughter, we are having dinner with her fiance tonight.”
We move more into the store, where I spot a couch, I move over to it and sit down crossing my legs. Then I hear her screechy voice “What are you doing?”
“You seem like you already know what you would like me to wear, I will put on whatever you pick,” I say with such a cool tone, I don’t want her to know that all of this angers me. Taking my choices away from me, as I don’t have any thoughts of my own. I’m sure she knows since I’ve let it be known to my father how I feel since the night he told me about the engagement.
She just scoffs and rolls her eyes, moving towards a rack of dresses. I feel a little bit relieved the farther away from me she gets. I can’t stand that woman, I’m not sure how much more I can take. After ten minutes the attendant in the store comes up “We have a dressing room ready for you.”
Staying silent I get up without any complaint and move to the dressing room. The stack of dresses hanging up, are gorgeous, I move closer to get a better look at them. They are really beautiful, too bad such beautiful things will be sullied by the act of forced marriage. My thoughts start to daydream about a different life, but I push those away. I don’t have a different life, this is my life. Engaged to the brother of the man that I want to be with, to ensure that my family stays on top.
Grabbing the first dress a little too aggressively, I put it on, and it's a simple black sheath dress. It compliments my skin tone and seems to be fine, nothing to fancy. Not putting too much thought into it, I change back into my clothes, walking out I let the consultant know that this is the one I’ll be taking. She nods, walking back into the store, I shout “Mallory I’ve picked one. I will be on the couch.”
She doesn’t respond. Of course, there is no response. Why would she want to be decent and answer me? I sit down on the couch, pulling out my phone. My neck starts to tingle, and it moves down my spine causing my whole body to feel as if it's been electrocuted. I know that feeling. It's the one I get every time he is near. I love and hate the way my body reacts when he’s close. It kills me that we have to stay apart. I try not to fidget or look around, I don’t want him to know that I realize he is near.
Chapter five
Brendan
Entering Suri’s house for the first time in years without sneaking in feels surreal. I never liked this place. It brings back feelings of secrecy and uncomfortableness. Suri’s stepmother always had a knack for making me feel small to the point I’d feel uneasy in my skin. It led to me sneaking into the house just to avoid any side comments from her.
Funnily enough, Suri’s parents forcing her into this engagement with my brother helped me grow into the man I am today. More confident, more sure of myself, and more cold. I used to allow my emotions to get the best of me. Reacting before thinking about the best way to handle situations. Now I have more self-discipline than even my Da would like me to have.
As we stand in the foyer being greeted by the housekeeper, my body tenses knowing that I’ll see her soon. My Da, Ma, Kieran and I are all here to discuss the finer points of their engagement. Apparently we all have to be here to show that we stand as one, but I’m just here to get a glimpse of her.
I start to zone out because honestly I would rather have Henry torture me and pluck my eyes out than listen to this crap. My family moves deeper into the house, but I can’t seem to command my body to follow. I can feel my lips start to frown. Da must see it too because he quickly turns, pointing his finger at me. “Brendan, you will behave tonight. I will not have you jeopardize this engagement. You hear me?”
I don’t answer him quickly enough so he slaps me upside my head. “I said did you hear me, Brendan?”
Sighing and rubbing the back of my head, I answer, “Yes Da, I heard you. You don’t have to hit me.” I make sure I school my face because I’m not ready for him to know that I don’t plan on letting Suri marry Kieran. Even if I have to run away with her.
He glares at me a beat longer but must be satisfied with whatever he sees on my face because he nods and turns back toward the housekeeper.
“Let's go,” my Da mutters as he straightens his suit jacket.
The housekeeper turns and leads us into the gaudy black and gold sitting room. A high-pitched voice wraps around me and I hear the evil witch, the nickname Suri and I gave her as kids. “Brian, Maeve, welcome to our home. We’re excited to have you here to discuss the two lovebirds.”
She is so fucking full of it. We all know this is an arranged marriage. We don’t have to talk as if they’re in love. Shit, it’s going to be a long night.
I make my way over to the couch and as I’m sitting down, I feel her. I know she’s in the room before my eyes find her. They lock onto her and move down her body. I can’t take my eyes off her no matter how hard I try. She’s fucking gorgeous.
A beautiful black dress that hugs her in all the right places wraps around her body. I want to unwrap her and caress her dark smooth skin. I want to lick between her perfect, perky tits. I want her long lean legs wrapped around my neck as I lick her pussy. I drag my eyes back up her body to the storm of emotions brewing in her brown eyes.
I wish I could tell what she’s thinking. I know she doesn’t want this engagement despite what she tells me or herself. Does she still love me as much as I love her?
And I do love her, but as much as I love her, I also hate her. Well, I don’t hate her but I hate what she does to me. I hate that even after all these years I can’t stop thinking about her. And most of all I hate that she is willing to go through this facade of a marriage to my brother. I hate that I still hear those words especially when I’m at my weakest.
“I’m going to marry your brother.”
Everyone is engaged in conversation around me but I can’t seem to concentrate on anything. My body starts to feel antsy. I look up at her and her deep chocolate brown beautiful eyes glisten with unshed tears, holding an underlying sadness and loneliness to them. I want to gather her up and take away that look. Turning my head, I break her gaze and try to focus on the others.
The evil witch Mallory turns to me with a glint in her eye. She asks, “Brendan, what are you up to these days?”
Without missing a beat, I respond, “I’m head of security.”
If she thinks that she’s going to make me feel bad about anything in my life, she’s wrong. I won’t allow this woman to make me feel small anymore. I’m a grown ass adult. There was a time when she held this power over me, but not anymore. There was a time I convinced myself that if she liked me, she would realize that Suri and I should be together. But in the end, none of that mattered. I was never the right son.
She sighs, knowing that she didn’t trip me up or get under my skin. Trying again, she smirks at me. I can tell that she thinks she’s going to ask me something to rattle me. “Are you seeing anyone?”
