Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Back home, I take a shower and settle down on the couch to write for an hour before I get ready for the party. I lose myself in my work, only realizing the time when Chris rings my bell.
I curse loudly as I let him up. I leave the front door open and rush to my bedroom to get ready. Luckily, I’ve showered already and all I have to do is dress and I’ve already picked out an outfit.
“Livia?” Chris calls out.
“Give me a minute, will you?” I respond.
I wear a little black number that’s my go-to outfit when I don’t feel like sifting through clothes to find something to wear. I let my hair loose and shake my head to give me a carefree look, the opposite of how I’m feeling. I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. I apply a little mascara and lip gloss. A stupid thought pops into my mind.
I wish Jace would see me now.
I can picture his reaction. Blue eyes darkening then raking over my body, leaving me in no doubt over what he wanted to do with me. My throat closes up and tears fill my eyes. I miss him. I miss everything about Jace.
I shake my head, trying to free my mind of Jace’s gorgeous face. I’m not going to cry or spoil my evening. This is a night of fun.
“I’m ready to paint the town red,” I announce as I walk into the living room.
Chris whistles and comes to give me a hug. “I’m so looking forward to going out tonight. It’s that season when my parents are on my case again. Something about an heir. Do you have any idea what that means?”
I laugh. Chris’s parents are obsessed with their wealth and what will happen to it if Chris does not procreate. They go a few months without mentioning it and then they’re on his case for a couple of weeks. It’s a cycle that’s gone on now for years.
He holds the front door open and we head to the elevators.
“We’ll get a cozy picture taken,” Chris says as we ride the elevator down. “I might convince them that we’re seeing each other.”
I laugh. “I don’t think so. They’ll see right through it. We’ve been friends for too long and besides they’d hate the idea of you dating someone whose last name is on the Forbes list.”
It still shocks me that wealthy people take that kind of thing seriously. I mean, why would you care about your child’s partner’s last name when what matters is whether they are happy together? Still, it’s not fair to lump all wealthy people together. Jace’s parents are not like that, else his brothers would not have married regular women. Women like me.
“It will get them off my back. That’s what matters,” Chris says.
We get off the elevator and stroll out of the building to his car.
“What’s this party about?” Chris asks as he pulls onto the road.
I search my mind and come up with a blank. Laughter bubbles out of me. “I have no idea. Charlotte gave me an invite but I didn’t look at it.” Charlotte and Marcus run an events and PR company. I’ve gone to so many of those parties where they need to fill up the venue that it seems I don’t read the details anymore.
Still laughing, I fish out the card and read it. “Album launch party for Rapid Underground Rock band. They’re new on the scene aren’t they?”
“They’ve been around for a while. They’ve become popular in the last few months. It’s going to be fun. I love that I get access to all these hot parties because of your brother. Connections are everything,” Chris says.
“You did the same for me at the club,” I tell him, reaching out to pat his knee. Chris did more than grant me access to the private club his family belonged to. He convinced his parents to pay for my swimming and tennis lessons. The only reason that I’m a little bit polished is because of Chris.
There’s a long queue of cars to get to the club but we’re in no rush.
“How are things going with you?” Chris asks, resting his head on the seat and turning to look at me. “Still sleeping with the boss?”
A sigh escapes my lips. “Not anymore.” I bring him up to date about my affair with Jace and how it came to an end.
A puzzled expression comes over Chris’s features. “Why would you do that? You don’t like to have fun, do you?”
“I like to have fun as much as the next person, but I also don’t like getting into a situation that will only lead to me getting hurt,” I tell him.
“You’re hurting already,” he says. “Why suffer twice?”
I don’t have an answer for that but what Chris is saying makes sense. It’s already too late to protect my feelings. I’ve already fallen for Jace. Conflicted emotions grab me by the throat. I’m glad when the cars in front start to move and Chris’s attention shifts.