Chapter Two
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Adrienne
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Adrienne almost criedin relief when Miriam caught up with her again, startling her out of her enthralled state and bringing her back to reality at once.
She probably just imagined the three men.They might not even have been looking at her at all.
Maybe it was time she packed up and left the city forever, leaving not a trace of herself behind.With her mother, thankfully, non-existent in her life, and her father gone—it had been almost four years since the day he passed away, she could disappear, and no one would care.The only other person she would miss would be Miriam.Still, if anyone could understand her need to escape, even while being held at arm’s length throughout their relationship, it would be Miriam.
Adrienne had more money than she knew what to do with.She’d made a name for herself in the world of electric cars and cruise liners, working twice as hard to be taken seriously in a male-dominated world.
But she trusted her allies as far as she could throw them and never allowed anyone else to steer her ship.Now she religiously but anonymously pumped millions upon millions of dollars into charitable organizations to fight poverty and increase education all across the globe.
When she was a child all she wanted to grow up to be was a princess with a princess dress and a magic wand that could make anyone unhappy, happy again.Her mother had told her she was too fat to be a princess.She’d been six years old then.
When she started working for her father in his maritime business after getting her business degree, her mother then told her the only way she would be successful was if she spread her legs like the good little whore she was destined to become—because that was the only way a woman could make it in a man’s world.
Look, Mom, I’m a billionaire and still a virgin.
“Stupid, Adrienne,” she murmured, still needing her mother’s approval.
Her father would have been proud though, but he would have also told her she didn’t need to prove anything to anyone.He divorced her mother when Adrienne was twelve years old on account of her being unable to love their only child.The week before Rebecca, in a happy drunken stupor, had brushed Adrienne’s waist-length hair into a high ponytail and then promptly cut it off.
Her hair grew back.Her mother remained a drunken jerk.
Yes, she made up her mind.She was going to become a swamp lady hermit who could scare everyone off with just a glowering gaze.Everyone would leave her alone.She never had to be someone else.It was exhausting, all that pretending, and she was tired.
So, contrary to Miriam’s misdiagnosis, she needed sex like she needed a cactus in her panties, so she was going to die a virgin too.
Take that, Mom.
“Did you see them?”Miriam asked in a rush, her face flushed.“Fresh meat in the water, babe.”
“Who?”Adrienne asked, paying attention now.
“Those three unparalleled, magnificent, young man-gods,” Miriam said, gesturing to her right.“I’ve never seen them before at functions like this.My god, aren’t they majestic and I’m talking about what’s going to be in their pants if their faces are so fucking beautiful.”
It didn’t take Adrienne long to spot them.Every woman in the banquet hall of the posh hotel seemed to be looking at the three newcomers, clutching their hearts and fanning themselves as they smiled coyly.
Arg.
Who were they really?They were standing together and seemed familiar with each other, so they obviously came together.She had never seen them before as charity events, Miriam was right.Jackson introduced one of them as an upcoming entrepreneur which meant nothing.
And it didn’t matter one bit, either.She had already nipped her body’s overreaction to them right in the bud and now she was feeling a little grumpy, or maybe she was just hungry.
Who could blame her?It required a lot to maintain her size four figure naturally by keeping her boobs and butt where they belonged.Her fantasy of being a secluded hermit lady also meant she could eat whatever she desired and not care about the repercussions on her hips.
She could go soft in all the right places, and nothing would make her happier.The idea was growing on her more and more, to the point where she could taste that kind of freedom in her mouth.
She hadn’t eaten any chocolate in eight years.She forgot what pizza tasted like, let alone what it looked like, and strategically sipped from the same glass of champagne at events like this the whole night long.She didn’t need the extra calories.
“Oh, it’s going to start.Here,” Miriam said, handing Adrienne a gold auction paddle with the number ‘three’ on it.“Time for Mama to go shopping.”
Adrienne mindlessly took the paddle and then allowed herself to be dragged along by Miriam to get to the chairs in front of the stage.Adrienne knew she had every intention of just sitting out the auction.She was not interested in buying a date for the night.Or any night.She’d write a check for the hostess all the same and that would be the end of it.
