Chapter 1 - first kiss

Chloe's POV

"You haven't seen him in four years, why are you preparing a welcome party. For all I know, he's probably not worth it."

"He's worth it," I said under my breath. 

"We are sorry young master, but my husband's son is just coming back from the military and this is all we can do for him, but if you insist, then we can cancel the party," my mother said and I wanted to disown her on the spot.

"No, it's fine, I'll just stick around to see him before leaving."

"Thank you very much young master, you're so kind," my mother was close to kneeling and I hated her even more for the fact that she couldn't stand up for herself or me. 

"Young master? Mom he is just eighteen and we are class mates!" I lamented at how crazy my life was. 

"You keep quiet and help with the decorations."

And I went to do just that.

My mom married Jayden's mom when I was twelve and we shared a strong bond during the two years that we spent together before he went for his active service in the military.  

I missed him so much that I called everyday despite knowing that he wouldn't pick up. No doubt he would have over 1000 messages in his voicemail from me. 

"Don't touch that, my fiance shouldn't do such measly things!" Shawn said from and I paused as he hugged me from behind and placed a kiss on my neck and shoulder. 

My mom had chosen this revealing dress because she knew he was coming and I hated that I had no choice. 

"Let me go, people are watching," I protested and tried to free myself, but his hand found its way to my chest instead and he gave me a hush squeeze. 

"So what? Can't I hug my fiance?"

When I turned sixteen, my stepdad got into a huge debt with a big company that happened to belong to Jayden and the only way to pay his debt and also get a promotion in both status and his work place wasn't engaging me to marry Jayden when I turn twenty one. 

A proposal my mom didn't hesitate to accept when she heard about the expensive travels and vacations she would enjoy if she became Jayden's mother in-law and now, I'm bound by that. 

"Or are you shy? Do you want us to do it inside, instead?" He started to pull the neck of the low cut gown just low enough to expose my bra. 

"No that's not it, you know I'm just seventeen, we can't do this until I turn eighteen," I said, but everyday, I prayed to all the gods in this world that a miracle would happen before next week Saturday, just seven days from now. 

"And baby, I can't wait to throw you the most expensive birthday party in your life and then claim you as mine afterwards," the connecting part between my neck and shoulder was his favourite part of my body. 

I know that because Shawn suckled on it everytime he hugged me from behind and sometimes even left bite marks. 

I hated it, every bit of it, but I had no choice. 

"I don't see your brother coming home anytime soon, so I'll leave. I have a party to attend and because you have rejected me now," he brought my hand to feel his boner from his jeans, "I'll have no choice but to turn to the pretty girls at the club," he said and let go of me, without a care of whether I fell or not. 

In the least though, I was more than glad that we weren't breathing the same air as I heard the sound of his Bugatti leave our compound. 

I fell to my knees and facepalmed with no tears to cry. 

All I could do was stare blankly at the other side of the room.i didn't know how long had passed until a pair of grey boots came into view. 

They seemed to be approaching me, and my eyes started to trace the long legs up until the owner of the long legs and camou-coloured cargo pants was standing right in front of me. 

"I'm sure I said I'll be arriving by six pm, I was so sad when my dear sister wasn't there to welcome me at the door."

That voice. 

"Jayden." My breath shook as I looked up to see the handsome face of my brother whom I've been wanting to see for the past four years. 

"Why didn't you come out earlier, it's eight thirty but you were no where around and the party was so damn boring and worthless without you here. Mom said you went out with your little boyfriend, but I thought I'd look around just in case," he was rambling. 

Jayden was never much of a talker and I liked him because I could share a silent space with him and still feel relaxed. I helped myself to my feet and stumbled back, but he caught me only to lose his own footing and fall on me with my back rested on the wall. 

His hand on my waist and the alcoholic breath fanning my face didn't deter me from looking in his green eyes and taking a better look at his flushed face. 

He looked more masculine, his facials were more defined and his nose looked more pointed. 

"Nothing to say? I missed you so much sis," he said, his left hand still holding my waist and his right holding the bottle of liquor he was drinking. 

"Why won't you say something uhn, use those lips of yours for your big bro," he wanted desperately for me to say something, but my mind was crowded by how a man could be so handsome that I couldn't help but raise my hand to his jaw. 

My index finger traced from the tip of his nose down, stumbling on his lips and I felt myself rising from my five foot five height to a tiptoe and tilting my head to the side. 

His face remained still and while I didn't know what I was doing, I felt like I was close, so close until everything sudden turned awkward when he let go of me and pushed the bottle to my face. 

"Want some liquor?"

"I can't have that, I'm underaged," I said and turned away. 

"Okay then, how about we go to my room and I show you what I got for you," he said and held my hand. I couldn't refuse anyways, so I was behind him and we were already climbing up the stairs in no time. 

I was excited for some reason. For the past two years, I had taken the responsibility of cleaning his room myself. Only I had the other spare keys, so no maid was let in. 

It just felt too personal to let someone else do it, so I was always going in alone everytime I missed him or whenever I wanted to clean, but it was different today. 

He closed the door after me and tossed the key far aside before backing me against it and resting his hand in the space above my head. 

"Tell me you miss me, Chloe," he said and I felt my eyes get misty. 

"I've missed you calling my name, why didn't you ever pick up your calls. You never replied my voice mails, you never returned my letters, you-"

I was cut short with his mouth on mine.