Chapter 2

Jamie

Seeing Ash's tortured face when he saw me kissing Kylie was all the motivation I needed to tear my lips away from hers.

“I told you I don't want this!” I griped in anger, which was mostly directed at myself rather than her for letting her kiss me.

“Doesn't seem like it!” She retorted, pouting as she slid her hands up my chest. “You kiss me back.”

Irritated, I just pulled away, raising my head to look, but there was no point.

Ash was gone.

Fuck!

Ignoring Kylie's shouts, I jogged over to the lawn where the cheerleaders had practice, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

Sadly, he wasn't there.

Without looking back, I sprinted towards the parking lot where my car was stationed, so I could head over to Ash's apartment, but when I was about to get in, a black-tinted SUV pulled up beside me, the driver's window lowering to reveal a heavily muscled man.

I recognized my dad's driver, Lucas, behind the wheel. “What is it?”

“Your father asked me to bring you home.” He said in that bland tone of his. “It's important.”

“That's too bad because I have someone to be,” I say, reaching for my car door handle.

Lucas's eyes hardened. “Look, this is entirely up to you. We can do this the easy way or the hard way; nevertheless, you're going home to see your father, so you choose.”

I ground my teeth in anger, feeling powerless to resist.

I could try to get in my car, but Lucas was former military, and I wouldn't stand a chance.

“Fuck you!” I growled, rounding the car to the other side and getting in.

The car smoothly pulled away from the parking lot and onto the highway.

While we drove, I looked out the window at the scenery, once again hating the fact that I was Jamie Bronte.

Being the only legitimate son of Aldo Bronte came with a lot of expectations, like being successful, popular and more importantly, normal.

The only thing my father cared about other than his multimillion-dollar enterprise was image.

He loved to present this happy, successful image of his family to the public even though we were anything but.

I resented my father, and so did my mother, but unfortunately, we were both his captives.

“Where are you taking me?” I spoke up after a few minutes, wishing I could get out of this car and go see Ash. Right now, he was more important to me than whatever stupid performance act that my father was cooking up.

“You'll see,” was Lucas's vague answer as he kept on driving.

Realizing that I wasn't going to get any answer out of him, I sat back and let time fly by.

About ten minutes later, he pulled up to a familiar set of large black gates, stopping at the voice activation system to say, “It's Luca. I have the package.”

A second later, the electronically controlled gates swung inwards, and Lucas drove through, stopping in front of a mansion and a sprawling driveway large enough to easily fit eight cars.

Popping the central lock, Lucas met my eyes in the rearview mirror. “Go in, your father's waiting for you.”

Wondering what the hell this man was up to, I jumped out of the car, confidently striding towards the entrance.

However, as soon as I pushed those huge doors wide open, I was greeted with chaos.

About twenty people were rushing up and down the huge space, some dressed in a waiter's attire while the rest seemed to be foremen, fixing up lights and setting up the foyer.

I was so confused that I stopped short, wondering if I had worked into some alternate universe.

Spotting Ciara, one of our long-time maids, I pulled her close. “Ciara!”

“Oh, Mr Bronte!” She exclaimed, about to bend low in a curtsey, but I stopped her halfway.

“I've told you to call me Jamie.” I corrected, glancing at the chaos around me. “You mind telling me what's going on?”

“Oh, you didn't know?” Her brows pulled together in surprise. “Your father's throwing a benefit and luncheon to announce something big. That's why he wanted you here.”

“An announcement? What for?” I asked, perplexed.

“I don't know, sir, but I have to go…” She made a move to leave and then stopped. “Oh, that reminds me, your father said for you to come see him as soon as you get here. He's in his office, by the way.”

Shoving a hand through my hair, I let out an exasperated breath, turning to take the stairs two at a time until I got to the top.

My father's office was on the left wing, far removed from the major areas of the house for privacy, or so he claimed.

A few years ago, I figured out what type of privacy he meant when I saw a lady bent over his desk, half naked and moaning loudly.

Dragging my feet, I approached his office door with trepidation.

Two raps on the door was his only warning before I pushed it inwards, revealing my father and five other people.

A tall brunette was adjusting his tie while another lady was talking animatedly to him.

His head jerked up in my direction, and he immediately snaps his fingers. “Out!” He barked, waving a file in his hands. “I need to talk to my son.”

They dashed out the door, one by one until we were alone.

“Has Jane given you the script?” He bursts out, not even bothering to ask how I am, his gaze fixed on the file before him. “I need you to go over it and ensure that are no lapses.”

Confused, I placed my hands on my hip, staring at a man that looks like a version of me when I'm older. “What script? What the hell are you talking about?”

“I thought you were briefed.” He finally raises his head up to look at me since I stepped into the office, his lips curling up in distaste when he saw my outfit. “And what the hell are you wearing where is your outfit?”

“What outfit?” My brain was spinning in an effort to catch up. “Look, Dad, I'm not really in the mood to dress up and parade for whatever function you're getting ready for.”

A growl escapes Dad's mouth and in two steps, in front of me, grabbing the edge of my jacket to jerk me up. “You listen and listen good!” He ground out, his hot breath brushing my cheek. “You'll do whatever I tell you do!”

With a sound of disgust, he shoves me away from him but not before adding, “Oh, and this ‘function’ is your engagement party. You're getting married to Sophia Walker.”

It felt like I'd been sucker punched and all the air had been sucked out of the room when I heard that announcement.

What the hell?!