Chapter Fifty-Three| Successor.

Breathing out deeply again for the umpteenth time tonight, I nervously rubbed my tummy soothingly, everything about tonight was just off and I didn't want to be here at all.

Turning my head to look at Jason who stood next to me with a hard look on his face, I squeezed his hand letting him know I was here too, experiencing it all with him.

He looked down at me smiling instantly and brought our interlaced fingers to his lips. Leaning my shoulder into him, he quickly wrapped his left arm around my shoulder.

"I don't have a good feeling about tonight," I said looking up at him and he clenched his jaw, shrugging his shoulders carelessly.

"Nothing with your dad is ever good," he said and to a great extent I agreed, but feeling the need to lighten the mood for the both of us I jabbed his chest softly.

"You're talking to a product of his," I said pointing to myself laughing lightly and he chuckled, shaking his head.

"Well I can't take back my words," he shrugged and I opened my mouth and he laughed, kissing my forehead. "I'm just joking, you're one of the greatest creations that's related to him, the only creation."

"I agree," I said, nodding my head.

"Of course you would," he added chuckling and I shrugged pointing to myself.

"Have you seen me?" I said boastfully moving away from his hold and giving him a three hundred and sixty-degree turn. "I mean look at all of this," I used my hands to gesture to my whole body, giggling at the end.

"I have seen you, and all of that is mine," he said putting his hands on my hips and pulling me into his embrace, tilting my head back, our lips locked together in a sweet innocent kiss, his hands moved resting on my ass before moving back up to rest on the middle of my back.

Pecking his lips, I pulled away and smiled at him just to kiss him again.

"Oo, PDA much?" I heard Kiara's voice behind us as she giggled. Jason and I pulled away from each other but his hand still rested on my back.

"Hi, Kiara," I greeted and she pulled me into a hug, still giggling. I knew she was naturally a bubbly person and I could never get used to it. However, one thing about her is that she liked to use people for her benefit and then discard them in the long run, e. g the wedding.

"Oh my gosh, you look amazing! Not like I do but I'm loving your appearance," she said looking down at my dress before softly touching my hair. "And this shade totally suits you!"

Ignoring her half-ass compliment, I smiled and thanked her. Since she already knew she looked better than I did, I said nothing about her exaggerated light pink bubble wrap that she was wearing.

I was wearing a purple dress that had long sleeves and a high neck, it had a slit that ended mid-thigh in the front. With what I believe we're hopefully real diamond buttons in a straight line from the top of the slit right up to the waistline belt. It was perfectly loose on my upper torso and completely comfortable which is exactly what I was going for tonight. The only thing that was going to kill me were these black stilettos that I was wearing.

"So, you guys are back together?" she said smiling pointing to the both of us and I slowly nodded my head. "Tomorrow's tabloids will be blowing up won't they?" she said excitedly.

"I guess they will," I agreed, hoping she could leave soon.

"Well, I need to mingle with the other guests before sugar makes his grand announcement that he won't even spill the tiniest bit of detail about to me, do you perhaps know what it is?" She asked hopefully, she was just as curious as I was.

"No idea," I shrugged and she smiled, bringing me in for another hug and kissing my cheek.

"By the way, where did you buy this dress?" she whispered in my ear and I told her I'll send her a list of the boutiques I buy my clothes from, mxm I knew I looked amazing compared to her bubble wrap of a dress. Pulling away from the hug she looked at Jason before grinning.

"You're both amazing and Jason you are looking H-O-T, loving that trim," she said pointing to his head and walked away to mingle with others.

"How does your father deal with her?" Jason asked, chuckling and I laughed and shrugged.

"I don't know, but I need the toilet after all of that," I said laughing, pecking his lips as I walked away to the bathroom.

After peeing again for the umpteenth time, I washed my hands and fixed my hair still standing in front of the window. A woman that I recognized all too well entered the bathroom and came to a halt once she saw me.

I stared at her through the mirror before looking back at my reflection. Seeing that I was alright, I turned to walk out of the bathroom but she chose that moment to talk.

"You're so beautiful," she said and her voice was full of emotion and unfortunately I couldn't match it.

"Thank you," I responded politely. "You look lovely too."

"Don't you recognize me?" she asked softly and I sighed pushing my hair back.

"I do, you're Marlene, you're supposed to be my mother," I said chuckling nervously. "I knew he would find you."

"Can never get anything past Rick," she laughed softly, having a distant look on her face before she snapped out of it and looked back at me smiling. "I just can't believe how much you've grown since the last time I saw you. He never allowed me to visit you, I wanted to know how you were growing but he just always had to have his way. You have two younger brothers, Caleb being three years younger than you and Joseph just turned fifteen, oh look at me rambling on and on, I'm sorry. Can we have lunch together sometime to catch up?" She asked softly and I smiled.

"Uhm, I would love to find out more about you and your life after Rick, but this is all so overwhelming for me right now and I'll have to politely decline the offer at the moment, I'm sorry," I said kindly and she smiled, shaking her head.

"No, it's okay. I understand perfectly well, but please take my number and when you're ready you can call me and we can arrange something?" she searched her purse before pulling out a random card and pen, quickly scribbling down her number.

"See you around," I muttered softly, accepting the card. I quickly exited the bathroom before the conversation could continue, why do the most awkward conversations have to happen in the bathroom?

I couldn't believe I had younger brothers, smiling. I made my way to Jason, and I could hear my father give his speech in the distance but I didn't care.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Jason whispered looking at me suspiciously and I shook my head.

"I'll tell you later," I responded and joined our hands together. Finally giving my father my attention I listened to the words he said.

"I've had a great long run, but I think it's time I retire and enjoy the benefits of my hard work, but my company needs a successor," he's retiring? "And after a long time of thinking it over, I have finally come to a decision."

People clapped their hands and he smiled smugly before raising his hand to silence the crowds.

"It is with great pleasure to announce the new CEO of Adams Corp, my daughter, Amelia Adams!"