My First Day After Death's Kiss.
Leila's point of view.
I jerked awake in the living room as my father stared at me, I gasped softly as he stared at me.
How was I here, my hands flew to my head, reached to feel the wounds. I shivered from the very knowledge of knowing what it felt like to have my skull crushed in blood pooled beneath my head.
" Are you listening to me?" my father asked and I looked at him dazed
" Wha what" I stuttered and he hissed
" Pay attention, you are going to forget that Maloney boy and you'll be getting married to Ian Donahue" I paused, what was happening, this was a conversation we'd had before, how
" Leila darling," my mother said worriedly and I turned
" I yes, ok," I said softly, I looked at her my heart in my throat as my father strode out of his office
" Mom, what day is it " and she frowned
" It's the twenty-eight, darling, February" she muttered and I froze
" Leila are you sure you are ok" she asked and I nodded dazedly
" I just need to go to my room"
****************
I wasn't supposed to be crying, in fact at this point I was disgusted with my tears.
But how dare they think that they'd get away with this, the betrayal and pain were unmatched and I wasn't sure how to feel about it.
I don't know what happened but I was alive, two months before the disaster of my relationship that would lead to my death.
Hours later I was done with the tears, now I was very angry. How dare he, think I was such a pushover. I huffed – and investment, he must be very stupid if he thought my father would cough out any amount of money to his family for any reason. The longer I thought about this the more I became angry. I was not letting him get away with this, I was not letting them– Allison or Ben get away with hurting me.
I strode to my wardrobe and pulled it open and grabbed the sluttiest dress in my wardrobe, my family had been invited to an event, and I was going to casually meet my future husband here.
The Maloney's would be there meaning that Ben would be too, I pulled the dress out grinning evilly, Ben was going to regret having messed with me.
The Sablo annual business ball was a yearly event, mostly set up so rich men could network and their wives could show how much their husbands made just by the clothing they had on. Most days I found this event truly tedious but not today, I scanned the crowd and looked for Ben but I couldn't find him, he would be here though that I was certain of.
I plucked a drink from one of the waiters and sipped at it
" You look like you're about to kill someone" my mother huffed and I sighed
" I feel like I want to" mainly two people, Allison and Ben if I could find them.
" Is this about the marriage?" she asked and I shook my head
" No Mom, this is something else" I replied, my mother started to say something but paused when my father waved her over
" I'll see you," she said softly and hurried away, I watched her go and glanced around the room, my supposed fiance was supposed to be here somewhere, the Donahue family was reputable in their business acumen.
Like most new age families they had the money and no title, no matter how redundant, a marriage like this would be welcome to them.
I took my drink going into the balcony, where I heard two voices
" You don't get to tell me that, the Maloney's can't get their hands on that development project," the first man said sounding almost feral
" Alex, we both know that they have more pull with this. I know you hate them but there's only so much we can achieve" the other man answered and he huffed
" That's freaking B S. I refuse to believe that" he muttered, his friend sighed.
" I'll think of something but we don't have much time Ben Maloney's been pulling weight using the Castor girl" he replied
" That low life" Alex cursed with venom, his friend patted his shoulder and stalked back to the ballroom, and Alex was left behind. He was tall, powerfully built, and seemed ruthless, but most importantly, he hated Ben Montgomery.
" what if he doesn't have all the pull" I asked walking onto the balcony, he stiffened, straightened then turned slowly to face me
" What if who doesn't have the pull" he asked blandly and I grinned
" You know exactly who I'm talking about" he laughed
" Are you always this brazen or is this just being plain stupid" I sipped my drink and walked fully onto the balcony, the moonlight was bright enough that I could see him a little better, his face was sculpted, high brows, an aquiline nose and wide lips, he looked like some distinguished lord.
" I like to take initiative" I replied
" And just who are you " he asked
" I'm someone who hates the Maloney's almost as much as you do"
His eyes widened briefly with sudden interest then shuttered just as quickly,
"And just why would I need your help" he asked stalking towards me his bulky form towered over me, I shifted back, swallowed rapidly suddenly worried.
My back touched the wall and I was trapped with nowhere else to go, steeled myself
" You need the construction bid, you can refuse my help but I'm sure it will sting when Ben Maloney gets it" I muttered injecting as much derision as I could into my voice, he smiled leaning into me
" And just how can you help me with this? Who are you" he asked. I shrugged
" I'm the Castor girl" he frowned and pulled away from me with a suspicious glare. I stood taller and aimed at him my most pleasing smile
" I am Leila Castor a pleasure to meet you" he remained quiet for a long time just watched me then he sighed
" I'm Alexsander Cross," this time I was the one with the surprised look, it seemed fate was working in my favor.
" I see you know who I am, which means two things"
" You are aware of your father's arrangements with my family, and since you're not actively rejecting it the rumors about your relationship with the Maloney brat are false"
I sighed how had our relationship gotten around so much,
"Yes, and no" I replied
" Yes I am aware of my family's plans, and yes I had a brief and regrettable relationship with Ben, but no I'm not with and I don't plan on it any time soon" he laughed
" Women" he muttered under his breath and I froze
" What do you mean by that" I asked annoyed
" Well I can't believe you just left your sworn lover for no reason, so which one is it, he wasn't proposing fast enough or he was sleeping with someone on the side"
" You don't have to be crude" I gritted
" If my language is a problem I don't think we'll work well together princess" he replied with a mocking edge on the endearment, I had to stop myself from reacting.
" Marry me" I muttered instead,