Chapter Twelve

Lydia lounged on the couch, her phone propped up on her chest as she scrolled through tabloid articles about the Alston family. As she read and clicked through photos, she heard Drake's footsteps approaching. She looked up to see him enter the room, dressed in light grey linen pants and a crisp white button-up shirt. The top button was undone, giving a glimpse of his toned chest, and his sleeves were rolled up to reveal his defined forearms. Lydia couldn't help but bite her lip and admire him as he walked towards her. He looked scrumptious.

"If you keep staring at me like that, Darling, we are going to be late for the party, and then you'd have to explain to an angry Diane Alston why we were late." Drake laughed, stopping in front of her, his eyes filling with desire as he looked her over.

"Well we wouldn't want that." Lydia replied with an eye roll, as she stood up and smoothed the wrinkles from her skirt.

Drake's hand shot out and grabbed Lydia by the wrist, pulling her into his embrace. He leaned down and brushed his lips against her forehead, whispering, "You look absolutely stunning." His touch sent shivers down her spine as she melted into him, "And I'm sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have gotten upset with you. Amelia is just a sore subject. Please don't ask about her again, or bring her up around any of the family." Drake whispered, slightly pulling away from Lydia he could look her in the eyes as he apologized to her.

"Alright, Amelia's a hard limit. Got it." Lydia retorted, forcing herself to smile.

Drake's mouth opened as if he wanted to add something, but then he simply shook his head and closed his lips. Lydia's brows raised in confusion, but she also kept quiet, not wanting to push him further than he was comfortable with. Drake cleared his throat and released Lydia, taking a step back. "Anyway," he said, "We should probably start heading out. We don't want to be late."

"You're right," Lydia sighed, "I wouldn't want to make a bad impression." She quickly fell in step along side him as the walked toward the lift, Drake grabbing a pair of keys along the way.

"Yes, a good impression will go a long way." Drake replied seemingly distracted as he punched the down button on the elevator door.

Lydia hated how awkward everything felt between them. She wished she could turn back time, resetting it to the point where they were just waking up in bed. She wanted a fresh start to their morning. She wanted to feel the way, she'd felt with his arms wrapped around her, like they belonged together. Instead, it felt exactly how it should. It felt like they were just two strangers carrying on an act.

As they rode the elevator down in silence, Lydia wracked her brain for anything to talk about. Hell she'd even talk about the weather, if it would put this awkwardness behind them. "So..." Lydia started to say, still not sure what she was going to talk about, but was instead instantly stunned into silence as the elevator doors swung open, revealing a garage filled full of luxury vehicles.

"Wow, those are some nice cars." She gushed, stepping out of the elevator.

"They are all mine." Drake replied, his chest seeming to puff up with pride. He sounded like a boy on Christmas Day unwrapping a set of Hot Wheels. "Which was one has caught your eye?" He asked, turning his gaze toward Lydia.

Lydia took a moment to take in the entirety of the garage, looking over every car before she decided on her favorite. "That one," She replied, pointing to a midnight blue Aston Martin.

"Then that will be the one we take today." Drake stated nonchalantly, as he walked toward a lock box, opening it up with the key he'd grabbed earlier. It didn't take long for him to find the key to the Aston Martin, and soon he was leading Lydia over to it opening up her door and letting her climb inside.

Once Drake was inside the car, he pushed down the gas a bit, while slowly letting up on the break, causing the engine to roar to life. "Do boys ever grow up?" Lydia asked, giggling at Drake's antics.

"Nope." Drake replied with a chuckle, "We just get bigger and better toys."

That brief interaction seemed to be all it took for their previous unease and discomfort to fade away. As they drove to Hampshire, they sat in a companionable silence, and Lydia soon found herself drifting off into a peaceful slumber, her body still needing rest to recuperate for their late night activities.

Lydia awoke to the sound of the engine cutting off and the car being placed in park. They had arrived at the restaurant and just from the outside view, Lydia could tell that the restaurant would be too rich for her blood. It would probably be one of those places that didn't have pricing listed on the menu. One of those, if you have to ask the price, then you don't belong here type places.

Drake was already out of the car and rounding her door, before Lydia had even unbuckled her seatbelt. He reached inside and grabbed her hand, to help her out of the car, "Well, Good Afternoon, Sleeping Beauty. Are you ready to enter the Viper's Den?"

Lydia accepted Drake's offered hand and pulled herself from the car. She quickly straightened her blouse and skirt, before giving Drake an award winning smile, "With you, my Prince, I'm ready for anything."

She plastered a confident smile on her face, trying to hide the waves of nerves that were crashing over her. She knew she was walking into a lion's den, with no escape route in sight. Meeting the entire Alston family was daunting enough, but being grilled about her relationship with Drake was the icing on the cake. It felt like she was walking into battle without any armor or weapons. No, even worse than that. It felt like she was being thrown into shark infested waters, while being on her period and not knowing how to swim. She couldn't decide if it would be better to be devoured by the sharks or sink to the bottom and drown. Either way, she was certain she wouldn't make it out alive.

Drake's thumb ran circles across her open palm, in a soothing motion. It was his way of silently telling her to breathe and that everything was going to be okay. That he would be there, beside her. Although she couldn't swim, she still had a life vest on. A small chance of survival.

"We are here for the Alston party," Drake told the hostess as soon as they stepped up to the stand.

"Names?" The hostess snapped, not even bothering to look up and greet her guest.

Lydia noticed the tension in Drake's jaw when the hostess at the fancy restaurant failed to greet them with a smile. She felt his hand tighten around hers as he silently seethed, and braced herself for the outburst of entitlement, that was sure to come. But instead, he simply stated his name in a calm yet firm tone. "Drake. Drake Alston."

"Oh, Mr. Alston." The hostess squeaked, her face jumping up as she took in her customers, "I...I..." She stammered, "I am so sorry." Her cheeks flushed red, "We've been busy and.... ummm...." She babbled, "err... yes... umm... This way. The engagement party is in the parlor. Follow me please." She replied, hurrying off in the direction of the parlor.

Lydia couldn't smother the giggle that escaped from between her lips.

"What?" Drake asked giving her hand a squeeze.

"I'm just glad I'm not the only woman who gets flustered by your brooding."

"I do not brood." Drake snarled aghast.

"Drake, that poor woman would be a puddle of good right now, if your eyes actually were lasers."

Drake couldn't help but chuckle at Lydia's description. But his expression quickly sobered as the hostess opened up the parlor doors, revealing his mother, standing near. She was talking with Jessica Flynn. Jessica was Manhattan's next It Girl and a bachelorette at that. She also happened to be Madilyn's best girl friend, and from the couple of times Drake had met her, he couldn't stand her. She had an air of arrogance and superiority, and was entirely self-absorbed. She reminded Drake of Diane, so it was no surprise that Diane thought Jessica would be a great match for him.

"Drake," Diane crooned, noticing her son, as he entered into the parlor, Lydia on his arm. "Finally, you've arrived. I was just telling Jessica how it was so like you to be fashionably late, Dear." Diane chided.

"Mother." Drake replied, standing stiffly, his voice hard and short, "I'm not late." He glanced down at his Apple Watch, "Actually it looks like we're fifteen minutes early."

"Well I've always said if you aren't thirty minutes early, then you're late." Diane chuckled, waving her hand in the air, brushing aside Drake's reply.

"Is that so?" Drake asked lip curled in a snarl, "If only you would've taken your own advice growing up, Mother. Maybe you would've show up for Kev's and my school events. Of course you would've had to put down the Chardonnay to do that."

"Kevin." Diane stated briskly, narrowing her eyes at her eldest son, as she corrected her younger son's last name, ignoring the rest of Drake's statement. Diane loathed nicknames. "Your brother's name is Kevin. And anyways, I didn't want to discuss your tardiness or lack thereof. I've been waiting for you, because I wanted you to escort Jessica around today. She's only just arrived in town, and I'd hate for her to be alone."

Lydia shifted nervously from one foot to the other. It was like her presence was so insignificant that Diane had to decided to ignore her completely. She wanted to clear her throat and make her presence known, but she didn't want Drake to think she was marking her territory, by pissing all over him. If Drake decided to take Diane up on her offer and escort Jessica around, then Lydia would just walk back to the hostess stand and have her call a cab. So instead Lydia kept silent, and waited for Drake's reaction.

She didn't have to wait long. Drake released her hand, and wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing her forward more. "Sorry Mother, but I am a bit preoccupied. You see, I have my beautiful girlfriend, Lydia with me. I could've sworn I told you I'd be bringing her with me today, when we spoke in my office."

Diane gave Lydia a once-over and rolled her eyes in annoyance, "You can't be serious, Drake. You expect me to believe that this, Miss Plain Jane here, is your girlfriend?" She snorted.

If looks could kill, Drake's would've murdered Diane right there on the spot. Before Drake could respond to Diane's insult though, Lydia spoke up, unable to keep quiet. "I find myself very lucky to have one the heart of your son, Mrs. Alston. It isn't every day that someone as plain as me, attracts someone like your son. I can see know where Drake gets his beauty from, " Lydia paused and her lips stretched into a wide smile, her pearly white teeth peeking out from behind full, rosy lips.

"Having met you, his father must be a looker."

Diane eyes narrowed, her mouth parting in response, but Lydia continued on, "Now, Mrs, Alston, I don't mind sharing Drake either. If Miss Jessica wants to accompany us, we'd be more than happy to oblige. However she is a very beautiful young woman, and I'm sure the paparazzi would have hay day seeing the three of us together. 'Drake Alston, Relator Mongrel, New York's most eligible bachelor. Playboy billionaire, seen with not one, but two women on his arms at his brother's engagement party. Threesome or Polyamorous relationship? You decide.' They wouldn't even need to write a story, the pictures would tell whatever story they wanted."

Both Diane and Jessica's mouth popped open, horrified at the thought of scandal. Drake couldn't help but laugh at Lydia's antics. He knew she'd be perfect. "You might want to close your mouth mother, you might let a fly in." Drake stated, grabbing Lydia's hand and leading her away, escorting her further into the parlor.