Chapter 19 Chapter Eighteen
ARA
Against common sense, I let him claim me with his mouth. He tasted like bourbon and a minty flavor I couldn't name.
I was supposed to shake him off, to play indifferent like he often did. But I just couldn't. Not with the way his body fit perfectly against mine.
We were both liars. We both wanted each other but we would never admit it to each other.
He was too distracted by billionaire politics with his father to see that something about us was changing, and I was utterly confused about Thayne's personality to decide what exactly he wanted.
And if I was even willing to give it to him.
I broke the kiss first, panting.
“I can't think straight when it comes to you, little lamb." He said, his eyes never leaving from my face.
He let me check in with my sisters for a moment.
After that, we exited the penthouse together, and as soon as we stepped out into the chilly night air, he removed his suit and wrapped it around my shoulders.
His fingers grazed my shoulders and I nearly melted right there and then.
I tried not to blush. He was doing all of this for show. Nothing more.
His security trailed us to the convoys where Thayne helped me get into a black Porsche that reflected everything in the compound. I couldn't keep count of the cars in Thayne's garage.
He had to have at least a battalion.
As we drove out of the compound, two helicopters trailed us, hovering over the black Porsche.
Thayne's security was expensive, and now that I was in his life, he seemed to have doubled it.
After tonight, the arrangement between us was forever sealed and final. There would be no going back.
The car slowed down and a wave of anxiety threatened to swallow me whole when I saw the journalists scattered about.
I had very little time to prepare myself, for Thayne's men were already positioning themselves by my own own side of the car.
The car swung open, and the night air caressed my face as I climbed out gracefully.
Thayne was already by my side, ordering his men to stay close without putting their hands on me.
The Marilyn Monroe Hall was the most expensive place to host events in New York, and when I recognized her statue standing right in front of the hall named after her…. I felt like an imposter.
I was having my engagement party in Marilyn Monroe Hall. I didn't know how to feel about that.
Journalists pounced on us like the gossip-hungry predators that they were.
I tried to block out their questions, but it was impossible because they were very loud.
“Miss Irvington, netizens think you're a game player scouting for attention. Was your last post meant to confuse people to distract them from expecting your engagement party tonight?”
"Mr Thayne, you're the first billionaire heir in all of American history to retire his own father. Does this mean you're now im full control of Slade Corps?”
"Miss Irvington, were you with Thayne when the accident happened? Was there really an accident?"
Blood was rushing in my ears, and my breaths trembled in my chest.
I was going to have a panic attack right before my engagement party?!
"Ara, are you all right?” Thayne was asking, but I couldn't hear him.
I was terrified of what might happen after this. My life had become a reality show for the whole of New York to watch, and I couldn't handle it.
My chest was squeezing itself, and there seemed to be no more space for my heart.
Thayne shocked me with what he did next. He stopped, and the next thing I knew, he was carrying me bridal style.
“Breathe, love. Breathe for me." He whispered, his eyes never leaving my face.
I was both embarrassed and confused, all while trying to gain back control of my breathing.
He called me ‘love’. His brows were tightly drawn together in worry.
“Ara, talk to me. I will not hesitate to call this off if you don't tell me you're strong enough to handle it. Ara -"
“Thayne, I need -"
I needed a distraction, but I couldn't say the words out because a journalist had grabbed a security's arm and was trying to take a photograph of Thayne and I at all cost.
“It's too much." I was barely audible, but Thayne had heard me perfectly.
"Tell me what you need? I swear I'll do it right now.” He sounded like if I asked for his father's head on a silver platter he would deliver it for me.
"I need a distraction. Distract me, please.” I whispered.
We were nearing the front entrance of Marilyn Monroe Hall, and journalists now had the upper hand due to the short stairs we would have to climb.
“What kind of distraction do you want?" Thayne asked as he climbed the stairs, the lights illuminating the statue of Marilyn framing his face so he looked like a dark angel in a suit.
“Kiss me."
“But-"
“Kiss me!" I knew I sounded ridiculous, but it was the only thing capable of calming my wild heartbeats now.
“Your wish is my command." He muttered before kissing me right in front of the guests waiting to welcome us at the entrance of Marilyn Monroe Hall.
It was too late to back down now. I'd asked him to kiss me.
Guests cheered and some threw flowers at Thayne's feet as we entered the hall, me in his arms like a bride, him leaning down with his lips fused with mine.
I should have felt embarrassment, but there was only Thayne and I in this moment.
Thayne ended the kiss reluctantly, his eyes burning with a fire that threatened to consume us both.
Carefully, he set me down on my feet. Then, I turned and nearly had a second round of panic attack when I saw the massive number of guests in the hall.
They parted in the middle to let us through, and Thayne's security guided us further into the hall.
Soon, music was playing and guests began to flock around us, wanting a slice of Thayne's attention, even for just a second.
Unfamiliar faces stopped by, congratulating Thayne and ignoring me completely.
While Thayne was absorbed in a conversation with two men who looked like business associates, Ursula appeared like a ghost beside me.
“I know my brother too well to fall for this facade. He's not in love with you." She spoke through her teeth.
"I know that already. Tell me something new.” I said, holding her gaze and not backing down from the glaring contest.
"I know that you're a product of rape, and that your father was a rapist. I also know that your twin sisters are actually your stepsisters.” Ursula smiled as she spoke, and to anyone else, it would look as though we were having a friendly chat.
My blood turned cold.
No one else was supposed to know this.
My mother told me the truth about my birth before passing, and even until now, I hadn't yet told Millie and Mollie the truth about their own father or mine.
“Enjoy your engagement party, Ara." She said loudly, still smiling at me as if she'd just complimented my hair and not dug out my family's dark secret.
How did Ursula know this? Who had she gone to for information about me?