Chapter 6

• “Boundaries?” I lifted my head. His eyes were enchanting.
• “Yes, come with me.”
• He released me, but captured my hand. I lifted my dress so I wouldn’t step on it as I followed Brad into the house. All eyes were on us. Some people eyed us and smiled while others commented on how lovely we were as a couple.
• “Are you going to tell me there are certain places I can’t go? I don’t even live here.” I asked when we were alone in the dark foyer.
• “No, but there are a few things you can’t do.”
• “Like what?” I folded my arms.
• “Like, whatever you have with Rocco, I won’t tolerate it.”
• I nearly burst out laughing. Thanks to him there wouldn’t be anything between Rocco and I.
• “There isn’t anything going on between us.”
• “It didn’t look like it when you too were dancing. Look, I won’t be made a fool of. If you’re going to marry me you’re not going, bring your men into it.”
• I gasped, “I am not sleeping with Rocco!” I stomped my high heel.
• Brad glared at me. “Will you be quiet. I don’t want people thinking we’re already having problems.”
• “You seem to care an awful lot about what people think Bradley.”
• “My reputation is important.”
• I chuckled. “Don’t want anyone to know someone actually doesn’t want to marry you.”
• Brad smirked. He took two steps causing me to back up. His arm hooked around my waist and pulled me to his body.
• “I make you uncomfortable?”
• “Yes…no. I’m fine.”
• He chuckled. “All women want me sweetie. You’re just stubborn.”
• “What does that have to do with me not wanting you? Which I don’t.”
• Brad grinned and I’m sure I blushed. Brad’s phone rang before he could respond. He fished it out and grimaced.
• “I have to take this.”
• His arm slipped away from me and I sighed with relief. Brad picked up the phone and walked out the front door. There was no reason for me to keep standing there. I straightened my dress and turned to head back to the garden.
• “So, you’re the new girl?”
• “Excuse me?”
• I looked around the dark living room and couldn’t see who spoke. I ranked my fingers through my hair, totally messing up all of Beatrice’s hard work.
• “I’m not sure what to call this? Doesn’t feel like an upgrade.”
• My mouth widened. Walking from the dark dining room was a woman in a red dress that clung to her hips for dear life. She matched it with six inch heels I could never walk in. She held a glass of Champaign against her cheek and pouted.
• “Who are you?”
• She rolled her pale blue eyes, “I’m the one who wants to know who the hell you are.”
• I looked from left to right. My gaze lingered in the direction Brad disappeared out of.
• “He’s my man.” The woman snapped.
• “What?” It came out as a chuckle.
• “Bradley, he’s my man. I’m the only woman he comes back to!”
• Here he was throwing a fit of jealousy because he thought Rocco could be my lover and now I find out he has a special mistress. Despicable.
• “Is that so?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
• “Yes! Don’t think because you have this little arrangement he’s going to leave me.”
• “I couldn’t care less.”
• The woman scrawled, “Please, he’s Bradley Wolfe, everyone woman wants him. I’m the only woman he cares about.”
• My gaze darted towards the direction of the door again. Where was Bradley so he could take care of his mistress. Discomfort settled on my chest. I didn’t like that he had a mistress. I didn’t like it more that he wanted me to be loyal and obedient.
• “Like I said honey, I don’t care. What I do care about is you not harassing me every time I turn around.”
• The woman wobbled down four steps, her blonde bun bounced out of place.
• “As long as you remember your place there won’t be a problem.”
• Footsteps sounded behind us. I turned and Brad glared at us. He sucked in a breath and exhaled before shoving his fists into his pockets.
• “I see you’ve met Brea.” He finally said.
• “Unfortunately,” I whispered.
• Too bad it wasn’t low enough for Brea not to hear. She glared at me.
• “Yes, I’ve met your fiancée.” Brea smirked at me.
• Brad closed the distance between us. He snaked his arm around my waist and tugged me closer. Brea’s smile died instantly.
• “Brea’s a marketing consultant in my company.”
• I nodded, I couldn’t prevent the grin that manifested on my face. I shouldn’t have done that. I didn’t want drama.
• “Interesting.” I said.
• “Well, we should get back to the party.” Brad gave my waist another tug before hauling me away from his lover.
• “Is marketing consultant the new term for mistress?”
• Brad laughed softly. “Jealous?”
• “I have no reason to be jealous. I don’t care what you do.”
• “That doesn’t give you leeway to sleep with whoever you want.” His expression went dark.
• “I understood you fine the first time.”
• “Good, then we’ll have a peaceful marriage.”
• Brad and I didn’t speak much the rest of the night. We posed for pictures with his family and mine. Rebecca invited me to her favorite garden to have tea with her and her daughter. Rebecca seemed nice, but I wasn’t sure I was getting the full version. When the party was over and the music had died I lay in my bed. It belonged to me, but it felt so foreign I had trouble falling asleep. I crossed the line already, now my mind raced for a way out.
• ***
• Sleeping in would have been idle, but my mind wasn’t having it. I was up as the sun slowly creeped into the sky. I didn’t have any clothes and I doubted any of the clothes in the closet would fit me. Though, I took a long hot shower and rummaged the wardrobes for something that fit.
• The jeans were a no go area. My hips had gotten wider over the years. There were five dresses most of which couldn’t keep my breasts in. I had to settle with a white flowy dress that exposed more of my thighs than what I’d have liked. It had open sleeves and strings on the bodice. I actually liked it. I finished the look with a pair of brown sandals.
• I stay in my room until ten. My stomach was telling me by then that it was time to go hunting for food. Nora walked into my room before I could venture out.
• She eyed me over once and shook her head in disapproval.
• “No, Gia. You can’t dress so casually.”
• “I don’t have anything else. I didn’t know I was staying remember?”
• Nora rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed. “Right, you’ll have to borrow Sydney’s clothes then.”
• “Why? What’s going on?” I thought the outfit was cute.
• “Don’t you know?”
• I shook my head.
• “Oh, I just assumed… never mind. Rebecca’s invited us to branch. Your dad can’t make it. I think he just doesn’t want to go.”
• I felt like Gianna in this dress with my hair back to its forest of curls cascading down my back. Nora eyed me expectantly.
• “I don’t have time to do my hair though,” I mumbled.
• She clapped her hands and darted out of the room. She returned with two leather dresses. One brown and the other black. I bit my lower lip. I managed to squeeze into the brown dress. The dress stretched to its full capacity, one wrong move and the dress would split in two. If I dropped something it was gone because I couldn’t bend.
• To make matters worse Nora made me wobble in clear high heels. This was going to be a disaster. I felt it in the air.
• ***
• “They have a beautiful home.” I commented as we drove up to the mansion. The estate was the size of an entire neighborhood somewhere. Lavish green grass that went on like vast open pastures on either side of the driveway.
• “One of many homes, but they spend more time here.”
• “Where are their other homes?” I asked, short of gasping.
• “Europe,” Nora shrugged.
• It was more of a castle than a mansion with striking towers, gargoyles glaring at those who dared to walked up the front door. The exterior of the intimidating manor was bronze. The flower pots and hanging flowers on the front porch gave the house a tad of a warm welcoming feel.
• “Come on,” Nora parked and jumped out. She looped her bag through her arm and pranced up to the door.
• She must have been here a dozen times with Sydney. A man opened the door for her before I could get my bag over my shoulder or get up the steps.
• “You made it,” Brad said as soon as I stepped into the house. I was instantly hit by the scent of lavender.
• He was dressed in dark blue jean shorts and a plain white t-shirt. Nora beamed at him. She asked the butler to take her to where Rebecca was and left me without as much as batting a lash.
• “What’s happening?”
• “We’re going out.”
• He shoved his hands in his front pocket.
• “I thought we were having brunch with your family.”
• He laughed, “Trust me you don’t want that.”
• He held out his hand and I looked up into his eyes.