Chapter 1

RAYANA POV

Ignorance is bliss!

And so were the times I pretended to be one of the million citizens of Great Britain without the duties and the expectations of my ‘holier than thou’ last name following closely behind me like a shadow. Very unfortunately, those times did not end well; it so happened that every time I stepped out of the shell that had cocooned me my entire life, things just had to go to shit!

And to shit they go.

I raised my head as the heavy metal door slammed shut a few yards from where I was canoodled on the cold floor, blankly staring at my sparkly two-toned green and silver Jimmy Choo’s. Something about the gems studded into the fabric fascinated me!

“Get up, princess. Looks like today is your lucky day.” The mean Latino officer intoned as she jiggled heavy cell keys, the sound creating a hollow echo inside my brain. The deadlock bolted into place before she yanked the bar door open, and then held it ajar.

I got up from my pitiful position and straightened the non-existing creases on my black Gucci suit, then attempted a smile that failed to reach my ears.

The officer eyed me up and down like I was some rich kid who had a reckless night only to land her ass in a cell and spend a night.

However, that was not so far from the actual truth.

Except I was not some rich kid, I was a princess.

“You silver-fed brats have it all. All the money and no brains.” She tsked before shaking her head in disbelief while handing me my silver clutch bag that assumingly had all of my belongings; her eyes lingering on my feet a minute longer.

I stared at my feet, and smiled heartily before slipping my clutch bag into my armpit, then crouched lower and unclasped both heels. I straightened up and held them before her with a pearly smile.

She glared at me like I had grown an extra pair of eyes.

“What do you want me to do with them? I don’t need these. Heck, they probably cost more than my annual salary.” She reluctantly dragged her gaze from the shoes before staring back at me like I was crazy. I shrugged nonchalantly before taking her hand and placing the shoes, then patting her shoulder.

“I have more than plenty of those.” With that, I bee-lined her and sashayed out of the holding cell I was kept the entire night.

My head was pounding like I'd rented my skull for a disco night, and a million questions haunted my subconscious like a hateful ghost seeking revenge. But the one that made my mind reel even harder was: if I was in jail; ALONE, then where the hell were Aubrey, Chloe, and Olivia?

Because I sure as hell left my place to go out with them to discuss my wedding. I'd opted for a much simpler get-together: something along the lines of cheese boards and wine, but Aubrey ruled it out for a club and white powder.

The last thing I remembered was us screaming in the VIP, then nothing!

I couldn’t even rake my brain for what could have transpired that landed me in jail, but all of that would come to light later.

I stepped into a brightly lit corridor, my feet hitting the cold floors and sending euphoria to my brain. I was feverish, my skin hot underneath my clothes. The headache made it almost impossible to stay sane and my stomach growled and roared with discomfort.

I arrived at the reception and the first person I saw made my heart do that tiny flip-flop.

Lucas rose from his seat before walking to me and pulling me in a tight hug. My nostrils caught a whiff of custom cologne that sent a tiny jolt of awareness to my brain as though it wanted it to shut down completely. My eyes fluttered close.

“You are going to be the death of me.” His soft timbre brushed down my spine as he rubbed my back, the warmth of his hot skin seeping through his shirt and suit coat and making me lose all rationality.

“Sorry to worry you,” I mumbled against his neck.

“I don’t think I will ever do it again. Plus a jail cell is not a place for the likes of me.” I said giggling and pulling off from him.

Green eyes stared back at me with affection. Standing 5ft8 with blonde hair and the brush of stubble ghosting his manly jaw; Lucas Franklin was a literally panty dropper; every woman’s wet dream, and lucky for me, my fiance.

Just the mere idea of being branded by this man made the rock on my finger weigh a little more than it did.

“Where are the rest of the girls?”I asked as though the poor man held all the answers to the bazillion questions I had. Even though he was not part of whatever shitshow that went on that went on last night. Heck, I was even humbled by the mere fact that he found out which police station I was being held because I sure as hell didn't even tell him that I'd be out clubbing while he did God knows what at his company.

“We’ll talk about the girls later. Let’s you out of here first.” Ah. My heart.

We may have had our differences and often didn’t see eye to eye in most of the things where our relationship was involved, and I hated it. For instance, I wanted a wedding at a church, he wanted a beach ceremony!

Two different things!

But despite all of that, we always found ways to make it work.

He took my hand in his, and we silently walked to where his black Maybach was parked. He didn’t bother opening the door for me, just unlocked it and climbed in the driver’s seat before patiently waiting for me to climb aboard.

I strapped myself to the seat and with silence reigning in the car, he drove off. The silence offered the peace I didn’t know I needed; and made way for my mind to reel even harder. I tried piecing together remnants from last night to create a clear picture in my mind, but whenever I tried, pain lasered through my brain and I knew that I could do all of that later.

Luc drove in silence while I settled in the passenger’s seat watching the morning life buzz from outside.

What day was it?

And were there so many flags on the way yesterday?

Luc pulled over and I realized it was in front of a coffee shop. My lips tucked up in a small smile when I glanced his way to find him watching me as he unstrapped his belt. He leaned into the backseat and retrieved a pair of black VERSACE sandals, then handed them to me, My smile grew wider.

I unstrapped my belt, pulled on the shoes and the two of us exited the car together. He once again reclaimed my hand in his and we walked into the coffee shop, my senses collapsing inside of me at the smell of freshly ground coffee beans.

“Find a seat. I’ll get us something to eat.” He said motioning to the empty seats at the farthest end of the shop. I hummed my response and did as he instructed.

I dropped into the leather seats and released a low moan of relaxation as my body unfolded in the seat. Leaning backward, I pinched my eyes shut for a moment and just took in my surroundings. For the first time, my mind was blank!

“I got you the breakfast combo and a fresh latte,” Lucas announced his arrival as he dropped into the seat before me, and I was forced to peel my eyes open.

He had a strange look, something along the lines of concern and a bit of shadiness… Like he was hiding something. I shifted in my seat for more comfort, then stared at him deadly.

“Is everything alright?” I dropped my hands on the table before us.

He eyed my hands before heaving out a loud sigh.

There it was!

“I don’t know how to tell you this, Rayana. But you are eventually going to find out so I might as well be the one to break the news to you.” He mimicked my movements, but unlike my steady hands, his fidgeted like crazy.

My brows knitted together as my mind once again tried to find what the hell was going on.

Was he calling off the engagement? I wouldn’t put that passed him!

“What is it?”

He looked at me in the eye and swallowed.

“Your father.” Another hard swallow. “Your father couldn’t make it another night, Dona”

Blood in my veins, heart in my chest; everything went ice cold. In one painful yank, my world came crashing to the tiled floor beneath me!

My eyes opened even wider, the pounding in my head ignored for the stronger, deeper, and more intense ache that slowly brewed in my chest!

My hand came flying to cover my mouth, and one word breathy word escaped my lips: “No!”