"Smile please."
Axel obeyed and the dark blush on Samantha's face told him that he was affecting her same way too. He wondered how painful it was going to be for the rest of the night with her, looking so delectable.
Soon, the family photos were taken and it was time for their couple photos. Jonah didn't have to say anything as the couple locked their eyes again. He barely had to place them this way and that way. The shy smile on Samantha's face and the proud grin on Axel's face were all too perfect.
Axel felt like he was the luckiest man alive when he rested his forehead against her cheek as Jonah made her sit on his lap. Axel carefully held her hand as Jonah clicked away.
"Perfect!" Jonah shouted as they held their hands, eyes locked with a smile on their face. "Congratulations, Mr. Finlayson and Ms. Sinclair. The photoshoot is done for the day," with that he left the couple alone in the office.
"You look breathtakingly beautiful. This moment will forever be the best moment in my life," Axel whispered.
Samantha could only blush at his compliment. At that moment, there was only her and Axel. Her heart, felt like it will explode with overflowing joy. Axel looked so handsome in a black suit and she suppressed her urge to run her hand along the slight stubble on his cheek.
"I got you something," he continued in a husky tone that was laced with so much want that she felt her body heating up.
He revealed a red velvet box from his coat pocket. "I saw this yesterday and couldn't help but think about you."
The simple gold ring had a golden flower in the middle with small vines around them.
"This will look so good on your hand," he continued as he put it on her right-hand ring finger before placing a soft kiss. "I want to kiss you so badly. But, it will have to wait until this party is over," he uttered with a pained expression, making her chuckle softly.
"All right, lovebirds. It's time," Eric's loud voice announced from the outside.
"Are you ready?" Axel asked, taking her hand.
"Always," she whispered as they made their way out.
Chapter – 33
"Well, well, well... Look at you. Aren't you, my little sunshine?"
Alicia scoffed on hearing the over the enthusiastic voice of her beloved mother Alana.
"Come on, mom. What is it?" Alicia asked as she secured fluffed her perfectly curled hair.
"Just a few million dollars’ worth mansion, a hunk, a Hollywood star if I may add, a few pieces of expensive gift and my daughter is ready to settle down. Shame on you, Alicia!" Alana exclaimed.
"Mom, you know that is not true. FYI, I bought all those expensive gifts to fool the media.”
"Then, be a dear and enlighten me, please," Alana scowled, earning a chuckle from Alicia. “What is this all about?”
"Oh, my dear mama, do you really think that men like Xander can satisfy me? A girl got to live a bit," Alicia snorted. "We, rule them. Not the other way around, mom," Alicia said, adjusting the dress, just enough to cover her silver-colored pasties under her black chiffon dress with a plunging neckline, which barred most of her upper half, front, and the back.
"Well said. Now, tell me why you agreed to marry him, then," Alana questioned.
"First of all, I am not engaged. This is all a setup."
“I don’t get it,” Alana commented as a frown formed on her face.
"I can't do shit with the amount I earn from that puny fifteen percent shares I hold. McKenna Enterprises have no use for me," Alicia hissed, her face distorted momentarily with anger.
"Don't remind me about that Alicia."
"It is the truth. You, yourself is a good example of a charity case."
"Alicia!"
"Truth is always bitter. Isn't it?" Alicia smirked. "Well, unlike you, I am not a fool. Can't you see it Mommy dearest? We are going to be rich."
"I don't understand," Alana frowned.
"Hmm... Let me enlighten you then. You see, only you are bound by the stupid will made by your fucking father, not me. My fake daddy, Mr. Weston, unfortunately, happens to love me in spite of knowing that, I was not his."
"Your point?" Alana was getting annoyed with her daughter now.
"Seems suddenly invited me to a dinner and asked me to bring my boyfriend. Considering that I didn’t have one at the moment, I convinced Alexander to pose as my boyfriend. Not only that, I also made him believe that my father is sick, so he agreed to be my fake fiancée,” Alicia explained.
“Seemus believes that my engagement with Alexander is real. He made my fake fiancée the vice chairman of the McKenna Enterprises. And, soon the company and all of Seemus’ shares will be mine."
"That’s brilliant!”
"Now Mommy, this is when another idea popped into my mind, you see. I am going to seduce Alexander and make this engagement real. I will enjoy everything Xander has to offer. Then, I will have a high-profile breakup and divorce before I leave him with delicious millions or billions as alimony."
"Wow... That is a good plan. But, I don’t understand how you are going to get the shares from Seemus?"
"Mom, if I don't get married on my own and continued to stray, the daddy dearest could do something like your father did to you. If I can convince him otherwise, McKenna Enterprises will all be ours in a matter of time," Alicia explained patiently.
"Oh, my! I never thought about this."
"I know," Alicia smirked. “You never thought about anything. If you had, then you would’ve already seduced Seemus and got the job done.”
Alana scowled at her daughter and adjusted her dress. There was nothing she could tell her daughter for that comment because it was true.
"Now, let's go we have a ball to attend. I heard Sinclairs have the money more than George Clooney."
"Sinclairs? You mean the Sinclair International?" Alana asked.
"Yep... You see Xander has an invitation to attend their annual charity ball. And, since he is in Australia shooting for an upcoming movie, I am going to go and enjoy myself. I also heard that his son is a hunk." Alicia pressed her red stained lips together and pouted, blowing a kiss to the mirror.
"Isn't he married already?" Alana mused.
"When did that ever stopped us? Tag along and maybe you will find some rich horse for yourself," Alicia commented and exited the room with a smirking Alana following her.
∞ ∞ ∞
Alicia’s breath caught in her throat when her limo neared the gates of the grand mansion, which glowed with lights. It was decorated as if it was Christmas.
"Mom, this is huge!"
"It is."
"Oh, my! Look, there are reporters!"
"It's not easy to get an invite for a Sinclair charity ball. They invite only a selected list of guests," Alana supplied.
Alicia quickly pulled out her compact mirror, checking her makeup and reapplied her lipstick. "Then, let's use it."
When the limo came to a halt, Alicia made sure to expose her long thighs through the slit that went up to her pelvic region. If she was careless she would flash the fellow guests.
Alicia bathed in the camera flashes and beamed ear to ear as she posed on the red carpet. She felt like a star and her spirit applauded for her little performance. She was famous and tomorrow her sexy photos will grace the newspapers, she thought blissfully as she walked in.
"You did good," Alana whispered in her ear as they walked hand in hand. Their predatory glance scanned the crowd in trying to find a suitable prey for the night.
"I know," Alicia grinned. She was totally in the mood and can't wait for the ball to get started.
"All right, we will split here. Perhaps, meet later," Alana suggested and they both parted with a knowing grin.
Alicia took a flute of champagne and sipped it, her feet tapped the floor impatiently, and the soft music being played in the background all too boring. Her face lit up when her eyes landed on a group of gentlemen, who were chatting animatedly near the makeshift bar.
With a sly grin, she made her way to
the bar and sat on the high bar stool with her leg on full display. She made sure not to look at the men when she ordered a martini in her seductive voice.
The bartender swallowed as his eyes traveled down her cleavage.
In her peripheral vision, she could see the men throwing lust-filled glances at her and she grinned internally. She may be engaged to the world, but that doesn't mean that she can't have some fun. Some men screwed around just for the thrill of it, especially married men.
"What kind of man would leave a beautiful woman all alone," a velvety voice caressed her insides and she shivered slightly in delight.
Alicia whipped around to see one of the men from the group standing behind her. Her head reeled when she met his cool gray eyes. She was not drunk enough to feel this way, but the gaze of the sexy stranger alone did things to her.
"I'm Keith by the way," the stranger said as he occupied the stool next to her.
"Alicia-"
"McKenna. I know. Soon to be McGregor," he replied.
Alicia grimaced at the reminder of Xander. She masked her grimace and smiled seductively at him.
"So, the famous Alexander McGregor is not here tonight," Keith stated.
"Oh, he is shooting for his upcoming film in Australia," Alicia replied.
No, at the moment he is with his true love, relaxing on their private beach, Keith thought as he gazed at his best friend's nemesis with pure hatred.
"How convenient," he commented taking a sip of his drink and Alicia chuckled mistaking his hatred for attraction.
"Keith! Oh, here you are. Come on, it's time." Another sexy stranger announced and Alicia looked at him with a calculating gaze.
She needed to find the Sinclair heir, who they claimed to be the hottest hunk of all. She won't get another chance like this, so she was determined to make the most out of this evening. She needed to mingle and make connections that should be the main focus of this type of events, she chastised herself.
She excused herself from Keith with another seductive grin and went off to mingle with the crowd, mostly men.
Half an hour later, Alicia was bored to death. Her legs ached with all the walking she did with her nude heels. The men who showed interest to her were all too old to her taste. The younger men, mostly had brought a date, the women glared at her like she was pure evil, which she was.
She tried to find a table to rest for a bit when she bumped into someone's back. He was taller than her by several inches and even with her high heels, he made her look like a dwarf.
Alicia composed herself as the stranger started to turn around. Her eyes locked with a pair of familiar blues and shock coated her features. She soon masked her surprise and smirked at the sight of Axel, her little pet during her teenage years.
"Axel! What a surprise?" She drawled in a sexy voice, which usually turned him on as she put her engagement ring on display. No one except her knew that she bought it for herself from an online jewelry store.
Axel's eyes didn't waver as he met her emotionless gaze with pure hatred. "Can't say the same," he replied in a cold tone. He felt bile from the pit of his stomach upon seeing the amount of skin she exposed.
"So, what a tramp like you is doing in a place like this?" She asked in a venomous tone which had no effect on Axel.
"What a coincidence? I was wondering about the same. What is the business of a slut like you on my ball?" He retorted.
"Language, Axel. I will make you regret those words," she hissed, her calm façade slipping away.
"I would love to see you try," he smirked, knowing very well what would fuel her anger.
"You-"
"Axel! What are you doing here?"
They were momentarily distracted by Eric, who eyed them curiously. Alicia looked the new guy and took deep breaths to mask her anger. She can't lose it with the people around and there were photographers in. She had to be very careful.
"Eric, I was looking for you too. I thought this ball is only for chosen guests. What is she doing here?" Axel asked nonchalantly and Alicia fumed.
"Sinclairs invited me," Alicia hissed.
"Um... Really? I think there is a mistake," Eric played along and suppressed the grin that wanted to make its way to his lips.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Alicia pointed angrily at Eric. "I have an invite," she hissed again showing the invite she carried in her clutch.
Eric scanned the invite with a serious look which almost made Axel boom with laughter. At first, the thought of seeing Alicia had him over the edge. He didn't sleep at all the night before and was fidgeting while he was waiting in Gregory's office. That was until he saw Samantha. He just knew that he was going to be okay. Now, he was having too much fun as they ruffled her up.
"This invite is for Alexander McGregor and who might you be?" Eric asked innocently and Axel swore that Alicia was letting out the steam through her ears.
"He is my fiancée and is now in Australia, shooting for his upcoming film," Alicia whisper yelled, her breasts heaved. "And, who are you to ask me that?"
"Oh, I happen to be the host of this ball, Eric Sinclair," Eric countered with a smug grin. “Alexander never told me that he proposed and I thought those were all just rumors,” he added, noticing all the blood drain from her face.
Alicia looked like a gaping monkey as she opened and closed her mouth. She quickly masked her surprise and opened her mouth to say something when Gregory's strong, commanding voice over the mic distracted them.
Everyone around them stopped their chatter and turned towards the makeshift stage.
"My dear ladies and gentlemen, it's a great pleasure to greet you all in this wonderful evening," Gregory stated.
"Thank you all for joining us on this special occasion. Yes, this year's ball is all the more special to me and my family because my lovely daughter is getting married." Around of applause filled the hall at his announcement. The crowd cheered and a few men raised their glasses.
"Now, I would like you all to meet my beloved daughter Samantha Danica Sinclair."
A silence fell over the crowd as the lights went off, immersing them in a pool of darkness. The stairs behind the makeshift stage lit up illuminating a woman standing there. One by one the lights turned on revealing the bride. The crowd looked mesmerized at the sight of the very blushing bride standing there with a shy smile.
Alicia's jaw, kidneys, and probably her ovaries and Fallopian tubes too dropped on the floor as she realized it was the same girl who was with Axel in the photos published in the gossip magazine.
Chapter – 34
Nothing had prepared Alicia for what she was witnessing now. She couldn't digest the fact that Axel has actually moved on and was now engaged to the heiress.
"That's my girl," Axel whispered beside her as Eric clapped on his shoulders.
Axel gave him a goofy grin and proceeded to the stairs, ignoring the fuming Alicia. His father’s words came to his mind as he ambled through the crowd. He’d told him that he should move on from his past, and never let it ruin the bright future he had with Samantha. For that, he had to let go of every feeling he had for Alicia, including the need for revenge. He’d cornered Axel just before they left for the party.
Now that he looked at Samantha again, he realized what his father meant. His future was now looking at him with a shy smile and at that moment, nothing else mattered. He definitely didn't think of Alicia. There was only one woman who held his attention and that woman was dressed in an elegant lehenga, standing on the stairs, waiting for him.
Axel straightened his spine and wore a proud smile as he approached his fiancée. He took her hands and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles before leading her back to the makeshift stage. Gregory embraced the couple as another round of applause erupted from the crowd.
"My future son-in-law, Axel Joaquin Finlayson, an upcoming businessman and the only great-grandson of the Joaquin Del Campo," Gregory announced and the crowd cheered again.
The reporters who were given
a spot on the stage were going hyper with the news. Cameras flashed from everywhere capturing the moment.
Keith, who wore a smile of triumph, closed Alicia's mouth with his forefinger. "You're going to catch some flies if you keep it open," he quipped in a mocking tone, earning a glare from her.
Alicia couldn't believe what was going on. She thought Axel was the son of a school janitor. He never lived a life of luxury. But, the Sinclair introduced him as the grandson of Del Campo. That name was familiar. She'd heard Seemus speaking highly about them. If she was not mistaken the McKenna Enterprises have signed a few deals with that famous Spanish company.
What did she miss? How is Axel related to the Del Campo's? The Del Campo's sure had more money than Alexander.
Hell, why was she thinking all this? She dumped Axel all those years ago. Yet, why is it bothering her now?
Alicia knew very well why it was bothering her. The men she discarded were broken in some way that no one had moved on. She had a control over them and it made her feel powerful. She couldn't digest the fact that Axel not only moved on but had everything at the moment.
He never dated anyone after her, what changed him? Was he marrying the girl for her fortune?
Sadly, Alicia already knew the answer. The way Axel looked at the girl. There was no mistaking that looks he was casting at Samantha. He looked at her like that once. Alicia downed another flute of champagne the waiter was carrying around.
"You know him?" Keith asked and Alicia bit her tongue to stop the retort that was ready to burst. She wondered if Keith was really interested in her or he was mocking her.
"An old acquaintance," she said, gritting her teeth.
"Hmm... I see. From what I perceive you were not expecting this," Keith stated and Alicia kept quiet.
She didn't want to speak to him now. She was sure attracted to him before, but something within her said that Keith already knew, who she was.
"It's a surprise actually," she gave him that seductive grin again, masking her anger. "If you'll excuse me, my leg hurts. I am going to sit somewhere," she said in a sweet voice and left him in the crowd.
Perfect Revenge (Revenge Series Book 1) Page 23
