DESTINY
The way James and Giovanni stared at me made me feel self-conscious. I hardly recognized myself in the mirror. I don’t think I’ve ever looked this good. I used to hate the color of my hair until today. Giovanni really knew his stuff.
“Thank you, Giovanni, James.” I blushed like a teenager.
“My pleasure, Bella!” Giovanni kissed me on both cheeks like he greeted James. It felt strange to me, I wasn’t used to affection from strange people.
James held out his hand for me to take. He looked pleased with himself, a smug grin on his face, like he’d won the Lotto or something.
“Let’s go, gorgeous.” he said.
Wow! I wasn’t expecting that. I took his hand, and we strolled out of the salon.
“Mr. Barrington! Mr. Barrington!” Someone called out and James stopped in his tracks, swearing under his breath.
Barrington? Was that his surname? Why did it sound so familiar?
James looked over at me, “Can you run, Destiny?” He grasped my hand firmly. “Come!” We ran to the car. He opened the door and half pushed me inside.
“What the hell, James?” I pulled my legs in just in time as he slammed the door and rushed to the other side.
A flash from a camera almost blinded me. There was a man at the passenger’s side window holding a camera and he was taking my picture. I shaded my face with my hand.
James sped away, burning rubber as the car turned out of the parking lot.
“Bloody paparazzi!” James snarled. “So sick of them, they’re everywhere.”
“Why on earth would the paparazzi be after you? Are you some kind of celebrity or are you on the run, James?” My stomach lurched. I didn’t know anything about this man. He could be a criminal for all I know, and I have agreed to marry him. What have I gotten myself into?
“Forget about it.” James said. He had a deep frown between his brows. He turned to glance at me. “There you go again, Destiny! You have quite the imagination.”
“What do you mean, James?” Could he read my mind?
“I’ve come to recognize that look on your face. I am not some mobster or running from the law.” He said, looking irritated. “The press just can’t leave me alone. I’ve done some stupid things which did some damage to my grandfather and my father’s good standing.” He laughed bitterly, “So now you have it. I must prove myself worthy of my lineage.”
“That’s why you want to get married.” I nodded. I just happened to bump into him at the right time, I guessed. Just my luck.
“Yeah.”
I shook my head. Were these people from the middle ages?
“What now?” he asked with that same note of irritation in his voice.
“It’s just… They can’t force you to get married, can they? I mean, you have rights.”
“My family is very… traditional, I guess, is the word I’m looking for.” James said glancing at me. “I am a bit of a disappointment to them.” He smiled and his blue eyes flashed.
“Really?” I looked at him. “You seem alright. I mean, you do have a job, don’t you?”
He laughed, a dimpled appeared in his cheek, and I was struck by how handsome he was when he laughed like that.
“Yes, I do have a job. At my father’s firm.”
“Oh.” I looked down at my hands.
“Now what are you implying with that ‘oh’?” he said crossly.
“Nothing.” Probably got the job just because of his father, maybe he didn’t even deserve it.
He stayed silent after that. Soon we arrived at his home.
***
James went to my room with me. He placed all the shopping bags on the bed. He sure spent a heck of a lot of money on me today. A part of me felt guilty that he did it, but he wanted me to change so I suppose I shouldn’t feel that way. Still…
“Thank you, James. For everything.” I said, facing him.
He shrugged, “No problem. You clean up nicely.” He said, taking my hand and twirling me around. “Really nice.”
I laughed, feeling a bit dizzy and not used to the high heels. I lost my balance and stumbled. James caught me around my waist and pulled me against him. My breath caught in my throat, because his blue eyes pulled me in. His lips looked so soft, and I wondered for an insane moment what it would feel like if he kissed me. Would I like it? Would he want to kiss me, and do I want him to?
Time, it seemed, stood still as I was locked in his arms. Held by the unreadable blue pools, drowning in them, then, as if by some kind of magnetic force his lips were drawn to mine. The kiss was soft and sweet and probing, and I lost myself in it, opening my lips to his exploring tongue. I have never been kissed like that before. Losing all feeling in my legs I had to hold onto his broad shoulders to keep from melting at his feet.
He broke away first, leaving me wanting more and feeling ashamed simultaneously.
“Not bad for a first practice.” He said, smirking and I wasn’t sure whether or not to say something, so I didn’t.
“We should definitely do it again.” He winked at me and left, closing the door behind him.
My world spun around me. Had he felt nothing? Was it just me?
***
I watched my reflection in the mirror. I still couldn’t believe it. This new me with shining eyes and kiss-swollen lips. My strawberry-blonde hair framed my face perfectly and the new floral dress hugged my breasts, the cleavage peeking out just enough the draw the eye – a pretty picture. Was this what they saw? I was more than that.
I sighed. Well, I have agreed to this, there was no going back now. Three years of living like this. It won’t be so bad now, would it? I touched my lips I could still feel the softness of his mouth there. Don’t get attached, Destiny. This is just a job, like any other. You can do this.
“You can do this.” I told myself in the mirror. The girl in the mirror nodded.
I packed away my new clothes.
My cell phone rang. I had completely forgotten about it. I left it on charge when we went shopping.
“Lorraine,” I smiled as I answered the call. She was my friend who worked with me at Ken’s convenient store.
“Girl, where the hell are you? Ken said you don’t work here anymore. What happened?” Lorraine’s voice sounded worried.
“I had the weirdest day, Lorraine. It seems like a fairy tale.” I told her.
“Are you okay, Destiny. Do I have to call the cops?” she asked. I could just picture her; Lorraine must have given Ken the Third Degree. She was very protective of me, like a mother although we were almost the same age. Tiny, feisty Lorraine taking on Ken. He was nothing like Barbie’s Ken though, paunchy and balding with a crooked nose.
“No, no, nothing like that. I’ve met a man and we’re going to get married.” I told her.
“Girl, what are you smoking?! Have you lost your mind?” It sounded like she almost dropped her phone. “Who is this man? You don’t even date, for the love of God!”
“Yeah, we sort of ran into each other.” I giggled.
“Oh, dear Lord… Who is this man? I need a name so I can get a background check on him. There’s no way I’m letting my best friend be taken for a ride.” She sounded breathless, “And you send me a pin location immediately, Missy.”
“Okay, okay. Goodness, Lorraine.” Wow! Who knew she could be so dramatic.
“Oh, Destiny… What have you done? You have no idea how evil people can be.” She sounded like she was about to cry.
“His name is James, James Barrington.” I thought about the cameraman calling out his surname.
Silence.
“No. Say that again? We must have a bad connection.” Lorraine’s voice came through clearly.
I repeated. “James Barrington.”
“Are you shitting me, girl? Barrington the Billionaire heir?” she screeched in my ear. I held the phone away from me.
“Huh?” No, James couldn’t be a billionaire. Sure, he had money, but he didn’t act like a billionaire. Okay, how would I know though? Not that I knew any billionaires.
“Destiny Johnson, you send me a pin location right now!”
“Um… Would if I could, Lorraine, but my phone doesn’t have that app.” I had a very old phone that I was used to. Those new ones looked very complicated to me, and of course, that was the least thing I had been able to afford.
Silence.
“You hang in there, girl. I’ll find you. You phone me if there’s anything. You hear, doesn’t matter if it’s in the middle of the night.” Lorraine was starting to scare me.
“Sure. I promise.” I ended the call.
JAMESShe really had no idea what she was doing to me. Damn, what have I gotten myself into? I can’t remember when last I had a girl as innocent as Destiny. I think when I was thirteen. No, scrap that. That girl took my innocence, and she was three years older than me. She was no innocent little virgin that’s for sure, I remembered and grinned. What was her name again?“James?” Destiny broke me out of my thoughts.“Yeah? Sorry, I spaced out for a moment.” Watching me with those big olive-green eyes of hers while sucking on her milkshake… Oh, my God, James! Stop it! This girl drove me nuts! I wanted her, that thought sobered me enough to choke on my beer.I spluttered and coughed, tears stinging my eyes.“Gosh! Are you alright, James?” She got up to pat my back, her cleavage almost in my face. God, she smelled amazing. I wanted to press my face against those pretty mounds.“I’m fine…just fine.”She handed me a napkin to wipe my face, trying to hide her smile. She had no idea how gorgeo
DESTINY“Good afternoon to you too, Grandfather. Let me introduce you to Destiny Johnson, the girl I am intending to marry.” James said just like that, beaming a smile at me.The two men stared at me as if I came from another planet. I was dumbstruck, hanging onto James’s arm like he was a lifeline. “Good afternoon.” My voice managed to slice through the heavy silence that seemed to press down on us.James’s father was the first to react. He stood up and reached out well-manicured hands towards me. His grip was firm enfolding my hand in both of his.“I must say, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Destiny.” He was an older version of James, but more polished. It was clear that James got his handsome looks from his father.“Yes,” the grandfather drawled, wrinkling his nose as if he were smelling something unpleasant. “More like surprised to see you actually exist.” He placed his newspaper down on the table next to his chair.James pressed my hand reassuringly. He did warn me his grandfather
“Oh, my God that was exhausting.” I told James when we were on our way home.“You did well, Sugar.” James chuckled, “Sorry about that South Africa thing, I don’t know what came over me. It just slipped out.”“Your grandfather is scary. And your father knows we’re lying. I’m sure of it.” I wasn’t being paranoid.James laughed it off. “Don’t worry about it. Even if he does, he can’t stop us.” James turned a corner so fast I was thrown towards him. My hand landed on his thigh to steady myself.I pulled it away so fast like he was hot metal. “Sorry, sorry.”James glimpsed at me a cheeky smile on his lips. “You have nothing to apologize for. If you want to touch my leg it’s fine by me.”“Oh, get over yourself, will you.” I stared out the window and he chuckled.“By the way, I got a text from Arthur saying he’ll see us tomorrow with the draft of our agreement.”“Really? Wow, that’s fast.”I was sure that Arthur didn’t like me at all. He must think that I was after James’s money.“Have you t
Driving to town he had the car radio on full blast playing alternative rock, his fingers drumming to the beat on the steering wheel. He seemed to be in a good mood. He winked at me when he caught me staring.“First were going to fill our tummies and then I’m going to find you the biggest, shiniest rock I can.” He said waggling his eyebrows at me.“You really don’t have to.” I grumbled.He laughed, “You can choose whatever you want, Sugar. Don’t pout unless you want me to kiss you. You have such an irresistible little mouth.”“Ugh! Stop it!” I slapped him on his thigh, and he grabbed my hand and held it there, the heat of his skin warming my palm. When I resisted he just chuckled.“Practice, Sugar. If we’re going to convince people, we need to feel comfortable touching each other.”“When you say it like that it sounds dirty.” I snapped at him. Why is he doing this? He is playing with me, must have some idea how I’m crushing on him.He looked hurt. “No, nothing like that. Jeez!”My chee
JAMESOf course, I should have known Arthur would go to my father. The backstabbing rat. But this leaves me no choice to sign the contract because I had run out of time.“Your father thought it was unfair to Miss Johnson that you be allowed to carry on with your (he cleared his throat) … wild ways and she had to stay faithful to you.” Arthur said, carefully studying his glasses.“We could change it to an open marriage.” I tried.Arthur shook his head. “Not an option. Your father stipulated that any changes made be run by him before they could be implemented.”Of course he would. Sneaky bastard. I looked at Destiny who so obviously enjoyed my predicament.“I don’t believe you James. Wanting me to remain at home like the good little wife while you go on as usual?” She looked at Arthur. “I should actually thank Mr. Barrington personally.”“No need, Ms. Johnson.” Arthur said.“Don’t be angry, I did it to save your reputation, Destiny.” I said. “Let’s just sign the damn thing and get it ov
DESTINYThere was someone in the house. James had left for work so I was sure it couldn’t be him. I clutched my phone to my chest uncertain if I should call the police. Where I grew up the police never got there on time anyway, so I decided not to. I mean, I wasn’t a coward, and I could defend myself if I had to.Armed with a heavy statue – a bust of some woman – I snuck down the stairs. For a moment I stood halfway, listening. I heard a commotion in the kitchen. Tiptoeing and raising the statue above my head I was ready to deck the intruder when…“Ahh! God preserve us!” a woman screamed.I dropped the statue and it fell at my feet narrowly missing my toes and it rolled away.“Shame on you Lass! Scaring an old woman like that.” she held her hand to her bosom. “Didn’t know young master Jimmy had guests.” she had a lilting Scottish brogue which I liked.“Sorry, so sorry. I though we were being burgled.” I hastily retrieved the fallen bust, noticing her nose had broken off in the fall.
From the outside the hotel looked like an apartment building, all glass and chrome and very modern. James ushered me through the revolving doors and into the lobby. We went up with the glass lift to the top floor to the spa. I felt like a little girl lost standing there in the reception area while James did all the talking. Not that the girl behind the desk seemed to mind. She only had eyes for James. I couldn’t blame her; he was easy on the eyes. But she was really getting on my nerves, flirting with him and he didn’t hold back either. I wasn’t jealous.“Okay, so call me when you’re done, and I’ll come pick you up Destiny. I have to get back to work.” James said.“Right. Work.” I said pursing my mouth.“Why do you say it like that? Something you want to tell me?” James took my arm and led me away from the swooning receptionist.“C’mon James. I’m young but I’m not stupid. You had lipstick on your shirt collar. You were late because you were snogging someone.” I lowered my voice, “You’
JAMESI knew I was being a complete douche bag to Destiny, but I was pissed as hell. My father adding that final bit into the contract that drove me over the edge. I was done with him and Granddad trying to control me. Who the hell did they think they were anyway?And Destiny. Calling me out on my shit, she said. Yeah, I didn’t like it. She caught me out. I had a quickie in the bathroom at work with the hot new secretary of one of the associates. Mostly because I was angry at my father for basically tying me to Destiny. One little slipup and I would be out on my ass.Fine. I knew it wasn’t Destiny’s fault, I brought her into this mess. But did she have to be so…so frustratingly hot. I had a hard time keeping away from her and after seeing her naked… That image will be forever branded in my brain. I just went back to the spar to tease her; I didn’t expect her to jump out of her skin like that. Although, I’m not complaining. God, she’s gorgeous.“…and the wedding planner will contact yo