Chapter 63: A Kiss

\[Grant’s POV\]

I stare at Gianna, my mind made up about what I was going to do to make sure that she couldn’t keep running away from me.

It was selfish.

It was stupid.

But since our first night together I knew that she was the one for me.

How could I not when she was the only woman who actually made me feel something.

“What are you planning?” The woman in question asks, eyeing me. “Why are you looking at me like that.”

“Well,” I say slowly, brushing my fingers along her cheek. “I may be about to do something stupid.”

As I speak, I lean in close, close enough to feel Gianna’s breath on my skin and when she just stares at me and doesn’t stop me, I move, pressing my mouth to hers where every-fucking-body can see.

“What?” She gasps, attempting to pull away. “What are…”

“I’m making sure that you don’t get caught up in a scandal.” I whisper, smirking. “If I claim that you are my woman and that we intend to marry then there is no scandal, correct?”

“But…” She hisses as I kiss her again. “Are you crazy?”

“Maybe,” I admit, pulling away and looking around at the crowd that has gathered. “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“I…” She stammers, her eyes widening. “I did what?”

“Weren’t you hinting at the fact you wanted me to make my intentions clear?” I push. “I don’t think it gets anymore clear than this.”

“You…What…I?”

I wait while Gianna adorably tries to create a sentence, but before she does, my father storms toward us.

“Grant!” He snarls, his eyes filled with anger. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

By this point we are surrounded, just as I was wanting and when I’m certain that there are enough people around to spread the word that the golden bachelor has found his future wife, I reach out and wrap an arm around Gianna.

“I think it is pretty clear,” I say slowly, peeking toward Gianna who remains silent. “I’m kissing my future wife.”

“Future wife,” my father repeats, his eyes bulging. “Rachel is…”

“The woman you chose for me.” I finish for him. “Not the one that I picked for myself.”

The whole point of going overseas and proving my worth was so that I didn’t have to worry about any business alliances when I came back.

If he thought that I forgot our agreement, he was wrong.

“We agreed that I would get to pick my own partner.” I continue. “And I’ve done just that.”

“But, she’s…”

“It doesn’t really matter,” I shrug. “I’ve chosen this woman and I refuse to accept anyone else.”

As I speak, I feel Gianna tensing and I know that she probably hates everything about what I’m doing, but this was the only way that I could show her that there really wasn’t anything between me and Rachel.

Rachel and I were simply friends since childhood because of our parents being close and even though they occasionally joked about our engagement, I never went along with it.

And Rachel, I look towards the crowd where I spot the woman in question, watching with her gaze narrowed and her fingers clasped so tight around her champagne glass that it could end up cracking.

Well, if she took it seriously, that was on her.

“Anyway,” I say now, focusing on my father again. “Since I’ve made the announcement, isn’t it best that we make sure that no more misunderstandings are created?”

“Misunderstandings.”

“Yes,” I confirm as my father stares in disbelief. “Because of your actions and words earlier, you hurt my date. Gianna, sweetheart,” I continue, finally turning my full attention to the woman beside me. “Should we get going? I’m pretty bored of this place.”

“Bored,” she repeats, lifting her angry gaze to me. “But isn’t this celebration for you?”

“For me,” I laugh. “If anything it is just an excuse to get together and mingle. Even if I’m not here they honestly won’t miss me.”

Even before now, no one looked my way.

No one gave two shits about me.

These people just wanted a reason to get together.

To smooze.

To eat, drink, fuck, and be merry.

“Come on,” I continue, gently squeezing Gianna’s shoulder. “Why don’t we go somewhere a bit more fun?”

Growing quiet, I wait while Gianna stares at me, her indecision clear as day in her eyes. It is mixed with suspicion and something more, but I don’t quite know what that something more is.

“Or would you prefer to stay?” I ask.

Once again, I wait while Gianna looks from me, to the crowd, and then back.

“I think I’d be better off leaving.” She admits, but she doesn’t look happy about it. “Thanks to someone, I’ve become an eyesore for the night.”

“Never an eyesore,” I assure her. “If anything, you’re the sun. Now come on.”

I gently pull Gianna out of her chair and then I wrap my arm around her waist.

“Name it,” I tell her. “You get to pick where we go. Tonight you’re the boss.”

“Am I?” She asks, allowing me to lead her forward. “Then if I said I just want to go home?”

“I’d take you there,” I tell her. “But after everything I just did for you, are you really going to leave me alone?”

“No one asked,” she reminds me. “And didn’t I say that I didn’t want to get mixed up in a scandal?”

“It’s a good scandal,” I chuckle. “If anything, this will bring you even more opportunities.”

“Right.”

As she speaks, I don’t miss the hint of annoyance in Gianna’s voice, but I’m certain if I asked what was actually bothering her, she wouldn’t tell me.

Because of that, I don’t bother asking. Instead, I continue to lead us through the crowd that is parting like the red sea and when we finally reach the buildings exit, I whisk Gianna out and then lead her to where my car is waiting.

When we reach, I finally release the woman beside me and then I take her in.

She’s not smiling and her gaze is almost unreadable, but by the purse of her lips, I know that she isn’t happy with what I did.

“You can hit me,” I offer, turning my head. “Right here, go on.”

For a moment, Gianna doesn’t move, she just stares at me, and when I think that she isn’t going to do it, her hand lifts and it connects with my cheek so hard, my ears start ringing.