by Lilly James
“Come on,” he groaned after composing himself. “Let’s mingle.”
The garden party was in full swing. There was a live band playing jazz music, and Parks turned to me and held out his hand, his lips curling up into a beautiful, playful smirk.
“May I have this dance?”
I melted. Completely and utterly melted. “You may.” As soon as my hand met his, he pulled me into him and started dancing right where we were.
The live band did a beautiful cover of a Billie Holiday song, and I happily followed the lead of Parks’s feet.
“I don’t know how to dance to jazz music.” I laughed, almost tripping over my own feet. Parks effortlessly swung me around, making it look like I was meant to do it.
“Neither do I.” He laughed adorably.
“Something you don’t know how to do?” I teased.
“Shock, horror.” He played along, dipping me down, then pulling me back up to press a swift kiss to my lips.
“You could have fooled me,” I breathed against his mouth as he held me close. We stopped dancing, our bodies touching and eyes devouring each other. My heart ached from the way I so desperately wished for times like these to last forever. Times where we laughed, teased each other, and forgot there was an outside world. A world outside of our perfect bubble. When Parks forgot his troubles, forgot his past, forgot there were people trying to sabotage everything we had, I knew that was the real him shining through. However, dark clouds always blocked the sunlight.
The music stopped, and clapping hands all around made me move away just a little bit and clap too.
“Here, Princess. You need a drink.” Parks politely took a glass of orange juice from the waiter’s tray and handed it to me. “You okay?” he asked, caressing my cheek gently with his palm.
“Do they have watermelon here?”
He recoiled, a frown forming on his forehead, but it was soon replaced with a smile. “If you want watermelon instead, then I’ll go get it.” He pressed a kiss to my lips before letting go of my hand. “I’ll be right back.”
Parks disappear through the crowd, and Nadia sashayed her way through, coming my way. She was twinkling her fingers in a hello as she walked past ogling men in suits, all staring at her in a black, skintight dress that overexposed her cleavage. I knew she was on her way to me, and I also knew she was the CEO of EGC and was the one who had almost printed that story about me. It seemed she wanted to me to look a twat whilst she tried to find anything out about Wade Parks, who was an enigma to everybody. Apart from me, his fiancée. I wanted to pull out my claws and make her bleed, but I was in a place where I couldn’t do that. I was in a place where I had to grin and bear it. And grinning and bearing it was not in my nature.
“Evey.” Nadia smiled wide and charming, all her white teeth on show as she bent down and air-kissed my cheek. “How are you?” She flicked her long, blonde hair over her shoulder and took a quick sip of her cocktail.
“Fantastic.” I nodded, putting on a huge smile just for show. “You?”
“Fabulous.” Again she flashed a grin, then ran her fingers down my dress. “This. Is. Stunning. Chanel?”
I refrained from rolling my eyes. Did it bloody matter who or what we were wearing? “Probably.” I shrugged one shoulder like I didn’t care.
Nadia eyed up my drink preference curiously. “You’re not drinking tonight?”
“Who says there’s not vodka in this?” I lied, squashing her curiosity.
She flapped at hand, giggling like a schoolgirl. “Oh good, for a moment I thought you may be pregnant.”
My nostrils flared, but I feigned nonchalance, not wanting to let this bitch know she was getting on my last fucking nerve. “Nope, not pregnant. But I am engaged.” I lifted up my hand, showing her the beautiful blue-diamond ring.
She almost choked on her cocktail, coughing and spluttering as it must have gone down the wrong way. “You’re getting married?” She haphazardly pulled on my hand, taking a good look at my ring. “Wow. I mean, congratulations. I think I may have to go and find quiet corner to cry in,” she joked.
I pulled my hand out of hers and leaned in closer. “Go join the rest of them. I’m sure they’re behind that rose bush. And while you’re there—” I glared at her, “—count yourself lucky that having your gossip column shut down was the only outcome of publishing your pathetic story.”
I was about to turn my back on her, but her words halted me midstep. “What did you expect me to do when that woman came to me with all those juicy details, Evelyn? Don’t take it personally.”
I inhaled through my nose, trying my best to remain calm. “What woman?” I asked, spinning around on my heel.
“Oh, I can’t tell you that. It’s confidential.” Her smarmy grin was enough to wipe away any amount of calm I had left.
I clenched my fists and stepped towards her. “I swear to God, I don’t know how I haven’t strangled that scrawny little neck of yours. Cross me again, Nadia, and you can kiss good-bye to that pretty little nose job you have going on right there.” I pointed to her nose, glared at her once more, and turned my back.
I didn’t even look back to see her expression. What I set out to do was done, and I was expecting an article about it on her personal blog the next morning. Give some bitches something to talk about. Oh, and maybe let the world know that Wade Parks, the domineering, business-dominating, enigmatic bachelor was now off the market. Hallelujah.
“Princess, where have you been?” Parks bent down a little to press a kiss to my lips.
“Just conversing.” I inhaled, breathing in that overpowering and captivating scent of his. Trying to ignore the way the core of my body started to weaken as I scanned my fiancé. Vivid, green eyes framed by thick, dark lashes; deliciously formed, full, pink lips; and a jawline that was chiselled to perfection. Not being able to help myself, I quickly put down my glass onto the table nearest and pressed my hands to his chest, feeling the hard and dented muscles hidden underneath his shirt. His lips rose in a smile that sent tingles to my sex as he absorbed my touch.
He slipped his hand down my back so he could cup my arse and gave it a tight squeeze. “Oh, Princess.” He sighed, a sexy sound that conveyed a longing need of satisfaction. “What I intend to do to you later requires you being in my bedroom…”
His promise had me trembling. “Tell me what you want to do.”
He softly brushed his lips over my cheek, moving upwards to my ear, but then he looked over my shoulder and shut down. “Not now.”
“Wade, Evey?” A shriek of excitement quickly broke our bubble of lust, and as I turned, annoyed at whoever it may be, I saw his grandmother.
Annoyance vanished.
“Judith.” I said her name as a genuine smile grew upon my lips. She brought me into her small arms and kissed my cheek.
“Congratulations.” She beamed. “I am so happy I got to see my grandson fall in love before I kicked the bucket.”
“Gran.” Parks chuckled at her comment, bending down to place a kiss on her cheek as she offered it. “You’ll see me get married too. I and Evelyn have set a date.”
I glanced up at him. Speechless. We set a date?
“Oh how wonderful.” She clapped her hands, excitement written all over her face. “Tell me when. I must go buy a new hat.”
Parks looked at me adoringly. “December 13.”
“Perfect.” Judith clapped her hands again, then pulled us into her arms.
“December 13?” I hissed from the side of my mouth. It was news to me.
“Why not?” He shrugged, giving me another kiss. Another bloody deterrent, more like.
As Parks and his grandmother talked wedding arrangements, I adoringly stood there with my hand in his, watching how his demeanour changed from being uptight, in control, and playing the part of well-mannered business tycoon to relaxed, happy, and genuinely enthusiastic. Knowing a great deal of how a wedding should work—in the woman’s favour—I still couldn’t put out that sp
ark of his when he lit up about his plans to marry me. I could have told him I wanted to plan the biggest day of my life the way I would like it. Could have kicked up a fuss about picking my own dress, my own venue, my own bridesmaids, but I didn’t. Didn’t because I wanted Parks to have this. Wanted him to relish in the moment, build up a memory and keep it safe. I wanted him to be happy, wanted everything he wanted, because seeing his face light up, seeing him happy and excited was better than planning any damn wedding. Having him as my husband was going to be worth it in the end, anyway. Who could ask for more?
The singer of the live band starting singing Michael Buble’s “It’s a Beautiful Day.” The song piqued my interest, and I turned to watch them with a smile. The sun beamed down on me and warmed my body just like the man who was holding my hand warmed up my heart. The music, the lyrics, the atmosphere all made the hope of being happy creep up and get my attention.
That was until another voice that grated my back teeth called my name.
“Evey, let my brother go and come have some girly time.” I glanced over my shoulder and was not shocked to see Jasmine standing there, her full, fake grin spread wide. Parks was still in conversation with his gran and was too polite to turn away from her and greet Jasmine. He just kissed my temple and squeezed my hand tighter. It was a warning for me to stay where I was—by his side.
“Wade,” Jasmine continued, walking around me and to the other side of her brother. She moved her hand onto his shoulder, her other hand onto her gran’s arm. “Sorry to butt in, but could I borrow Evey?”
Parks turned his head, and even though I couldn’t see his eyes, I knew they were hard and warning Jasmine to back off because of the way she winced slightly. She didn’t take the hint, though. “Just for a tiny bit.” She pulled out her charm, batting her eyelashes and pinching her fingers together. Feeling like I was a child being asked to come out to play, I let go of Parks’s hand.
“Its fine, Wade. If Jasmine wants us to bond, then who I am to decline?” The bitchy smile I gave Jasmine let her know I wasn’t being sincere, but Parks didn’t catch it because I dropped it from my lips when he turned to me.
“Don’t be long,” he said, bending down to kiss my cheek. “And be nice,” he whispered for my hearing alone.
“I’m always nice.” I winked as I turned on my heel and followed Jasmine through the crowds of people, practically skipping because I knew I was in for a confrontation.
Jasmine headed towards a beautiful fountain surrounded by outdoor sofas. She walked like a supermodel on the catwalk—one foot in front of the other, slow and seductive. Her long, black hair swayed across her back as she moved, and her white dress clung to every correctly proportioned curve. She was just like Parks—powerfully elegant, independent, and driven. If I was the jealous type, I would be extremely envious of Jasmine. But I wasn’t, so thank fuck for that.
“Take a seat.” She gestured with her hand towards a chair. But instead of acting grown-up and just accepting her offer, I had to run my mouth.
“You don’t have to tell me to sit. I was going to anyway.” Ridiculous, Evey, I scolded myself for sounding like my eight-year-old niece.
Jasmine sat down next to me on the sofa, crossing her legs out in front of her. “I wanted to congratulate you in person on your engagement to my brother.”
I blurted out a scoff, bemused to why she was acting false when there was no need to. “Cut the bullshit, Jasmine. Wade isn’t near us now.”
Her red lips turned up in one corner in a devious smirk that seemed to be holding a hundred thoughts. “You’re right. Why should I be happy to see my brother waste his life on someone like you?” She spoke so softly, I almost thought I’d imagined it.
I leaned forwards, my elbow on my knee, my chin resting on my knuckles. “What the fuck has it got to do with you?” I was also calm and speaking through a smile.
Jasmine pursed her lips, her nostrils flaring just slightly. My words had the affect I’d hoped for. Her green gaze settled on mine, hard and callous. “It has everything to do with me because it is in my interest to protect him.”
“Protect him from what, exactly?”
“Jasmine?” I turned to see a young, handsome man in a dark blue suit arrive beside us. “Sorry to interrupt. But Trent is waiting for you in the marquee. Something about—”
“Tell him to wait. Jesus,” Jasmine bit out, her words so sharp and vicious even I turned to her and frowned.
“Of course.” The young man smiled weakly at Jasmine, then at me and hurried away.
“An assistant who I am on the verge on firing.” She rubbed at her forehead, closed her eyes tight, and then looked back to me. “Anyway—”
“You know what,” I said, getting to my feet. “I don’t want to hear it, because whatever you have to say means shit to me.”
Jasmine quickly stood too, refusing to be looked down on. “What I have to say is relevant because I want you to listen and listen well.”
“Fuck your words.” I laughed coldly, spinning on my heel away from a situation that was getting out of hand. I got to the fountain’s edge before Jasmine grabbed my wrist and turned me around, forcing me to face her.
“I want you to go over to my brother and tell him your engagement is off.”
“Or what?” I stepped into her space, but she remained where she was, completely unthreatened.
“Or I will make your life hell,” she snarled.
“Hell?” I laughed. “I’ve already been there, and there is nothing you can do to take me back.” I looked her up and down once, ripped my wrist from her grip, and turned away.
“Wait and see, you gold-digging whore.”
I stopped in my heels, and my back straightened. Mentally begging myself to walk away, I took a step forwards, but then my reckless, instinctive side overruled the sensible one.
I turned, my blood already boiling, my fists balled, and my intentions were borderline criminal. “What did you say?” I gave her a chance to backtrack, to apologise, but she saw how I’d turned from a calm, young woman into a raging, blood-baying bull in seconds and relished in it.
“I said, you’re a gold-digging—”
I didn’t allow her to finish. Instead, I took hold of her shoulders and pushed her into the fountain behind her. Her screams as she fell in were heard by the whole party. I watched everyone turn and stare, gaping, martini glasses held in midair as Jasmine went right under.
“You bitch.” She gasped for breath as she came back up. Unfortunately. I smirked, proud of seeing her in distress, shock, and utter embarrassment. But then I felt eyes on me, not just the whole of the party’s but Parks’s eyes. I looked up and saw him standing right opposite me on the other side of the fountain. The way he scowled at me made me want to push him in with her. Why the hell was he mad at me for?
“Come here,” he mouthed, crooking his finger, making me feel like an errant child who was about to be punished again. Hmm, punished. Maybe it wasn’t so bad.
I left Jasmine in the water, her soon-to-be-fired assistant trying to help her out, and walked towards Parks quickly. My head was still raised, and I could feel all eyes on me, but I didn’t look at any of them because I knew I would have told them all to get fucked.
Before I’d even reached Parks, he moved towards me. “Inside.” He spoke through gritted teeth, trying not to make a scene. “Right. Now.” He grabbed me by the arm and hauled me toward the hotel. Like a notorious raver with a bouncer. Oh Lord.
He pulled me inside and around the corner that led to the lobby. It was deserted and hidden from prying eyes.
Parks slammed his palm on the wall, keeping his distance from me. “Evelyn, what the fuck were you thinking?”
I scoffed. “Thinking that Jasmine was acting a twat and she needed to go in that water whether I pushed her in or fucking drowned the bitch.”
He ran his hand through his hair quickly, then ran it down his face, keeping his other hand on his mouth as he shook his head at me in utte
r disbelief.
“How many times have I told you to ignore her?”
“Ignore her?” I shrieked, pointing behind me. “Why don’t you tell your precious sister to stay the fuck away from me?” Parks turned away. I could see him mentally battling between sister and fiancée. “She isn’t coming to our wedding, Wade. You can forget it. You can organize the whole thing without me, but I’m telling you, I don’t want that bitch anywhere near me on the biggest day of my life.”
His expression fell, like what I’d just announced was appalling. “You can’t do that, Princess. She’s my sister, for Christ’s sake.”
I leant forwards, shaking my head with attitude. “I can’t stand her. She’s not coming.” I crossed my arms and wouldn’t budge on my stance. Why would I want someone who hated me following me down to the altar as one of my bridesmaids? No chance.
Parks rubbed his face with his palms. “You’re being ridiculous.” He was about to walk off, but I wasn’t letting him escape that easily.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Parks glanced down to where I had him by the suit sleeve. “To let you calm down.”
“Calm down?” I shrieked. “She called me a gold-digging whore and you want me to calm down?”
The frown that appeared on Parks’s forehead made me feel uneasy. I could tell he was frowning at my words, not his sister’s. “She wouldn’t say that. She knows how much I love you.”
I gaped, unable to form words.
“She wouldn’t,” Parks repeated.
“Just go away before I strangle you too.” I tried to erase the tension from my head, but the headache I always got when Jasmine was in my presence started up again.
“You’re being difficult again,” he said, throwing his arms down to his sides in frustration.
“Yep. That’s me.” I turned on my heel and sank into one of the chairs in the lobby. I had to ignore him and patronizingly agree because I didn’t want to argue with him over his sister. Of course he would want to see her smelling of roses, even though she spoke such shit, because she was his sister. So I didn’t want to make him choose sides. It wasn’t fair. I could deal with Jasmine by myself.
