3. Love For Sale

~ Audrey ~

Audrey shuddered at the touch. Was that electricity she just felt?

Caspian noticed that her breath had hitched, and he looked up at her with hooded eyes. She immediately felt intimidated, so she pulled her hand away briskly. Yes, intimidated, but also… excited?

“I’m sorry we’re late to the party,” Killian coughed to ease the tension, “We just arrived from Shanghai, we had some business to attend to,”

“Stop talking about business, already. We’re at a party, you’re gonna bore the pretty girl to death,” Caspian groaned jokingly.

“Cas,” Killian scolded.

“What? It’s true,”

Killian shook his head and sighed. He turned his attention back to Audrey and said, “Please forgive my older brother, he’s known to be a little bit... crass,”

Caspian scoffed mockingly and said, “Please forgive my little brother, he’s an ass,”

The two brothers exchanged a look like they wanted to punch each other in the face. Somehow, Audrey found the situation amusing. These two grown men were bickering in front of her like a bunch of kindergarteners. A smile crept up her lips and she let out a small giggle.

“Look at that, she thinks we’re funny,” Caspian commented and Audrey put a hand to cover her mouth, stopping herself.

“Please, laugh away. My brother is ridiculous,” Killian nodded to Audrey and Caspian glared at him.

“Miss Audrey, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere,” Linda popped up behind them suddenly, causing the three of them to turn around. “The Kennedys have arrived and they’re looking forward to meeting you,”

“I’ll be right there, Linda,” Audrey nodded at the maid and she quickly scurried off. Something about the way the Vanderbilt brothers stared at her was frightening her.

“You invited the Kennedys? Man, they’re a bunch of jackasses,” Caspian sneered.

“Dammit, Cas. You and your mouth. Why did I bring you here again?” Killian sighed in exasperation, then he turned to Audrey and said “And this is him sober. Imagine him drunk,”

“I’m a lot more fun when I’m drunk, trust me,” Caspian link an arm around his brother’s neck and Killian gave him a bored stare.

“So, uh,” Audrey spoke timidly, “I guess I should take you to the party. Follow me,”

Audrey turned to her heels and led the boys towards the dining room. There goes my plan of escaping, she thought to herself. But as she was making her way back, she couldn’t help but feel like she was being watched. The Vanderbilt brothers had their gaze on Audrey’s back the entire time and it was making her uncomfortable.

Were they looking at my ass?

Not wanting to entertain that thought, Audrey turned around instinctively and said, “So, here we are, please help yourselves to some dinner and champagne,”

Audrey was about to leave the brothers’ presence, when Caspian stood in her way, stopping her. “And where are you going?” he asked.

“…To greet the other guests,” 

“But we are your guests,” he argued.

Audrey gulped. Caspian was very forward and she wasn’t used to that kind of treatment.

“Cas, why are you giving her such a hard time?” Killian scolded his brother.

“I’m not, I’m actually doing you a favor,” Caspian didn’t take his eyes off of Audrey.

“What favor?” Audrey asked.

“If you’re talking to us, you don’t have to talk to all these other people,” Caspian gestured to the sea of guys waiting to talk to her next. “I’m saving you from a whole bunch of boring ass conversations,”

As much as Audrey hated to admit it, Caspian was right. She looked around the room and all these guys were waiting for her like a pariah. None of them dared to come near her though, they saw the Vanderbilt brothers were talking with Audrey and they’d rather wait.

There was something frightening about the way the brothers stared down at everyone in the room. None of them dared to look back.

“Well, thank you, I guess. You’re like a modern day knight in shining armor,” Audrey stifled a laugh. She said it sarcastically, but Caspian wasn’t fazed.

He cocked his head to the side and smirked sinisterly, saying, “Hm, you’re feisty. I like you,”

Audrey didn’t expect that at all. She quickly threw her gaze away, hoping he didn’t see her cheeks blushing bright pink.

“So, uh, can I get you guys anything to drink?” she muttered, changing the subject.

“We’re fine, thank you,” Killian replied.

“Hey, Kill, doesn’t this party seem a little bit off to you?” Caspian said to his brother.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, where are all the girls?”

“You didn’t read the invite, did you?”

“That why I have you for,”

Killian shook his head and answered, “Cas, this is pretty much Audrey’s second coming out party into high society. She’s here to be introduced to… her suitors,”

“Oh, so they’re auctioning you off?” Caspian turned to Audrey.

“Cas,” Killian hissed, worried that Audrey might be offended.

“Don’t worry, he’s right,” Audrey admitted, “I am the auctioned horse,”

Audrey took another look around the room and shook her head in disbelief. She found her father’s actions to be absolutely degrading and humiliating. But she was powerless compared to him. What’s a girl in her position to do? She asked herself.

“So, any of these gentlemen caught your eye?” Killian asked as he followed her stare.

Audrey shook her head in response. “None of them,”

“Well, you have better taste than I thought,” Caspian interjected.

“Look at you talking about taste,” Killian scoffed mockingly before turning to Audrey, saying, “This one’s sleeping with the whole New York City,”

“Not the whole city. Not the Bronx, Queens, or Staten Island,” Caspian joked. “And says the guy dating the Victoria’s Secret Model. You know she’s got bird fart for a brain, right?”

“Don’t talk about Cara like that, Cas,” Killian said sternly.

“Whatever, lover boy,” Cas taunted. “You’re so fucking whipped, it’s gross,”

“Hey, at least I’m getting a quality lay,”

“You call that quality?” Caspian scoffed. “Plus, I’m more of a quantity over quality kinda guy,”

Audrey was taking note of this conversation. She learned a lot about the brothers from this exchange. So far, she learned that Killian is dating a Victoria’s Secret Model named Cara and Caspian is an absolute player.

“How about you? Are you more quality or quantity?” Caspian turned to Audrey, breaking off her train of thought.

“A what?” she gaped.

But before the brothers could answer her, a skinny guy in jet black hair and glasses approached the three of them. He was a nervous wreck. He’d been wanting to talk to Audrey all night long, but he never got a chance to. Audrey was always surrounded by other suitors, so he thought this was his chance, now or never. The guy was young and most likely new to this scene because he didn’t notice he was interrupting the Vanderbilt brothers. Had he known, he wouldn’t have done that.

“Hi, Audrey? My name’s Carter Rhodes,” his voice was shaky as he lent out his hand, “I was hoping we could get a chance to talk…”

“She’s talking to us, dumbass, are you blind?” Caspian growled, stepping right in between Audrey and poor Carter.

Caspian and Killian stood tall, strategically covering Audrey from any unwanted attention from outside their little circle. Caspian glared menacingly at Carter and Killian cocked his head to the side, waiting for Carter to make a move.

“Well… I just… I’m sorry,” Carter stammered.

“Go be sorry somewhere else,” Killian’s voice dropped an octave lower than usual. Even Audrey was scared of him.

“…S, sorry,” Carter backed away quickly. Within seconds, he was already out of sight.

Well, that was handy, Audrey thought to herself. The brothers then turned back around to face Audrey. Caspian threw another glare at the sea of guys as if it was a warning not to come anywhere near.

“Can I ask you two a question?” Audrey said suddenly.

“Shoot,” Killian replied.

“You already have a girlfriend,” she pointed to Killian, “And you’re not interested in marrying me,” she pointed to Caspian. “So, why are you two here?”

The brothers exchanged a look. Killian then turned to Audrey and said, “I hope this doesn’t offend you, but we’re only here on our parent’s order,”

“And what makes you think I have no interest in marrying you?” Caspian interjected.

“Oh, I don’t know, all that talk about quantity?” Audrey gave him a bored stare. “And the first thing you said when you got here was, ‘where are all the girls’,” she was mimicking him mockingly.

“Well, shit,” Caspian stifled a laugh. “You’re a fucking genius,”

“Honestly, you’re just incredibly easy to read,” Audrey retorted.

“Woah, nice,” Killian beamed and put his hands up to high five Audrey. Audrey clapped her hand with his and smiled. She was feeling a lot more relaxed around the brothers now, like they could actually be friends.

“Okay, now I really like you,” Caspian taunted her.

“Whatever,” she rolled her eyes and laughed. It was at this moment that they weren’t so intimidating to her anymore.

For the next few minutes, Audrey enjoyed the company of the Vanderbilt brothers. Caspian and Killian continued poking fun out of one another as Audrey laughed away. But as much fun as that was, the laughter died down after some time had passed. They were still standing in a room full of boring people none of them cared about.

“Hey, no offense, princess, you’re a lot of fun, but your party sucks,” Caspian sighed.

“I know. Trust me, I don’t wanna be here either,” Audrey replied.

“Well, is there somewhere else we can go?” Killian asked.

“Like, where?” Audrey asked back.

“Up there maybe?” Caspian nodded towards the ceiling.

The three of them looked up at the ceiling. Her family townhouse was equipped with a rooftop terrace, but Audrey had never gone up there before. It was a mostly untouched part of the house.

“Are you talking about the rooftop?” she asked them.

The two boys didn’t answer her in words, but their gorgeous smiles gave it away.

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- - - - - To Be Continued - - - - -