Chapter Sixteen

Lydia leaned back in the passenger seat, her left foot cradled in her hand. She massaged the arch, wincing as she felt a knot start to loosen. Her face twisted in concentration and relief as she worked out the tension from standing on her feet all afternoon. "You owe me a foot rub," she told Drake with a smile, grimacing when she felt her cheek throb, "And maybe a cheek rub too. I didn't realize I'd be smiling so much today."

"Ah yes," Drake sighed dramatically, "The Alston family loves their publicity. Well, as long as it's the right kind of publicity."

"Your mother is something else," Lydia snorted, releasing her foot, and plopping it down onto the floor of the car.

"Is that your polite way of saying she's a total nightmare?" Drake asked, glancing from the road over to Lydia, his eyebrow arched.

"It seemed like she really wanted to match you up with Jessica. She was practically throwing her at you all afternoon," Lydia sniffed, ignoring Drake.

"My, my, my. Are you jealous, Princess?"

Lydia felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment and was relieved that Drake's attention was focused on driving rather than on her. "Me? Jealous? NEVER! I just feel like I'm failing at my job. I mean, you did hire me so your mother wouldn't throw every eligible bachelorette at you."

Drake frowned. It was if he'd forgotten that Lydia was his hired escort, and not in fact his girlfriend. And while he hadn't forgotten that fact, per se, he also hadn't been thinking about the fact that he'd hired her. Instead he'd been focusing on how wonderful his day had been with her by his side. He could honestly say that he'd enjoyed Kevin's engagement brunch, publicity shoot and all. Hell, he'd even enjoyed the interview, and he absolutely loathed interviews. But something about Lydia, it just made everything seem so....so bearable. Drake chose to ignore Lydia's response and drove on in silence, not wanting to engage in any further conversation. When he flipped on his blinker and started heading for his exit, he realized he hadn't told Lydia about the change of plans. The plans that had changed just seconds before the end of the engagement brunch.

"Hey, where are we going? This isn't the exit to the penthouse."

"We'll be staying at my parents' house until the cruise. They thought it would be nice to have the entire family under one roof again." Drake replied, tugging on his tie to loosen it.

Lydia's eyes flickered over Drake's face, taking in the slight furrow of his brow and the way he nervously tapped the steering wheel. She wondered if their earlier conversation was weighing on his mind or if it was the thought of staying at his childhood home that had him on edge.

Once they exited the busy freeway, their car glided smoothly down a winding road until it came to a stop in front of the Alston estate. The grand victorian-style mansion loomed behind a towering gate, almost intimidating in its opulence. The sprawling grounds were perfectly manicured and exuded an air of old money and prestige. The estate seemed frozen in time, a relic of a bygone era. Even the surrounding trees seemed to bow in reverence to its majestic presence. It was a sight that could only be described as awe-inspiring.

"Is there a particular reason your parents wanted everyone under one roof?" Lydia asked Drake, watching him as he input the code into the gate.

"Yeah. Like Madeline had briefly mentioned earlier, the entire wedding is going to be publicized. There will be a reporter and a photographer following us around for the entirety of the wedding. Diane wants the family to play house for society. She wants the Alston's to be pictured as one big happy family.

"Oh." Lydia replied pursing her lips. It was clear to her that this situation was going to blow up in Diane's face. Drake, himself was a ticking time bomb, ready to explode. There was no chance the family would be able to pretend to get along for the entirety of the wedding festivities. And even if they offered the reporter a large sum of money to keep quiet, there would be no keeping that juicy story out of the media.

They drove up the winding driveway in silence, taking a detour towards the garage where Drake parked his sleek Aston Martin. He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before he got out of the car and walked to Lydia's side, opening her door for her. She stepped out gracefully, and he immediately pulled her into a warm embrace, savoring her sweet scent as he held her close.

"I'm happy you're here with me, Darling," He whispered not her hair, resting his head on top of hers, "I can only imagine how much of a nightmare this entire event would be without you here."

She pulled herself away from Drake's arms and met his gaze, wanting him to see the sincerity in her words. "I'm here for you, as long as you need me," she said earnestly, with a small smile.

The sharp, mechanical click of a camera shutter startled them both, abruptly shattering the serene moment they had been sharing. The sound echoed through the empty room, disrupting the peaceful silence that surrounded them. It was like a sudden jolt back to reality, as if someone had flipped on a light switch in a dark room. The flash of the camera illuminated their faces, capturing the surprise and confusion in their expressions. They looked at each other, still caught off guard by the unexpected noise that had invaded their private space.

"Shouldn't you be focused on the bride and groom?" Drake sneered at the photographer, who'd made their presence known. It wasn't Josie, but it was a photographer who'd been present during the engagement party shoot. Her name might've been Daphne, if Lydia was remembering correctly.

"My focus is everyone in the wedding party, Mr. Alston," Daphne snipped, "Diane requested that everyone's entrance into the home be photographed. If you want to hassle someone, hassle her."

Drake rolled his eyes, and grabbed for Lydia's hand, leading her through the back entrance into the main estate. "Sir Drake," The footman called out, nodding his head toward Drake, "And Mistress..." He paused waiting for the woman beside Drake to be introduce.

"Lydia. She is my guest."

"Sir Drake and Mistress Lydia, are there any items I can put in the coat closet for you?"

"I didn't know Diane still employed you, Alfred." Drake stated, ignoring the footman's offered hand and instead pulling him into a hug, "It's nice to see you old fella."

"SIR DRAKE!" Alfred exclaimed, pushing himself from Drake's embrace, and quickly running his hands down his suit, smoothing out any wrinkles, "You mustn't hug me. What would the Madam of the house say? It isn't proper."

"Oh, Alfred," Drake scoffed, "When have I ever been proper?"

"You have been afforded such luxuries, Sir Drake. I have not been. Please remember that. I'd rather not be thrown out on my arse," Alfred hissed quietly, his old British accent coming out.

Drake rolled his eyes at property. He hated not being able to embrace the only person he could really call a friend in this house.

"Fuck what's proper, Alfred. You are my oldest, dearest friend. And I am thankful for that friendship. If you ever find yourself looking for new employment, know that there will always be a place for you with me."

With a gruff tone, Alfred replied,"Thank you Sir Drake," as a single tear glistened in his eye. He lowered his head in farewell and made his way towards the servant's living quarters.

"Isn't having a footman a bit outdated?" Lydia asked Drake, watching as Alfred disappeared around the corner.

"Diane insists," Drake replied shrugging his shoulders, "Not that I'll ever complain about it. Alfred used to keep me company before Kevin came along. The servants, they were my only form of normalcy. They made it feel like I had an actual family. They made it feel like I wasn't just the heir to the Alston fortune. They made me feel like a real person."

Lydia nodded her head in acknowledgement. She had a small understanding of what Drake meant. When she was younger, her mother had had to work two full time jobs to support the both of them. Lydia had a teacher named Mrs. Nelson who would hang out with Lydia afterschool until her mother arrived to pick her up. Mrs. Nelson didn't have to stay after school, but she chose to because she didn't want to leave Lydia alone. She'd even bring Lydia little snacks to each, and often times she would pack a book for them to read together, while they waited. Lydia loved Mrs. Nelson, she became like a grandmother figure to her, and still to this very day, Lydia would send Mrs. Nelson a Christmas card. That was how much of an impact that woman had had on her life.

"Come on," Drake called pulling her toward the stairs, "Let's see if my old room is still how I left it. I bet the second I moved out, Diane had it completely redecorated. She hated everything about my room."

Lydia raced up the creaky wooden stairs, her hand gripping the railing to steady herself. She could hear Drake's footsteps ahead of her and pushed herself to take two steps at a time to keep up with him. As they reached the top, she followed him down a long hallway, passing doors on either side until they finally stopped in front of the last door on the left.

The room they entered was a reflection of its owner - a teenage boy. Band posters adorned every inch of the walls, with images of his favorite musicians and bands competing for space with playboy bunnies and sports illustrated models. The deep shade of black paint on the walls gave off a feeling of rebellion and darkness. The queen sized bed was covered in blood red bedding, adding to the edgy atmosphere.

On his desk were scattered photos, featuring snapshots of Drake's childhood, moments with his friends, and Kevin. Amidst them all, one photo stood out. It was a small photo of a young woman, perhaps in her late teens or early twenties. She had long brown hair that fell in soft waves and piercing blue eyes that seemed to stare right through you. Freckles dusted across her nose, giving her an innocent charm, and she wore bold red-rimmed glasses that added to her unique beauty.

Lydia couldn't help but walk over to the desk and pick up the photo, drawn to the captivating woman captured within it. As she held it up to Drake, she couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "Who is this?" she asked, studying the photo intently.