The song comes to an end just as he glances over his shoulder and notices the sparkling silver evening gown sliding through a group of people.
“As you say,” he murmurs, a little pissed.
Ignoring his reaction, I walk toward my grandmother.
“Any new developments?” I ask, irony dripping from my voice. “Anyone ready to propose to me?”
“No need to be sarcastic,” she says, her eyes checking the crowd behind me. “Who was that?”
Studying the scowl on her face, I shrug.
“A guest, I guess,” I say, entertained by the play of words.
Her eyes come back to me rather abruptly, her mask removed.
“Listen to me, Leilani,” she pushes through her teeth. “Whatever you want to accomplish with this rebellious attitude won’t work. It won’t change your future. You need to behave for once. You need to at least pretend that you're marriage material. One of the men you saw in our house today might be your future husband.”
A smirk filled with contempt tugs at my lips as I yank my arm out of her grip.
“You’re right about that. One of themwill bemy husband one day, and he’ll need to accept me for who I am. Do you think I’ll magically morph into a purring kitten? This shit that you’re trying to pull on me hasn’t worked on Bianca. What makes you think it will work on me?”
Her eyes narrow with dark outrage.
She attempts to grip my arm again, and I fight back hard, unwilling to let her treat me like I’m a little girl.
Irritated with how quickly our conversation has gone sour, and how a few bystanders are looking at us, she leans closer to me and speaks next to my ear.
“This is not a silly game, Leilani. Your mother ended up six feet underground because she played stupid and wasn’t able to make a smart decision a single time in her life. You are so concerned with what your future looks like? Let me give you some advice. Learn quickly and stop being difficult. You either play by our family rules, or you end up dead. There is no in between. I hope I’m clear on that,” she says, straightening and running a hand over her dress before offering me a fake smile. “Stop behaving like a slutty, little spoiled brat. That’s all I’m saying.”
With that, she glares at me in conclusion and moves away. Chewing on my lip, I watch her find her way back to the house.
I hate these people.
Slutty, little spoiled brat.
Who even talks like that?
As soon as she vanishes behind a group of people, I know exactly what I need to do.
Dragging my eyes around, I locate Paxton.
He nurses a drink.
What’s new, really?
I need another drink myself, so I signal a server, and soon after, I get a glass of bourbon and head to Paxton.
We barely reconnect and start flirting, this time with way more alcohol in our blood, when I notice how distracted he has become.
He looks over my shoulder several times, so I turn around and spot Callum.
Talking to one of his men, he keeps an eye on us.
Perfect,says the little devil inside my head.
I loop an arm around Paxton’s neck, throw my head back, and press every inch of bare skin against him, a big smile on my face.
Instantly distracted, he tilts his eyes down, taking me in. All of me. Luscious lips, pearly white teeth, eyes burning with a fever, boobs almost spilling out, squished against his hard torso.
