Raising my eyebrows, I give her a pointed look, because the last place I want to be is surrounded by people I don’t even like. And trust me, most of my father’s acquaintances I do not like. At all.
“He likes having us both there. You know he does.” She pushes harder. “Please, I’ll send for Jeanette to do your hair and makeup, and your dress is already picked.”
“This Friday?” I ask.
She nods with a smile. “He’ll be so happy.”
I didn’t even agree, but somehow, I have because she’s answering for me. I don’t care to argue. Seems she has it all figured out anyway.
She stays longer than I expected, and when she goes to leave, she reads the note that I left on the bench.
“It’s really come to this then?” she asks looking up from the note.
“Yep,” is all I can manage to squeak out.
She sucks in a deep breath at my words.
She starts pacing back and forth while biting her lip. She looks up at me and goes to speak then drops her head again, closing her mouth because she’s unsure of what to say. I wait for her freak out to be over, and when it is, she straightens her back and smiles. “Don’t break the news to your father yet. He was hoping for a different outcome.”
“Agreed,” I reply. Not diving into her words.
“I just…” Words fail her, so she turns to walk to the door. “Thorne women do not get divorced. You’ll be tarnishing our name, our reputation.”
“Lucky for you I’m a Reid then.”
She sucks in a breath at my words, and offers me a smile, but it’s more like a grimace, before she leaves.
This is going to be an issue, especially if Gunner wants to rid me of his name.
Fuck.
14
Everly
Friday comes fast. I kept myself busy all week, and in doing so I missed Gunner’s courier to get the papers. He hasn’t contacted me since. Jeanette did my hair and makeup for my father’s gala. My dress is blood-red, tight-fitting, and has a slit up the side. It fits me perfectly, like a glove. My mother has taste, and I’m never disappointed. A good dress always helps you think you can conquer the world. Well, tonight, I just need to get through. And this dress will help with that, hopefully.
Pulling up out front, a man opens my door and one of my father’s bodyguards is standing there, waiting. When he sees me, he nods and directs me in, bypassing all the registering and heading straight to where my parents are located across the other side of the room.
The room is silver with black splashes, the tablecloths in a mint green. It’s quite beautiful. Every single one of these events that they host is.
I pass a few familiar faces, offering them a small smile as I make my way to my parents. I see my mother first, her hair the same as mine, tied up in a large bun. Her arm is linked to my father’s elbow as she leans into him. He pays her little attention as he speaks to the man in front of him.
Stepping up to them, my father sees me first and a large smile graces his face. He looks me over with approval and nods his head, pulling me to his free side. My mother smiles at my dress and turns her attention back to the man speaking.
“Oh, Jasper, this is my daughter, Everly. Everly, this is Jasper.” I turn to face a man who, for the want of a better word, is scary. But also, very good-looking. His hair is tousled back, and he has a scar on his lip. He smirks and nods.
I know him.
My body tenses when I see him.
He was the man that came to Alec’s room when he had me.
“Where is your husband tonight, Mrs. Reid?”
I stiffen at his words and he takes notice then raises an eyebrow.
“Oh… he couldn’t make it.”
My father interjects, at which Jasper snaps his head back up to him and nods. He isn’t dressed like everyone one else here. Granted, he’s in a classic pair of pants, but he’s sans tie and his white shirt is not buttoned all the way to the top like everyone else’s.
My father excuses himself as someone calls his name, and I’m left standing in front of Jasper. Who eyes me cautiously.
“It’s a pity he can’t be here. I’m sure you must be disappointed.” He looks me over and when he does, I don’t feel as if he’s doing it to disapprove of me, it’s more of an appraisal.
“No, I’m not.” My honesty shocks him. He smirks and his scar lifts on his lips.
“Do I dare say… you’ve met the man he is, perhaps?” He leans in close. “Maybe his kinks?”
I straighten at his words as he pulls back and look him dead in the eye.