After The Big Announcement

KAREN

My eyes open suddenly to meet cool brown eyes staring down at me with no emotion in them whatsoever. 

"You just had to ruin my dinner didn't you?" Jason said coldly. 

I give him a puzzled look.

"What did I do?"

"You've lost your memory too huh?" 

My heart goes to my mouth as images of Henley and I kissing flash through my mind. 

He's found out. 

I think in fear of all the lies I can wiggle out.

"You're all over the news too," He goes on and taps his phone screen. 

My lips have suddenly gone dry, I run my tongue over them. 

"What do you mean?" I ask politely. 

He shoves his phone in my face and it takes a moment for my eyes to focus. 

JASON DANIELS' BRIDE TO BE FAINTS AT DINNER HELD IN THEIR MULTIMILLION DOLLAR VILLA.

The headline stated in capital letters.

I sigh immediately as the cool breeze of relief washes over me. 

He doesn't know I kissed his brother. 

"Oh," Memories of the previous night begin to fill my head as I remember everything. 

I passed out from shock. 

"Bride to be?" I say out loud and look up at him. 

"You saw clearly," He takes the phone away from my face. 

"Would you care to explain what that was?" He demanded. 

"When did I promise to marry you?" I countered and immediately regretted speaking. 

Suddenly his face works up into a sneer as he stares at me with disgust. 

"Are you really asking me that? You are an ungrateful bitch," he thunders. 

I remain silent and avoid his gaze wishing this moment will pass as quickly as it escalated.  

I have a lot to say on the matter but I force my thoughts down and will myself to just listen to his rants. 

"I'm willing to marry you to save you and your parents from going fucking bankrupt and you sit there and question me?" 

His voice has gone up a considerable volume and there was no one to save me from his anger. 

This is what I have to endure to make sure my family doesn't lose everything. 

All my life I have been taught to do anything and everything for my family even if it means being in an abusive relationship with a man I hate. 

"I.. I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said." I apologize, desperate to end this argument.

"Shut up!" He roars. 

"We're getting married and it's final unless you want to drag your family to the ground. I am only marrying you because your parents begged me."

He says.

I keep my head bowed in submission as he shouts and rants about how ungrateful I am and how my parents shouldn't have had me. 

I endure all this for my family. 

"You are so pathetic and don't do what you did last night again. it's an order," 

I nod. 

"Yes sir,"

"Fucking ingrate," 

He mutters and walks out. 

My eyes sting with tears as I pull my knees towards me until they're under my neck. 

Tears begin to flow freely and I don't bother to stop them. 

I sob in my hands as I am suddenly overcome and overwhelmed. 

I am tired of everything, I can't take it anymore. 

I just want to run away and never come back. 

I sob terribly, my shoulders shaking from my sobs. 

I don't want my family to suffer because of me, why am I suffering because of them. 

"I'm tired," I cry out loud and fling a pillow to the floor while breathing heavily. 

Something vibrates behind me, it's my phone. 

I sniff loudly before picking up the call. 

"Hello," I say. 

"Karen."

I hurriedly look at the phone screen, it's an unknown number. 

"How did you get my number?" I ask in a whisper. 

Jason may be eavesdropping. I can't risk speaking out loud. 

"I have my ways," Henley says.

"Why are you whispering?"

"Now's not a good time." I whisper. 

"I want to see you Karen. I can't stop thinking about you and I'm sure I'm not alone in this."

On a normal day I'd have melted immediately as soon as he uttered those words in my ear but this day isn't normal. 

No day is normal with Jason. 

My insides flipped in response as they threatened to melt. 

I heave a sigh. 

"Henley... that kiss was a mistake." 

Giving in to my feelings means doom for my family and I don't want that to happen. 

"Was it Karen?" He asked softly and immediately a tingle runs down my spine. 

I like his tone. Too much. 

"You kissed me back by mistake? You held me tight by mistake? Your pulse spiked by mistake Karen?" 

"I..I.." 

I look towards the still open door in fear. What would I do if he walked in on me on the phone with his brother?

I feel like Henley's voice can be heard from anywhere in this big house. 

"You can't deny how you feel Karen."

"I can!" I say more fiercely than I intended to. 

"Why? Just why?"

I remain silent. 

"What do you see in that asshole? Why do you choose to remain with him?" 

"I see nothing in him," I reply calmly. 

"Then leave him," Henley urged. 

"I can't," 

"You can't?" 

I nod though he can't see me nodding. 

"I can't," I say out loud. 

"Are you sure about that?" His tone takes on an edge that scares me and yet draws me in. 

"What do you mean?"

I ask carefully. 

"I want you Karen and I am going to have you and trust me you're going to enjoy being had."

The phone beeps as he ends the call. 

My mouth hangs open in shock at Henley's last words. 

What does he mean by what he just said?

Is he trying to get me in trouble?

As his words sink deep into my mind I feel a pull at the base of my stomach. 

I'm wanted. 

Someone desires me. 

I let my phone fall from my fingers to the bed as I take deep breaths. 

Jason cannot know I'm attracted to his brother. I have been attracted to Henley since the first day I met him though I didn't know just how attracted I was until he kissed me. 

My fingers trace my lips as the memories of the kiss we shared last night floods my mind. 

The way he held me. Possessively. 

I wish Jason would hold me like that. 

The way he kissed me. Passionately. 

I let out a shaky breath and I began to feel a dull throb in between my legs. 

I have to stop thinking of Henley if I'm going to get any work done today. 

As if on cue, my maid in waiting pulls in a trolley which I know holds my breakfast and medication. 

"Good morning Miss Beth, Mr Daniels requests that I see to it that you eat properly and take your medication that the doctor prescribed."

I palm my face with my hand as she droned on like an AI. 

"I'm to help you get ready in due time for lunch with your future mother in law at noon sharp."

I really don't have any response for her so I stuff eggs in my mouth instead. 

I wonder if staying with Jason is the right thing for my mental health even though it's for my family.