“What did you do to piss off your family?”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“There must be some reason they’re forcing you into an arranged marriage. What is it? Are you the family disgrace? Did you used to have a drug problem? Enjoy spending all of mommy and daddy’s money and got a little out of control? Oh, maybe you have a gambling problem?” Her brows lift up in challenge.
I sit up straighter, slightly offended by her assessment of me. “I haven’t done any of those things.”
“I’ve heard about your reputation though.” Her smile is not kind. “You like to party.”
Fucking paparazzi. They make me look like a sleazy asshole most of the time. “Not so much anymore.”
“You just got smarter. You’re not so obvious and they can’t find you.”
I blink at her, shocked that she figured me out. “It doesn’t matter. That was my past.”
“Your mother didn’t approve of you going out with a different woman every night? Is that why you’re being forced into marriage?”
From the look on her face, I can tell she’s genuinely curious. But I can’t tell her the truth. I know why I’m the one who’s being asked to do this, and why my family is so confident that I will.
I do everything Mother says. I always have. It’s why I’m her favorite. Everyone else blows her off. She had plans for every single one of my siblings at one point or another, and they all did whatever the hell they wanted.
She fully expects I’ll deliver. I always do.
For once, I don’t want to.
“My mother couldn’t give a shit about what I’m doing,” I say, lying through my teeth.
“Uh-huh.” Charlotte doesn’t believe me.
Of course she doesn’t.
The mothers start asking her about her color preferences, engaging her in conversation and leaving me to think about…everything.
I don’t want to get married to this woman.
Not at all.
I also don’t want to piss my mother off. Something I never do. For once, I should grow some balls and stand up to her.
Tell her no.
I’m finally feeling confident in life. At Halcyon. And this situation has to come along and fuck everything up.
This summer was one of the best I’ve ever had. I was in the Hamptons every weekend sharing a house with friends and coworkers from Halcyon.
It makes Winston crazy, that I “fraternize with the help,” but damn, I’ve made friends there. I want to hang out with them. I want to belong.
Something I’ve rarely felt like I do. I don’t necessarily belong with my family. I’m the odd one out, always have been. My friend groups were pretty small and tight knit throughout my school years, and most of those guys went off to college and never came back.
I don’t like to acknowledge it but I feel…lonely. Then I tell myself to get over it and end up at a club, dancing and drinking with nameless, faceless women, flirting with them. Sometimes I even go home with one of them.
Not lately though. And I guess not for a long time, thanks to my recent engagement.
I remember what Mother told me. How I could go about my business eventually, as long as I was discreet. Just the idea of cheating on this beautiful woman fills me with disgust.
Not that I want to marry her, but damn. Is that really the situation I’m going to end up in? Trapped in a loveless marriage, seeking affection and attention from another woman? Keeping a mistress for the rest of my days?
That sounds fucked up.