19

Lana’s POV

“What the fuck?!”

I jumped out of my seat at the content of the bank notification on my phone. My eyes found it hard to believe it and I wanted to laugh at the message attached to the alert. What was he thinking? Why would Paul send such a thing to me so unprovoked?

“What’s with that look on your face?”

I forced myself out of my shocked state to look at Lia, one of the boys’ sisters. She was in her medical scrub, holding two cups of coffee. She walked over to me and handed me one of the cups then sat down on the couch I had been sitting on.

“What happened?” Lia asked and took a sip out of her drink.

I sat down and showed her the screen of my phone. She read the content and almost choked on her drink before looking at me with wide eyes.

“Is something going on between you and Paul?” She asked with shock heavy in her voice. “How the fuck is he sending you $20,000 to buy a dress for a party?!”

I couldn't tell if she was judging me or not. I was not that close to the girls, but we were friends, just not on the overly personal level. So, I was not sure how to respond to her question. I remained silent and gauged her reaction.

“Wow,” Lia said and then smiled. “Finally!”

I blinked and tilted my body back when she rose to her feet, grinning hard. She twirled around, squealing before sitting back down. She grabbed my hand and shook it while giggling. Sometimes I forgot she was just an eighteen-year-old girl.

“Lia… Uh, what are you doing?”

“You have no idea how long I have waited for this,” she said excitedly and squealed. “It was about damn time. Finally, some action.”

“What are you talking about?”

Lia giggled. “I have always wanted one of my brothers to fall for you. I can’t believe that it was Paul who ended up with you. I expected Drake since he was the closest to you but Paul… wow, who would have known. He must have had his eyes on you for a long time now.”

I moved my hand out of her grip and laughed. She was kidding, right? Lia was just trying to be a tease and that was all.

“No, Lia. Paul and I have nothing going on. “Technically, we were about to and with the way he was moving, the media might start spreading rumors before we told our families and friends. “Well, for now.”

Lia jumped to her feet and squealed in joy. I couldn’t help but smile at how goofy she looked. It was surprising to see her act this way about me dating one of her brothers. I had always thought they would have an issue with me dating one of them but looking at it now, I was relieved.

“I am so happy!” She sat back down. “Originally, I thought you would be in a relationship with Drake since you have a crush on him and–”

“What?!” How did she know that?

She scoffed with a wave of her hand and took a sip out of her drink. I stared at her as she continued to drink with a glint of amusement in her eyes. I needed her to tell me what she meant right this instant.

“You aren’t exactly sneaky with your feelings for my brother. Everyone, including my parents, have known you’ve liked him for a long time now. The only dense one is Drake. As smart as he is, he can be a dummy sometimes.”

I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me right now. Their parents knew I had feelings for Drake. This had to be the most embarrassing moment of my life, and I wanted to end it all.

“Come on now, don’t be embarrassed. They find it cute… but that’s besides that. It’s shocking that you and Paul seem to be close after… her.” Lia grimaced. “God, I hate that bitch.”

This was new.

“You don’t like… Nina?”

“Yes… I hate her with a great passion. She is a serial cheat. She dated my friend’s brother earlier this year and cheated on him with some mayor’s son. The guy forgave her… I really don’t know what they see in her… anyway, he forgave her, and she cheated again with a football player. So, they broke up and three months later, I found out she is dating Paul. I told Paul about it, and he didn’t believe it until she cheated on him.”

“Wow.”

Nina was bad news.

“Yeah. Even before I knew what she was, I hated that bitch. She’s always hanging out with her friends who are snobs, gold diggers or bullies. She is like the classic mean girl in any movie or book. I was so glad when I heard that Paul broke up with her and now, she’s with Drake. Talk about being desperate, ugh,” Lia said and sipped her drink.

I nodded as every word she said filled my head then took a sip out of the coffee. Lia smiled then scooted closer to me with her eyes bright and full of excitement.

“So, tell me. Are you two going out on a date or something?”

“Something like that. He wants me to be his date for a club we’re going to tonight. Do you know about it?”

Lia nodded. “Yeah. The owner of the club is Jared Farrington, son of Kite Engines. He’s like a young millionaire who owns a chain of clubs and restaurants. The club opening is a very expensive one and almost every rich kid is invited.”

I swallowed. I was not a rich kid. The only wealthy connection I had was with the Hamiltons and that was it. I was just a cleaner’s daughter so how was I supposed to be in the midst of people who had millions and billions in their accounts.

“What’s wrong?” Lia sighed and groaned. “Don’t tell me you’re backing out? Look, no one at the club cares if you have money or not. The only thing you will see are boys and girls trying to spray cash, get some fucks, smoke and escape from their world… Paul won’t leave you alone or do anything to make you feel less… Besides, Lia and Drake will be there. I need you two to do something to hurt them.”

Did she know of the problems between us?

“Zoey told me,” Lia said, answering my curiosity. “And I will deal with Drake later.”

Of course, the most silent one had the current gossip.

“Don’t worry about anything. I will make you look your best and by the time you step into the club, I am sure men will want you so bad that Paul would most likely make it known to them that you two are an item… So, get up. Let’s go shopping.”

I smiled.

+++++

I was nervous. My heart was pounding fast, and my head was full of so many things at the same time. What if I messed up? What if they noticed me? What if I embarrassed myself? How was I supposed to fit in? What if I embarrassed Paul and caused a scene?

“Are you okay?”

I jumped slightly at the sound of Paul’s voice coming from beside me. I swallowed down the nerve-like bile in my throat and looked at him. He was staring at me with concern in his eyes from his position behind the wheel then he smiled. Something about the smile gave me a wave of relief, just a little wave of relief.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he said and unfastened his seatbelt then leaned his body toward my end of the car. “I can’t wait to see everyone look at you. You have no idea how pretty you look right now…Hm, you’re making me want to drive us back so no man or woman will see you and take you away from me.”

Lia had gotten the sluttiest dress for me to wear and as much as the dress made me feel confident, it made me uncomfortable. My waistline was snatched, my cleavage was almost showing, the straps were thin, and the length of the dress was at my mid-thigh with a slit on the side. I was a magnet for attention, and I didn’t know how I would be the moment I stepped into the club.

“Hey,” he whispered and cupped my chin then rubbed the pad of his thumb against my lip. “I’ll be with you, okay? I want us to have fun tonight. I need you to have fun tonight. Forget about anyone and everything. Focus only on me and me alone… Do you understand, my little mouse?”

I parted my lips and felt tension down below when he caressed my bottom lip while staring at me with a dark look in his eyes. I nodded and he hummed.

“I want you to use your words. I want to hear you speak,” he said in an oddly distracted tone of voice as he scanned my face with his eyes.

“Yes. I’ll have fun. I want to have so much fun with you tonight. Make me forget about my worries, Paul,” I said.

“Hm. That’s my good girl.”

Something dangerous was about to happen tonight and from the darkened glaze in his eyes and his tone of voice, it would make me commit a sin I was willing to embrace.