“I hate events.” Amelia eyes the crazed paparazzi outside from the safety of my Mercedes.
“There’s nothing I hate more than this.” My eyes follow where hers are pinned.
Men line the red carpet, ready to blind us with their camera flashes once we exit my car.
“What’s this gala for anyway?” I ask, the radio playing low in the background.
She rolls her eyes, not at me, but at the fact that we’re expected in there any minute. “This gala is for a donation that goes toward sick children, and almost every musician is in there right now. Most people only go to this yearly gala because society will look at you poorly if you don’t attend and make a donation.”
Her eyes find mine in the darkness. “I love helping kids. It’s the only reason I come here. But I’m afraid the only reason my team makes me and my brothers attend yearly is for our image. They always donate the most money to be talked about highly.”
I hate most rich people, and this is why. I didn’t grow up wealthy, so I know the difference between being grateful and showing it, and being greedy and ungrateful.
I groan, running a hand down my face. “So, what you’re telling me is that I’m being forced to talk to a bunch of fake-ass people?”
She pats my thigh with an apologetic smile, making blood rush to my groin. “Don’t forget to smile.”
A valet driver stands at my door, and I signal for my date to wait in the car. The moment I step out, the camera flashes increase, making me place a hand over my eyes to see what’s in front of me. I open her door and extend a hand to her. The second one of her long legs appears in everyone’s vision, they go crazy for the sexiest girl here. Every pair of eyes swings in her direction. I’m not sure if she notices, but if she does, she doesn’t show it.
Fixing her dress once she’s fully out, she gives me a nervous smile. I feel the slight tremble of her fingers in mine, knowing she hates taking pictures, which kills me inside because I can’t do anything to help her. I give her my arm, and she places hers in mine. I guide us to the carpet. Stopping every couple of steps, I pull her against my body as we both pose for pictures.
A handful of paparazzi screams at us to look in their direction, making a shiver run down my back.
How can I look in more than one direction, you dumb fucks?
“Smile. You look scary,” Amelia’s sweet voice whispers in my ear, causing me to turn my head in her direction.
Finding her smiling lips so close to mine makes me remember our management teams want a sweeter approach to our relationship. I cup her cheek, and her eyes flutter closed as I brush my lips innocently against hers.
My heart? It’s beating pretty fucking fast. And the way her body is pressed on mine, I feel hers match the beat of my own. But let’s be honest. I just wanted an excuse to kiss her.
I hear everyone go wild around us, making us smile against each other’s lips. Breaking the kiss before it turns to anything else but sweet, I wink down at her dazed face and lead us into the hall. Leaving the annoying screams and flashing lights behind.
As we walk through the open doors, everyone turns and looks at us, and every man stops and stares at the girl on my arm. The way they’re looking at her, their mouths might as well drop to the floor. Their lustful gazes don’t bother me as long as she’s on my arm. I know how to fucking fight if I have to.
However, I don’t know if it’s any better in here than it was outside. Caterers run back and forth with full and empty trays. People’s fake smiles pierce my eyeballs, and their fake laughter hurts my eardrums.
The beauty beside me screeches in surprise when someone envelops her in a hug. I turn around, ready to give whoever touched my girl an earful, but relax at the sight of her best friend.
“If I were a man, I would totally bang you.” Trinity swoons, taking a step away from her best friend to look at her from head to toe.
“Trin,” Amelia says with an embarrassed smile, glancing over her shoulder to see if anyone heard.
“What? I’m not lying.” Trinity shrugs, and her boyfriend scowls at her.
“Glad to know you would bang my sister.”
“Don’t worry, babe; you have no competition.”
He rolls his eyes at her and pulls her into his suit-clad body.
I stand to the side as Amelia hugs her other brother while avoiding all the wandering gazes around us. I feel everyone staring at us in curiosity, wondering if a fight is going to break out between me and her brothers. But I don’t show my surprise when Elijah extends a hand to me with a smile. Accepting it, I shake it firmly.
“You clean up nice, Levi.” Trinity sends me a friendly smile.
I nod. “I see you’re keeping your iconic name alive.” I point to her black dress. She is known as The Girl in Black.
She shrugs. “I love fucking with people.”
