Chapter Five

If dad hadn’t communicated the change of plans, then it really put me in an awkward position.

“Um, you really don’t know why I’m here?’

Brad eyed me up and down. I didn’t know how that made me feel. Exposed?

“Of course I do. What I don’t understand it why the sudden change of plans. I also wonder why Sydney never mentioned she had a sister.”

“You can imagine we’re not close.” I said, through clenched teeth.

“A little sibling rivalry? No one else mentioned you existed either.” Brad shoved his hands in his pockets.

“Why am I not surprised?”

The party bellow us in the garden was getting loud. Nora would be here any second. It was time for the show. Put on the mask and get on stage. I picked up my dress and walked passed Brad into the room or at least I tried to.

“Gianna,” he said.

My name sounded so foreign coming from his lips. So much so I was silent for a few seconds before I realized he was talking to me and his cold hand was wrapped around my elbow.

“What?”

He released me. “Can you imagine my reaction when I thought I saw my fiancé in a nightclub?”

I laughed, “I’m sure Sydney’s been to clubs before.”

“Not any like that.”

“You think she’s too innocent.”

“You clearly don’t know your sister well.”

I exhaled. I didn’t, but that wasn’t what we were here for.

“Listen, I don’t like this.” Brad said in a low tone.

I laughed, a little too cynical for me. “I don’t like it either. You think I want to a marry a man I don’t know?”

“Well, at least I knew what I was getting with Sydney. You look like trouble.”

I folded my arms over my chest like a child. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough. There should be a reason no one mentions you.”

The front door opened before I could ask Brad if he knew I was illegitimate. Nora burst through the door wearing a glittering yellow dress. Talk about wanting to be the star of the show.

Her gaze darted between us. “Bradley, I didn’t know you were here already.”

I could tell she was nervous. She opened her arms and wrapped her arms around Brad’s neck. Brad in turn wrapped his arms around her waist, but kept his eyes on me. I would have walked out the room already, but I didn’t know where I would be going.

“The party’s already started, shall we go downstairs?” Nora looped her arm through his and practically dragged him out of the room.

“Is your mother here already?” Nora asked.

Well, I guess I had to follow so I grabbed my clutch bag and strolled out the room as casually as I could. Everyone expecting Sydney would get a little jolt. Nora told me to wait in the hall while she and Brad went ahead so she could announce me first.

Dad watch our interactions from the shadows. He only stepped out when they were both gone.

“You look beautiful.” He said.

“Too late to turn back now.”

His eyes narrowed, “Do you want to?”

“Gianna Glass!” Nora said and the crowd erupted into gasps.

“I can’t.”

I tore my eyes away from my dad and walked through the threshold. I didn’t want to look at anyone’s face. There wasn’t anyone standing in the crowd to give me strength. Bradley stood by a round table with several other people. His eyes were dark and unreadable.

“She looks so much like Sydney.” Someone said.

“Are you sure Nora didn’t just say her daughter’s name?” Someone else said.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. The music started back up again. So, there I was at my engagement party. Dad and Nora appeared standing by the empty tiffany chairs to my right. We all sat and on a table six people I’d never felt so alone.

Brad sat to my right, he didn’t even glance at me. He sat beside a woman with platinum blonde hair and crimson nails. She found her tall glass of Champaign to be the most interesting thing on earth. She had to be a sister. The woman with tall chocolate colored hair, a literal diamond sat pretty on her chest. Like Nora, she wore a glittering dress too. I guess they both wanted to shine tonight. She had to be Brad’s mother, Nora’s rival.

There was a man I could only assume was Wolfe, but when Brad spoke my theory was shot down.

“Dad sends his apologies, he had some business to take care of.” Brad said.

“Of course,” My dad replied. He sounded distant and tired. I dared to steal a glance. It was like he wasn’t here. He stared off into space. I told myself he was worried about the situation and about Sydney.

“Gianna, what a lovely name. How come you never mentioned you had such a beautiful daughter? She looks so much like Sydney. They could be twins.”

Dad cleared his throat, “Gia, lives in another town with her mother.”

“Oh, uh… I see.” Rebecca said. She could have practically said ‘quite the scandal.’

Rebecca turned to me the same time Brad stole a glance.

“I’m sure we’ll get on quite marvelously.” Rebecca smiled.

“Yeah,” the platinum blonde woman muttered then pressed her lips in a smile.

I swallowed. Why did I have a feeling we weren’t going to be best friends? Over thirty minutes into the party I was forced to mingle. I had to be on my second glass of wine. I wasn’t even a big drinker, but tonight I needed all the alcohol I could get. I

 just got engaged and I didn’t have a ring to show for. I had a handsome and incredibly sexy man that I didn’t know. I had so many people coming up to me asking me if I was sure I wasn’t sweet Sydney. A couple women wanted to know the situation between my mom and dad. I’d like to know too.

I tucked myself behind pink balloons. I couldn’t take it anymore besides my feet were killing me! However, I ran out of wine and crawled out of my hiding place. I felt Bradley’s stare on my back. It was an intense feeling someone was watching me. I didn’t want to catch his eyes, but I knew he was standing with a group of other young men.

Red wine was finished. I picked up the bottle of Champaign before I could pour the bottle was snatched from me.

“Hey!”

“That’s enough for tonight.” Nora said and held the bottle behind her back.

“I only had two glasses.” I frowned.

“Oh, trust me. You don’t want to get drunk at a party like this.”

“I think I do.” I mumbled.

“Come on, let’s go speak to the country club women. Everyone is dying to speak to you.” Nora beamed. “Oh, let me introduce you.” Nora scurried off before I could respond.

At least she left the bottle behind.

“Gianna Glass. Why didn’t I realize earlier?”

“Rocco?” The glass nearly slipped out of my hold.

The man who’d plagued me and my bank account stood in front of me in black pants and a white shirt that hadn’t been buttoned all the way up, giving me a sneak peak of his tanned chest. What was he doing at my engagement?

“What are you doing here?” I whispered and looked behind me. I wasn’t sure who I was looking for.

Rocco picked up a glass of Champaign behind him. It was a ploy to get close to me. His scent filled my nostrils.

“I’m here because my friend’s getting engaged. I had no idea he’s snatched the woman I wanted.”

I swallowed and turned away and was met with his arm locking me against the table. I was never going to be his. I didn’t know how many people were watching, but this wasn’t looking good. I had to get away from him.

“I love this song. Dance with me Gia.”

I raised my brows, but Rocco was already pulling me to the dance floor where a few elderly couples swayed to the violin music.

“What are you doing? I doubt you even know this song.”

He pressed my body to his chest and planted his big hand on the small of my back. I bit my bottom lip. I hated to think about it but I fit his frame perfectly. I wrapped my arms around his next, trying not to look too sexual doing it. Rocco place his other hand on my shoulder blade. A grin spread on his lips. His body was solid and his cock poked through his pants.

“You think I’m a fool?” He whispered close to my ear.

“No, I just don’t think you listen to classical music.”

“Not that Gia.” He groaned.

I looked over his shoulder and noticed Brad glaring at us. He had his arms crossed over his chest and his brows dipped into a frown.  

“What then?”

His hand pushed me closer to him.

“You know what I mean. I asked you to marry me.”

“It was an option.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Would you have taken the other option?”

“No,” I mumbled.

“I don’t need to remind you that you have a debt to pay. With each day the numbers are rising.”

“I know that. You’ll get you money. I won’t have to marry you or be your call girl”

He frowned. Good, I needed to win sometimes.

“I think this dance is over.” I tried to pull away, but his hand pushed me back.

“You’re making a mistake. When you can’t pay what you owe me. I will take everything. Your mom’s business, her house and I’ll have you.”

“Mind if I cut in?” I turned my head and Brad stood behind us.

Shoot. Rocco and I were almost the only ones dancing.

“Of course. You have a beautiful fiancée.” Rocco let his hand rest on my back.

My heart was thundering in my chest. I didn’t want a scene. My eyes darted around the garden for dad and Nora, but landed back on Brad.

“She is, isn’t she?” He said with his eyes fixed on me and his jaw clenched.

Rocco glanced at me one last time. There was mischief in his eyes before he let Brad take over.

Brad’s dark eyes bore down on me. He planted both his hands on my waist and practically shoved me to his chest. I wrapped my arms around his neck and began to sway to the violin music.

“This isn’t what I need.” Brad said, low and sharp.

“You’re overreacting.” I whispered.

“This isn’t going to work.”

“I know. We’ve both expressed how we don’t want to marry each other.”

“So, you want break this off. We can do it right now.”

Rocco’s threat echoed in my ears. I bit my tongue. I couldn’t ruin this.

“No.”

“Good. We’ll have to set boundaries.”