Chapter 3

"How long are you going to take to finish up and get out of the bathroom? We barely have two hours!" I yell, smacking my hand on the door.

I'm in my towel, wanting to take a bath and get dressed for the meet and greet party taking place in the next two hours, and Jack has grown old in the bathroom.

The door finally cracks open after the fourth minute of being locked and the all annoying Jack walks out.

The wide grin that plasters itself on his face makes me want to rip out my hair out. "Calm your nerves, sis. You said it yourself. It's a meet-and-greet party." He put his big, wet arms around my shoulder. "That means we have to be at our best. Who knows, I might get the blow job I've been longing for." His grin widens at the thought.

My intestine curls up in disgust. "Sometimes I prefer you when your mouth is closed." I throw his hand away from my shoulder and open the door.

He shrugs, "Just being honest, Sis."

"If her dad ends up hanging you, I am absent."

"No, on a contrary, I have a plan." He smirks.

"Well, I don't want to know," I say and slam the door.

I take a quick bath and hurry to my room, but before I enter my room, Mycole is already inside and his gaze moves from the picture on the stand to me once I close the door. He looks already dressed up from what I see, in a black tuxedo and a red tie, his blonde hair combed back so his face is on bold display. There is not much effort put into his look, but he looks as ravishing as hell.

I clench on to my towel when his eyes graze me from head to toe. He smiles nervously and looks away.

"I thought you were already dress-ed." He stutters, "I don't know if the suit is formal enough, but it's the best I have."

I smile at his insecurities, "Jack wanted to grow old in the bathroom today, and you look handsome as always."

To that he chuckles, "Some habits never get old, I guess, and thanks."

"Yes, that's true. You're welcome."

I move to the wardrobe and bring out my dress for the party. It is a simple v-neck black dress, cut a little above my thigh with a white glittering belt to clasp the middle together. As much as I hate gowns, I can't wear jeans to the party.

"I can tell you dislike that dress just by your look." Mycole remarks from across the room. Then I realise he hasn't left like I thought he has.

"It's a party yay." The fake-ness of the sarcasm is so obvious.

I get dressed, not minding Mycole's presence, besides we are best friends and I've seen him in his male glory before an awkward experience at first, but we both got used to it.

After putting on my dress, I go over to Mycole and ask him to help me zip up.

"Um?" He looks up at me from his seat where he is reading the Allen cosmetic house magazine.

"You can be such a dork sometimes." I hiss at him, "My dress, please zip it up for me."

"Oh." He quickly drops the magazine, then holds my dress together and pulls it tightly around me before zipping it up.

I turn to him quickly. "How do I look?" I place my hand on my waist.

"Ravishingly beautiful, Tay, even without makeup." His eyes hold as much admiration as his words.

My cheek grows red.

I know I was asking for a compliment, but his compliment differs completely from what I expected. I might be older, but I'd always feel butterflies at the compliments offered by Mycole.

"Don't say that to a girl you just want to keep as a friend, they might start hoping." I regret immediately. The words roll out of my mouth. I bit my lips nervously and look down.

"Well, I know this one won't." He tells me in a sure tone.

I nod quickly and go to get my black stilettoes from the bedside.

The shoe has this costly look; I got it on my twentieth birthday from my roommate back at the university, Maggie. She thought I'd love the heel and when I told her I didn't; she was going to give it back, but I told her I'd keep it for her sake. It's three inches high, but it holds its standard of high. I had never worn it out before, but today seems to be the day to try it on.

"Looks expensive," Mycole mutters and I turn to him.

"Yes, it is."

"Sucks doesn't it?"

My eyes furrow in confusion. He walks closer and holds my face in his hands. "Dropping out of the university."

I stare at him in silence for a while, then reply. "Yea, but I'll deal with it my way," I say after a long sigh.

"I'll do your make-up." He offers immediately, letting go of my face, which almost makes me whine to grab the chair before the dresser's mirror.

"Do I have to?" I frown, but he pouts almost adorably and before I know it, I sit down in the chair.

He takes a comb from the table and runs it through my hair. "A one-side ponytail with a loose end would be absolutely fitting on you."

"Okay," I answer, settling to get started.

Five minutes later, and my hair already done. He comes to bend down before me, levelling his face with mine.

If you keep doing this intimate closeness of a thing, I might have no choice but to kiss you.

I don't say that, though.

"We'll use the foundation and then the lip gloss."

I give him an accusing look. "The three Js put you up to this, didn't they? And I know Jack is their leader."

"They did not." He denies, but I know him too well.

"Did they promise to let you leave the party immediately? You're out of my sight?"

"Yea." He confesses before he can stop himself. "I mean no."

So obvious you can't lie, Mycole, so don't even try.

"Ha! I believe you." I smirk and reach over my shoulder to tap on his hand. "But I'm not letting you out of my sight tonight."

We finish dressing up in thirty minutes and we are all ready to go. I informed Paris earlier that I'll be bringing some close people over to the party with her permission and she told me she was fine with it. I didn't need her permission, we were asked to bring someone along, but I figured it was only necessary and formal to since my 'someone' are four guys.

I also have to leave a note for my mom telling her where we are going and when we will be back.

The three J's are ready for the party, even more ready to than I am. Jack is in a red tuxedo with a white tie and black trousers neatly ironed out on his white shoe. His hair gelled, so it stands up rebelliously. Jake is wearing a white suit with a golden bold tie, he's in a black jean his shoes are golden and he parts his hair in the middle and with this big glasses placed on the bridge of his nose, he takes nerdiness to a whole new level. Then there is Josh, a little in between of the three J's. he's in a black suit and an ash-coloured tie, he is in a grey short with blue straps that stops almost above his lap, his shoes are black, but his purple-black stockings pulled up so there are easily noticed. Any day it would be a look to pass by, but the likeness of which he wears it keeps you captive.

Talk about dressing to kill.

"So, are we ready to go?" I ask, standing before the door while the rest tower behind me.

"What do you think?" Jack replies and I need not ask twice.

Mycole's black KIA motor is waiting immediately we walk out and we all run in to take a seat. While the three J's take possession of the back seat, I decide to take the front seat.

"Thank you," I say in a whisper tone to Mycole, who takes his seat and starts the car.

Wrinkle creeps into the side of his eyes as he smiles at me. "No problem." He mouths back at me.

It only takes us fifteen minutes to arrive at Scotland garden the Venue for the meet and greet party

Having been the one who planned out the party and had to see to it mainly in the afternoon, I am not surprised that every little detail I suggested and wanted were put into work.

The gate is glittering with golden, blue, red, green and yellow light and each of the colours illuminates the word A.C.H Meet and greet party. At the gate is a red carpet that is rolled down into the main garden where the event takes place. And there's more in the garden.

I turn to the four guys standing eagerly, wanting to go in, "Remember the rules, no fighting, no picking on each other, no drinking, don't get into a fight with anyone, I have no money for bail, 10 O'clock and we are out of here. I do not know the three of you once we go through that gate."

Jack clears his throat loudly. "The last one is okay with me."

I lock my arms around Mycole's, half in possession and half in preservation.

We walk into the crowd of people, some who are my coworkers and business friends. The guest will arrive at any moment from now.

"Taylor." I mentally roll my eyes when I hear his voice.

Mycole and I halt in our movement, and we turn to look at Jason. He is quite presentable today compared to other days, although his suit is wrongly and roughly worn, his attempt to cover his rapidly increasing bald hair with some of his hair from the other side causes a hiss to leave my mouth.

"Looking good, Taylor." He smirks, eyeing me from head to toe, and I glare at him.

"Can't say the same for you." I return, my boredom written over my face.

"We can go grab a drink, you know." He says, stepping closer only to be stopped by Mycole.

"Back off, man. She's with me."

Jason glares at Mycole, but has to take a step back. He awkwardly stays silent for a while before turning around and leaving.

"You didn't have to-" I say, but Mycole cuts me off.

"I had to- you two were going to fall out if I didn't."

He saw it and I kind of felt it too; I was tiring of his constant pestering. Some guys just don't understand that no means no.

"Besides, just because I can't have you doesn't mean I can't break the jaw of anyone who tries to disrespect you." He tells me with much indignation, placing a protective arm around my waist.

Yes, Mycole has feelings for me. Over the years, I got to realise I wasn't the only one with the feelings, as he also had mutual feelings towards me. He confessed his feelings for me on the night of my sixteenth birthday, thinking I was already asleep.

Fate made him stay away, but fate couldn't stop his heart from wanting.

Ever since that night, he has said nothing and every time I try to bring up a subject related to it; he changes it or stays silent. When we became a senior in high school, he started dating Talia and soon fell over hill in love with her. I was happy for him, and I moved on to dating other guys.

"Deep in thought?" Mycole's deep voice drags me back into reality.

"Kind of," I murmur, and his eyes glow with interest.

"About what?"

"You can't force me to tell you, neither can you read my thought." I stick my tongue out and teasingly wiggle my eyes at him.

Halfway into the party, I haven't seen the three Js anywhere, but I don't bother. I have already introduced Mycole to some of my coworkers and some invitees and some close partners of the Allen fashion house. Mycole would say nothing, so I did most of the talking and introduction and some businessmen were pleased with his report, which I told them about.

"Four business cards in one night. That's a good sign, don't you think?"

I take two glasses of red wine from the waiter's tray and give one to Mycole.

He collects it. "All thanks to you." He smiles down at me.

I almost smile back when I notice Paris walking in to graze us all with her presence and by her side is Rory, possessively holding her close to himself. She is wearing a one-hand long orange gown with her purse that matches the gown. Her blonde fall on her arm. She's in a pair of red stilettos and although standing at a distance, I can see the red diamond design at work on her shoe. Rory is in a black suit and a navy blue tie, his hair combed to a side and his a black shoe complimenting the colour of his coat. His appearance in all is simple, but incredibly enticing.

Their presence seems to capture a lot of attention as every eye in the room turns to both her and the man standing beside her.

Paris takes a glass of wine and a steel spoon from a waiter and gently hits it, silencing the little noise around the garden before speaking. "Good evening everyone and thank you for making a date with us. I welcome you to the A.C.H Meet and greet party and hope you have a pleasant time here tonight." She begins with a formal smile only Paris can calve out. "We urge you to stop by any of our cosmetic house around the state and country and grab some of your make-up kits at affordable prices." She finishes up, and the crowd gives her appraising applause.

She moves on to meet some guest that arrived for the party, but Rory doesn't follow her. As much as I try to lay no hold on the memories he left yesterday, I just can't. He hurt me and I hate him for that. His eyes meet mine almost immediately and I see him slightly taken back, and as much as he tries to look formal, the dept of his green eyes keeps betraying him.

"He's Rory, isn't he?"

I nod, lowering my gaze from his. "I need to use the ladies," I tell Mycole, handing him my glass of red wine.

I walk past the guest, and I make my way to the ladies' room.

I stop when I see Jack shoving his tongue in a woman's throat.

Damn the rules!

I walk over to where they are and clear my throat. They don't hear at first, so I clear my throat again and they both pulled away and look at me. I realise the woman is Bianca, a close partner of Paris who is in her late thirties and also a married woman. They awkwardly pull apart and Jack glares at me, but I ignore it.

"What do you think you're doing, Jack?" I demand, with questioning eyes.

"Who is she, Jack?" Catherine asks, with a questioning eye.

I cast a dismissive look at her and she flinches and grabs hold of Jack's arm for support.

"What do you want, Taylor?" He growls, gritting his teeth and trying to restrain himself from snapping.

"I want her gone, Jack."

He turns to hold Catherine's waist gently before placing a deep kiss on her slightly parted mouth.

"I'll come and get you when I'm done, babe, I promise."

She licks her lips and nods before walking away.

Immediately, she's out of sight. Jack takes a deep breath and turns to me. "Okay, I'm going to need you to take like one million steps backwards and stay that way until the party is over."

I choose to ignore that."What are you thinking?! Kissing a woman who you barely just met!"

"She has a hunger I can satisfy." He grins at me.

I can't help but scowl at him. "Don't tell me she the one who will give you the blow job you've been dreaming of?"

"What if I say yes?" He answers in a husky voice.

"Well, I'd pity you 'cause her husband will have both your balls and dick hanging by tomorrow morning." I shoot at him angrily.

The grin vanishes from his face instantly and a new emotion settles in fear.

"What?"

"She didn't tell you she's married, did she?"

"Fucking no!" He gasps and fists his hand. "Goddamn! Now I have to go find another lady to sweep off her feet." He grumbles, walking away from me.

"Yea, make sure she isn't married," I tell him, "and twice your age," I mumble to myself.

I spot Josh standing with a pretty girl with glasses in a corner. They both look like they are having a great time. I can't help but smile at how cute they look together. I'll ask her name later.

I enter the bathroom and ease myself; I am also tempted to pour the basin water over my face, then I realise I have make-up on. Sighing, grab a tissue and wipe the water from my hand, and tossing it into the trash can, I opening the door and walking out.

I collide with a rigid body and stumble backward, losing my balance. A pair of firm hands catch me and carefully set me on the ground.

"I'm sorry, so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

The apology ends halfway as I look up to see Rory's green eyes looking down at me. At his sight, my guard instantly goes up and I pull out of his hold. I suck in a deep and anxious breath as my eyes narrow at the man I've been trying to avoid all night.

I fold my arms over my chest. "What do you want?" I blurt out accusingly.

"Certainly not you." He scowls on hush whisper, but I hear it perfectly.

He takes a step backwards and lowers his gaze to the ground. "I came to apologise for the way I treated you yesterday. It was mean and uncalled for."

So you came to apologise after all.

I feel less hurt and a little happy, even though his eyes don't hold any sign of remorse. But does he think it's that easy to forget every horrible thing he said yesterday?

"You don't have to apologise for yesterday, Mr Gate. I already hate you." I sigh effortlessly at the man standing before me.

He lifts his eyes to me and I can see the deep frown that settles. "Look, I only came here to tell you I'm sorry, okay? We really have to get along since I'm going to be married to your boss." He tells me in a brittle tone a wicked smirk making its way to his lips, but I can see the truth in his eyes.

I shrug carelessly, my eyes still fixed on his. "Why would you want to get along with a whore like me?"

He makes a frustrated grunt. "I already apologised, haven't I?"

"With the look that says the exact opposite? Do you even realise how harsh and horrible your words were yesterday? Of course not! 'Cause, you just think every poor person in a classy hotel is a whore and so they deserve no respect."

He flinches at my words, and the frown on his face vanishes.

"You want my forgiveness? How about I give you a no?"

His face in horror. "You are as stubborn as Jason says you are."

I let out a humourless sardonic laugh because truly nothing is funny here. "You are a fool if you keep the company of that stupid loser."

"I'm sorry, that's all I'm going to say and if you aren't satisfied, so be it." He finishes and walks away.

"Asshole." I hiss under my breath. He stops and turns to me.

"What did you just call me?" He furiously demands.

What did I just call him?

I do a quick re-scan of my memory, trying to remember exactly what I just called him. My eyes widen at the realisation and I quickly cover my mouth.

He grabs me tightly and roughly, the same spot he did yesterday, and shakes me roughly. I whimper from pain and tears threaten to spill out of my eyes, but I blink it back.

"I will not let a nobody like you call me names."

Oh, but a somebody like him can?

"Let me go, you're hurting me." I try to force my hand from his grip, but who am I kidding?

My gaze blurs as tears stains falls on my glasses as I try to make him let go. Then, with one swift move, I lower my head down to his hand and take it between my teeth.

I don't know how long I do that, but he lets go of my hand and he is yelling and dragging his hand from my mouth the next. I removed my teeth and back off his side.

After a bunch of blasphemous words and glares, he walks away and I am feeling like a champ.

Now we are even.

Mycole is standing in Paris when I come back. They seem to get along, which is a good thing considering the fact that he is adorable and tolerant. Paris isn't though.

"Hi." Her eyes light up as she sights me and moves away from Mycole.

"You know he's been telling me about you. "

My mouth goes in an 'O' and I give Mycole the what did you tell her to look and he shakes his head, giving me a harmless look. Rory comes over to Paris and wraps his arms around her slender waist and pulls her possessively to himself kissing her forehead. I see the look of discomfort on both their faces and Paris pulls away and they turn to us both, now wearing a smile I've long known to be fake.

"Mycole, Taylor, meet Rory, Rory meet Mycole and Taylor, you met her yesterday." Paris introduces and we shake hands.

"Nice to meet you."

"You too."

Paris gasp out of the blue and takes Rory's right hand, which now has a mixture of pink and purple. "What happened to your hand?" She brings his hand even closer for a further examination. "Is that teeth bite I see there?"

Oh my goodness, now I'm bursting.

"Who did this?" Paris demands, and I can tell from the look that she's pissed off.

If he calls me out, I will get asked what happened and if I cannot give a satisfactory answer, I might get fired.

The ball is in your court Rory, what do you plan on doing with it?

Rory pulls his hand from her grasp. "It's nothing." He covers it with his other hand. "I was bit by a child at the kids' charity foundation earlier." He lies, and I breathe down.

"But it's fresh." She says, but he cuts in.

"I just used the bathroom, and I had to wash it." He replies, giving me a side glance.

"But it-" He cuts her next words short by giving her a deep seductive kiss on her opened lips.

She kisses back and wraps her hand around him and I look away, 'cause for a weird reason their intimacy cause pain to stir up in me.

Mycole, who seems to have been picking up the tension between us, notices me, and his eyes scrunch up.

"Come on," Rory says and takes Paris' hand. She smiles and follows him. As he passes beside me, he whispers; "You owe me." Into my ears before going.

They walk to the other guest, saying their 'hellos' and briefly talking with them. My gaze lingers on Rory and once in every few minutes, he'll look at me, setting me in a nervous state.

"What going on between you two?" Mycole asks suddenly as we were serving ourselves with the various foods on display.

You aren't stupid; I knew you'd catch on, eventually.

"You like him, don't you?" It isn't a question because he holds an amount of certainty in his voice.

The last person on the surface of earth I'm going to lie to is Mycole, because he always knows the truth before asking.

"It's wrong to, I know, but I can't stop." I put more focus on my plate than on him. "I still hate him, and earlier -"

"Wait, you're the one that bit him, aren't you?" He moves closer and serves himself some salad.

I wordlessly nod and continue with my dishing.

He stays silent too, which is incredibly awkward. "I loved him before I knew who he was, but I don't like this version of him. In fact, I hate it." I try to suppress the annoyance in my voice as I speak. "I don't know what to do."

"There's a lot at stake now, you know. It's not just the same way it was three months ago anymore. Move on. It's better that you don't get hurt."

I pause and look at him. "You saw something, didn't you?"

"He's gonna hurt you real bad, that's all I know."

He is right, there is a lot at stake. Three months ago, he didn't have the obligation of marriage on his head. He was free and accountable to no one, but not that way anymore and even if I want to, I'd be hurting Paris, which will be selfish and wicked of me. As much as I loved the Rory I met three months ago, I know it's best to stay off his path.

If you don't overcome your feeling for him, he's going to find out real soon and chase you and you two will make a mistake you will regret for the rest of your lives.

I know, I read stories and I don't want to be the victim who ends up being old and bitter.

I look at Rory and notice his gaze still lingering on me like he is studying me, so I glance away. "I have to give him signs that will keep him away then."

"Yea."

"Like this one?" I tiptoe and place a kiss and on Mycole's mouth. He takes by surprise at first, but he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me even closer to himself.

We pull away to catch our breaths and I can see the surprise and astonishment in his eyes.

"Did you just use me?"

I innocently glance up at him, "I don't know, did I?"

"I knew you were going to use me tonight," He says as he lets go off my waist. "Kind of saw it coming, but I didn't know how."

I instantly feel guilty for ever taking it over the level at which it should go. "I'm sorry, I didn't think straight-"

Mycole's hand on my lips makes null the next words. "I'm not complaining, am I?"

I shake my head and bit my lips.

When I look over Mycole shoulder, Rory is nowhere to be found among the crowd of people. I take a deep breath.

"What is her name?" I curiously ask Josh, who just finishes sending a message with his phone and is smiling sheepishly.

Her eyes go up from the phone to see me leaning against the kitchen door.

"Naomi." He replies with childish excitement.

"She's pretty," I tell him, and his eyes narrow at me. "Saw you two together at the party." He does not think I'm a witch, does he?

"We have a lot in common, and she likes art! I think I already like her." He confesses, his cheek glowing deep red.

"I'm happy for you Joshua."

"Don't call me that." He grumbles with a frown, but I see a smile in his eyes.

"I'll call you whatever I like." I stick my tongue out at him. "Good night Joshua."

I enter my room and climb into bed; I pull up the cover and I'm about to turn off the light when I feel my phone beeping from a message.

I grab it from the lampstand close to my bed. When i open and it is a message from an unknown number. I click on it and it opens and I read.

<Unknown number>

You still owe me and my hand still hurt, so don't go to bed thinking you have done nothing or you don't owe me, 'cause one way or another I'm going to get even with you. See you tomorrow, Miss Snowfall.

Good night, sweet dreams. Kisses.

<To Taylor>

My heart drops when I finish reading. The message is definitely from Rory. I hold my phone to my heart as a lot of questions runs in my head.

How did he get my number?

Is he really going to want payback for lying to cover me up earlier?

What kind of payback is it going to be?

I feel restless and sweat trickles down my face, and here I am thinking I've finally gotten rid of him, not knowing he has further plans. But whatever plans he has, I'm going to have to face him tomorrow with bravery. 

Assuring myself that nothing is going to happen, I reach over to the lamp and turn it off.