Chapter 61 Sixty One
OWEN WINTERS
“Why do I feel something in my throat?” I murmured as we, Amy and I stood at the huge door. The room was well lit, and lively, but I knew exactly what it'd turn to once I entered.
“Whatever is hanging on your throat, shove it down to the pit of your stomach,” she answered and cursed silently. She didn't want to be here, but here we were, doing shit to keep our little secret a secret.
Amelia wore a much flay gown to hide her little bump, and that suited her even more. Her skin glowed in the light, and her hair packed in a bun.
“You're beautiful and beautiful people can survive most things,” I smirked and held her hand squeezing it tightly. She sighed.
“You're too full of yourself Owen Winters.”
“I learned that from the Xavier's. May we go in?” I asked, still holding her hand, but softer than before. “I won't break, so don't hold me so gently,” she remarked and stepped into the room before me.
The silence that followed was something one couldn't describe — uneasy, dramatic… un-timed.
I entered the room after her, and it felt like all eyes stared at us, judging us.
“Pay them no heed, pumpkin,” I muttered as I held her hand once more. “Beautiful people should be in the spotlight, yes?” I chuckled as we walked to our designated table.
“So kind of you to come, Mr Winters… and oh, such a beautiful soul, lady Xavier,” someone said coming towards us. She wore a mask over her eyes, and a piercing went horizontally through her nose.
Who was this again?
I cocked my head to the side to remember, but nothing clicked.
She took my hands and squeezed it. “I remember when you were a boy, your father, a generous man, took you from the orphanage home…”
Yes, I remembered now! Those fucking Allison sisters.
“Miss Allison, does it matter if I were a toddler or an adult then? What are you driving at?” I asked, knowing they had nothing against us, not even a marriage deal since their sisterhood swore never to lay with a man.
Or woman.
“You were weak then, less flesh, more bones, as dark as the eerie night, but your blue eyes charmed them…”
She was insulting me, but I said nothing.
“Do you like drama?” I asked, interrupting her babbling. “Well, I like a little bit of drama,” she answered, playing with the gold necklace that hung beautifully on her neck.
“That's nice because one more word from you then drama is all you'll see today,” I threatened and she withdrew from me probably sensing danger underneath my threats.
Amy drank, and I watched not wanting to get drunk remembering it was our drunkenness that led us to the situation we were in. Twenty minutes passed and we said no word to each other, but she threw glances.
“Are we going to keep playing this game?”
“Why do you keep staring at me?” We asked at the same time, but didn't answer any of the questions we threw at each other.
“You're oddly quiet, pumpkin,” I finally said after a long and awkward moment of silence. “Shouldn't I be? I'm playing partner here,” she replied while drinking some more. “You're uneasy, your hand's trembling.” She said nothing, just drank more.
“That bitch won't show up now, I did my research and found out he likes his show more, and here is as dry as drought on a sunny day,” I assured her, but that didn't help. She shrugged and kept drinking.
“Mr Winters, or may I call you, Owen?” Someone said and I glanced to my side. “I thought you'd be dead,” I gritted my teeth and for the first time tonight, I took a glass of red spirit.
“That's sad, thought we were friends. Seems like your sweet father found me useful after all, Owen,” Devon said and I rolled my eyes.
“But I guess he's not sweet anymore, since he has a son other than y…”
“Shut up and go fuck yourself,” I cursed and took one more gulp of spirit. Devon scoffed, turned away from me and walked to meet other guests.
“Damn, we need more wine.”
Anyone would've thought the torment might end there, but it was just getting started.
“What makes you think you're good enough for the house?” One questioned and the murmurs followed.
“Owen, let them be. Pay no mind to their foolish talks,” Amy muttered and caressed my knuckles in assurance.
“He's just lucky to be brought up here…” another sneered.
How did one news report and one person's appearance change everything? It wasn't that I didn't have people who despised me, but they increased by the day. If it weren't the news, then the bloggers, and oh… those goddamn office workers.
Suddenly, the room became silent. The silence seemed suspicious so I turned, but just in time to see Ash Sean Winters.
“Calm down, everyone. It's my welcome party here, no fighting, and of course-”
He walked towards me with the quickest strides — his goddamned long legs. Ash held my shoulders, and I squinted in irritation. “None of this is his fault, only if he's not so proud to admit that he is in the wrong,” he completed. I finally got his hands off me and poured myself some more spirit.
“You're a proud boy with no one except the Winters,” he continued, but I kept downing glass after glass of spirit until the bottle went empty.
“Do not speak to him like that, he's an ally of the…”
“My little woman, aren't you a beauty?” Ash interrupted Amy, taking her hands, he kissed her fingers.
I sucked at my teeth, rage seething from me, but I needed to remain as calm as ever.
“We'll settle our scores later, Ash Winters, now if you'll excuse us,” I said, taking Amy by the hand, and whispered into her ear.
As we reached the door, he spoke up, stopping me dead in my tracks.
“You think you're so strong because my own father trained you, and you believe I was living a better life hidden away from my world? You don't know what I can do…”
“Oh shit! He's playing victim again,” I interrupted in third person, taking long strides towards him. “Keep playing beauty and you'll die soon enough.”
“You shouldn't be worried about me, though, my father's waiting upstairs, prince Owen,” Ash jeered, his pretty face staring at me with disdain.
I turned to Amy and she nodded for me to go. She felt it was necessary to talk with father, but I knew better — the man was a liar and a fucking old bitch. Damned master of deception and manipulation.
I scoffed and walked past Ash Winters.
The voices behind me began to rise until I heard nothing more. No. I heard some
thing else, it was distant, but clear.
“Little woman, let's keep our fingers crossed for now, yes?”