“Yes, I received it. You left Lilah off the invitation I see.”
“You know our table only seats so many, dear. We can’t invite everyone you know. Certainly, you understand.” Bitch.
“Of course. Nonetheless, we will see you tomorrow.” Take that.
“So glad your busy schedule won’t keep you from us. Have a good night's sleep, dear.” rolling my eyes, I hang up and leave the office. Talking to my parents is exhausting and I cannot wait until I am no longer in office and be done with them.
In the bedroom, I am pulling off my cufflinks when Lilah’s phone becomes lit. Thinking it might be a message about her mom, I grab it from the dresser and see it is a text message from the dumb fuck who let her go. Why is he still contacting her? Is she taking his calls? Is she answering his messages? Now, more than ever, I have to get my ring on her finger and my legacy in her belly. This motherfucker has got to go.
Chapter Twelve
LILAH
Today has been the day from hell, and it is not over. It started with a phone call from Markis that once again I didn’t answer. I don’t know what to say to him and to be honest; I have not had the time to think about it. Since the night I went with him to the charity event, it has been one event after another. When it isn’t events, we are going out to eat and genuinely spending time with one another, which has been amazing. He is nothing like the media portrays him. He is kind, funny, attentive, and really intense, but he is also bossy and exacting.
After showering and having a girls’ day with my friend Cephonie, I attempted to go to the library for some quiet time before going to see my mom. Well, that was a bust. The moment I stepped foot outside of the salon, there were reporters everywhere, flashing lights in my eyes, asking me questions I didn't know the answer to, hurling innuendos at me and it was overwhelming and made me emotional. I saw his driver pull up right as I was going to fall apart, and I hopped in.
No sooner am I catching my breath and trying to calm myself then Markis calls again. I answered the phone, emotions on full throttle, and told him I couldn’t talk and hung up. I immediately felt guilty, but I did not want to cry while talking to him. The driver took me back to the mansion, where I fell completely apart until Blake came home and wrapped his arms around me.
He held me until I calmed down and then we talked. He asked me why I was so upset considering how many events we have been to in the past week and the only answer I had was that when he is not with me; I feel lost and without protection. This made him happy, but it also made him upset. He apologized for leaving me vulnerable even though it wasn’t his fault and then he made love to me for hours. I fell asleep and woke up to Alaina in the kitchen with a cappuccino and an outfit for me to wear. I protested of course since I have a closet full of clothes she brought over here a couple of days ago, but she insisted. She called it body armor for the heart.
When Blake told me he wanted me and he didn’t want to let me go, I assumed it was something he was saying in the heat of the moment, but no. He was serious. A couple of days ago, I came back to his place from the hospital and found the other side of his closet had been filled with clothes and shoes from his sister. He cleared out drawers for me and put in them panties and lingerie. I was speechless. He simply shrugged and said, “I told you, you belong to me and with me.” I have been here ever since.
I talked to Lily the other day and asked her what she thought. She laughed, called me silly, and told me to follow my heart. That is the problem. How do you know the difference between your heart and lust? “So, are you ready?” my attention turns back to Alaina, who came over here to give me the pep talk about their parents. Apparently, we have to go to dinner at their house tonight and she said I needed to be armed with information and what to expect so I don’t get hurt. Whatever that means. I told her I already met her mom and she pretty much let it be known what she thought of me, and Blake shut her down. What more can she do?