Chapter 120 A Kiss For Lunch
Verena
~Four Days To Riley’s Wedding~
Matcha sloshed in my stomach as the driver rolled onto the cobbled stone path and as the gate rose in view, I wished he could go a little slower.
We’d just pulled up in Spain for Aunt Riley’s wedding and I couldn’t help the anxiety crawling at the back of my neck. I promised that I wasn’t like this and I had actually looked forward to seeing her until I read the things written about her on a public forum.
When I was still married to Kian, I’d always heard about her from Jana but I never cared for her.
She didn’t even take on Cooper's family name. Took her mum’s last name instead.
Riley Valcieri was an enigma in the fashion world. Feared, hard to understand, ruthless and behind the downfall of six fashion brands. To something she was fascinating, to others she was a snake waiting to strike.
I read through hundreds of comments on her and it was mainly about people cussing her out.
And since that time, I couldn’t help but think that perhaps the reason Daxton kept saying that ‘she couldn’t wait to meet me’ was because he didn’t want to scare me off.
What if she doesn’t like me?
I hated this nervous feeling. Fuck! I could feel my self-esteem flying out the window already.
“Are you okay?”
Daxton’s voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts, his fingers warm against mine as they slipped gently over my hand. “Daxton, what if your sister doesn’t like me at all?”
The concern in his eyes fizzled out, eyes brightening as he bursted out laughing.
I frowned. “It is not funny,”
“My bad…”He covered his mouth with his hand in a bid to stifle his laugh.
I could feel my cheeks heating up, my frown deepening. “You are still laughing,”
Daxton tried to hold back his laugh as he stared at me like he was serious, pulling me closer to him until I could feel the heat radiating from his body. “I am not anymore. What is the problem, why do you think Riley wouldn’t like you,”
“I read some bad things about her and I’m already scared”
A smile spread across his face. “That? Don’t believe anything you read on the tabaloids,”
“I mean that is the kind of thing I would expect to read about you,”
Daxton’s brows lifted as he fought back another laugh. “What is that supposed to mean?”
He knew exactly what I meant.
“Well, I have a clean image—not so clean—because of the hotel business and I pay to get things taken down. But aRiley, she doesn’t care about the media’s portrayals of her image. In fact she loves reading what people have to say about her. It is her personal comic relief,”
My eyes perked up in surprise. “Really?”
“Yes, the only time she cares is if anyone writes shit about Laufey,”
His eyes spilled over with affection and that look of pure want in his eyes made goosebumps skitter over my skin as he circled a hand above my waist and leaned in for a kiss. “You worry too much Verena, about ridiculous things,”
My anxiety slowly vanished as those spell-binding eyes locked on mine. “Am I ridiculous?”
Daxton chuckled softly, heat spreading all over my waist as his eyes dropped to my lips and I suddenly didn’t care about the driver whose eyes I could feel on us.
“No,” he gripped my cheeks, angled my head for a kiss that only stopped the same time the car came to halt.
My anxiety returned with a force that hit me hard in my chest and while I broke the kiss, I could feel Daxton’s heated gaze on my face. “If you are that nervous, just hold me, okay?”
“Uh…” I flicked my eyes back to him as he slammed his lips back on mine.
As we came out of the car while I wiped the lipstick from Daxton’s mouth, someone squealed out of excitement. “Uncle!” Before I could process things, the pink-haired girl jumped over Daxton, arms wrapped around his neck as she screamed. “Mum! He is here,”
I fiddled with my fingers while her eyes dropped to mine. “You are Verena,” she beamed with a smile.
Daxton dropped her, and in the blink of an eye, she took my hands, her voice sweet. “It’s nice meeting you. I am Laufey..”
“Verena. It is nice meeting you too,”
Just at the entrance, the woman I recognized to be Riley popped out wearing pink overalls like her daughter while holding a bouquet containing fresh tulips.
With every step she took towards me, I could feel my heart hammering against my chest and as Daxton reached for the tulips, thinking it was his, she shot him a glare. “Have I ever welcomed you with flowers?” she tutted.
“Hello, Aunt Riley…” I whispered.
She shook her head. “Just Riley please…” she handed the bouquet to Laufey and the moment she opened her arms and enveloped me into this tight hug, I knew she wasn’t what I had read.
As she pulled back, tears glistened in her eyes and she was hugging me again. “Oh My God, she is even more prettier in person,”
Relief crashed through me and maybe Daxton was right, I do worry about ridiculous things.
She handed me the bouquet. “This is for you,”
The sweet scent of fresh tulips hit me. “They are so beautiful,”
“Not as you,”
When I had entered the mansion, I had expected to see everyone seated but most hadn’t arrived. Nina took me touring the mansion, locking Daxton out so we could have our own private time.
She showered me with gifts—dresses, shoes, and jewelry—and insisted I try each one on. The pieces that didn’t meet her standard were discarded immediately. Even when I told her I loved them, she didn’t hesitate to throw them away.
Riley was nothing like the media made her out to be. She was kind. In every sense of the word, deeply, genuinely kind.
We only went downstairs when someone announced that most of the family members had arrived and were already filling the dining table for lunch. I recognized a few, Nina, that classist—Halsey and worse, Kian's parents who were acting so sweet with me like they hadn’t accused me of being a murderer.
They were only putting on that act because Daxton was here, holding my hand.
Riley made me sit beside her and while I swiveled my gaze around, relief washed through me. No Kian here meant no drama and…
My joy was soon short-lived when the sound of that grating voice touched my ears. “Hello everyone,”
Kian.
He removed his sunglasses, wearing Denim on Denim and instant hate rolled through me when memories of what he did the last time flashed through my head.
“Aunt Riley,”
She was already on her feet. “When was the last time I saw you? Five?”
“I don’t think so,” he hugged and pressed a quick kiss to her cheeks. “The moment I found out about your marriage, I was so thrilled and knew I had to be here,”
Riley chucked softly. “We both know you are lying but I’ll let it slide,”
“Lies?” He raised a brow. “Mum…do you…” he paused when our eyes met, his throat working as he looked away quickly.
“It is true, he wouldn’t stop talking about seeing you again,” Jana’s voice dripped with that fake sweetness.
“That’s so thoughtful of you, Kian… though I thought you were crippled. How are you standing?” Riley’s grin was equal parts mockery and sarcasm. Kian’s face fell, but he forced a smile and quickly shifted the topic.
“Hmmm…smells nice,”
“What?”
“Your perfume aunt Riley. What brand is that?”
Kian made his way around the table, exchanging hellos while deliberately ignoring Daxton despite Neil grunting, eyes screaming for him to say ‘hi’ to his Uncle.
On the other hand was Nina who winked at me and by the time she darted her eyes to Daxton, there was this glow of mischief in them.
A low growl left Daxton’s mouth. “I know she is about to start shit…so annoying,”
“Nina?”
“Yes. That’s the look she always gives when she wants to start trouble or annoy me,”
I glanced at Nina who smirked. “Cousin, gossiping about me? Now that I think of it, you and Kian never apologized for the mess at my New Orleans mansion. Only Verena bothered to send a proper text like the good person she is,”
The room stilled before words started flying around. ‘What mess?’ ‘Kian and Daxton again’
Daxton muttered cuss words. “I swear she is a witch,”
Neil’s voice rose. “New Orleans?”
Nina nodded. “Yes. Apparently, Kian said disrespectful things to Verena which got Daxton mad and then he beat him up. And Kian in return stabbed his uncle on the arm, ruining my walls with bloodstain”
Kian closed his eyes, jaw clenched so hard I was sure it hurt.
“You stabbed your uncle!” Neil shouted while Jana’s hands flew over her mouth.
Kian’s eyes fluttered open as he forced a smile. “I mean it happened months ago or even a year now. It’s in the past and I have met someone better…”
“Better than all the women I have ever been with!” his eyes cut to mine. Daxton let out a low wry chuckle as Kian continued. “Everyone, please meet the love of my life. The one who took me out of a dark place. My girlfriend…”
Heels clicked, my eyes lifting to the woman who strutted inside.
Her black hair tumbled in loose waves down her shoulders. “Meet Stacey…”
Kian’s hands moved to the back of her neck as his mouth covered hers. The sound of the wet smack of their lips and the small moans was audible in the silence that fell over the room.
Shock and confusion was written on everyone’s faces.
The worst part? He was kissing her and tossing glances at me.
Kian was so embarrassing.
A tired sigh left Daxton’s mouth as he turned to me. “The next time we have our meals. It will be only us.”