CHAPTER 5: Payback Time, Part One

All eyes in the room turned toward us. The large living room was packed with guests, and the air was thick with perfume, sweat, and the sour smell of liquor. The heavy bass from the DJ’s speakers blasted through the room, vibrating against my chest.

I kept my hand firmly locked in Edward’s as we walked past the crowd, my gold gown catching the overhead lights with every step. Edward strode confidently beside me, his shoulders square and his expression relaxed, as if he owned the room.

As we moved farther into the crowd, the whispers started.

“Oh my gosh, who are they?” a girl in a short red dress asked her male friend.

“That’s Captain Edward, the governor’s son,” her friend replied. “And she’s a renowned sports journalist. But I never knew they were dating.”

“Perfect match,” another girl whispered, nudging her partner with her elbow.

“He’s so tall and handsome. I wish he were my man,” another girl said openly, her eyes following Edward from head to toe without an ounce of shame.

Near the small raised platform where the DJ booth stood, Julie remained motionless. Her hand, still gripping the cordless microphone, hung halfway to her mouth as if she had forgotten how to speak. She was the host for the night, but the script had just been ripped from her hands.

A few yards away, near the portable bar in the corner of the room, Elvis and Lilian stiffened. They sat beside each other on high wooden stools, drinks in hand.

Elvis slowly lowered his glass, his eyes widening in disbelief. Lilian’s drink remained halfway to her lips as her expression changed from amusement to shock. Her gaze was fixed on Edward’s fingers interlocking with mine.

Robert stood a few steps from the stage, his jaw hanging open as he looked between me, Elvis, and the governor’s son.

The DJ, however, kept blasting the music, completely unaware of the sudden shift in the room’s atmosphere as he bobbed his head to the beat.

When we reached the center of the living room, directly beneath the main crystal chandelier, I leaned toward Edward.

“I’ll be back,” I whispered into his ear, letting my breath brush against his skin.

I released his hand, leaving him standing under the lights, and walked past the staring guests. I stepped onto the low stage, my heels clicking against the wood, and gave Julie a brief hug.

“Thank you,” I said softly, taking the cordless microphone from her hand.

I turned to face the crowd, standing at the edge of the platform and looking straight into Elvis’s eyes. His expression hardened beneath the flashing party lights.

“Elvis, do you like surprises?” I asked into the microphone. My voice rang clearly through the speakers, cutting through the remaining chatter.

I didn’t wait for him to answer or give him a chance to speak. Instead, I looked toward the DJ booth and gestured with my free hand.

“DJ, blast the music!”

The DJ switched tracks, and a pounding beat flooded the room. I handed the microphone back to a stunned Julie, stepped down from the stage, and walked straight to Edward.

Without hesitation, I wrapped both arms around his neck and pulled myself against his chest. I didn’t care who was watching. In fact, I needed every single person in that room to see us. I looked over Edward’s broad shoulder, scanning the crowd until my eyes landed on Elvis and Lilian. I watched their faces crumble as the trap snapped shut.

Edward didn’t waste a moment. He played his part flawlessly, pulling me closer and keeping his dark eyes fixed on mine. We moved in time with the pounding bass, putting on a performance for an audience of two.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Julie step down from the platform. She hurried toward Elvis and Lilian at the bar, talking intensely and gesturing wildly. She was obviously trying to explain that she had nothing to do with my plan and had no idea I was bringing a new boyfriend to the celebration. Robert joined them a second later, nodding rapidly as he threw confused glances in my direction.

The rest of the guests, fueled by the free-flowing alcohol and the music, continued dancing and enjoying themselves, unaware of the disaster unfolding in the center of the room.

Every time I looked at Elvis over Edward’s shoulder, the image of the bedroom scene I had witnessed earlier flashed through my mind. I saw the tangled sheets, heard Lilian’s breathless voice, and felt the pain of their betrayal all over again. The anger inside me boiled over, wiping away the last trace of hesitation.

I brought my lips close to Edward’s, the scent of his skin making my head spin for a moment. He didn’t lean in for a kiss.

“Kissing wasn’t part of the deal,” he whispered, his deep voice vibrating against my neck.

I didn’t break eye contact. Instead, I tightened my grip around his neck and pulled him down slightly.

“I just made it part of the deal,” I whispered back, my voice sharp and demanding. “With an additional thousand dollars. Do we have a new deal?”

Edward’s eyes darkened, and a flicker of something intense crossed his face. A calculating smile touched his lips as he glanced toward the bar.

“So, Elvis Nelson is the reason we’re out tonight?”

I feigned surprise. “How did you know his full name?”

“I’ll explain later. But for now, we have a deal,” he murmured.

He leaned in, cupped my face in his hands, and kissed me. His touch felt far too warm, far too real, and the kiss was slow and passionate. I leaned into his embrace, wrapping my arms tighter around him to make sure Elvis saw every second of it.

Elvis clenched his fists. Beside him, Lilian looked disgusted, her eyes fixed on us as she leaned in to whisper something into his ear.

Edward slowly broke the kiss but kept his arm around my waist as he led me toward the seating area near the wall, keeping up the act. He sat down and, without a word, pulled me onto his lap. My smooth thighs showed through the slit in my short gown. I kept my attention on him, pretending to laugh at something he said while watching the bar from the corner of my eye.

The tension in the room finally snapped.

Lilian rose from her stool and marched toward us, shoving past dancing guests to reach our couch.