Fatal Alliances: Chapter 7

I don’t know how long it’s been since I got irritated and came into the room. He just made me so furious. Why can’t he at least try to be nicer to me? Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door and Donnie walked in,

“Oh, why aren’t you coming out? You’ve been in here alone for like two hours. Don’t you get bored?” He asked.   

“Well, of course, I do, but who could I talk to in a place like this? Vandermir?” I scoffed, “That’s unlikely.”

“You could have come to me. I would’ve been more than happy to help with that boredom.” He said with a grin on his face.

I was right about this guy. He’s women crazy. 

“But…” He continued, “Since you’re in Adrian’s care, I guess you’re ‘off limits’.”

“I swear,” I mumbled to myself, annoyed at his presence and the fact that he felt like I was some sort of object one owns.

“He sent this,” Donnie started again as he placed a long formal navy blue dress on the bed, “Wear it. We’re going out.”

After he left the room I stared at the dress. It was actually quite impressive.

No, don’t make him bribe you, Juliet. You don’t take bribes.  

Who did he think he was though? To command me to go out with him, this was simply ridiculous. Taking the dress in my hand, I walked out of the room where I saw that everyone was back. Wow, they’re always popping in and out. Adrian sat on the couch. This time he was looking at me straight in the eyes, daring me to look at him, and I did. I was no coward and I wasn’t planning to be.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I stated as I threw the dress at him almost as if it were the most inexpensive, replaceable thing ever.

I didn’t have to look at him to see the discontented look he was giving me, but it suddenly disappeared and turned into an oddly calm and careless demeanor.

“Are you done?” He asked as if I was going to throw a long continuous tantrum.

Finny held a worried look while Donnie had an amused expression on his face. Ricardo, of course, remained as cool and collected as usual.

Adrian stood up and walked towards me with a dangerously sharp look in his eyes, “It isn’t an option to you.”

“And what makes you think I’ll listen to you?” I quickly shot back, returning the glare.

Before he could open his mouth again, Finny interrupted, “It’s best if you go to the function with us, Juliet. It wouldn’t be safe for you to stay here alone.”

Turning my attention back to Adrian, I folded my arms, “I doubt that’s the reason you want me to go.”

“You’re right. I couldn’t care less about you.” He replied as he walked away from me.

“Wow, I’ve never seen a girl that would be brave enough to talk back at him. Maybe you should put away those claws of yours around him, kitten.” Donnie said to me.

After much thinking and the departure of everyone, I finally came to the conclusion of whether I should attend the function or not. Besides, it would be in my best interest if I went along with them.

“Hurry up and get ready. I’m not going to be wasting my time and waiting for you.” Adrian stated coldly, even though I never told him I agreed to go yet. 

“Fine, but I’m not going because you told me to. I’m going because I feel like it and that dress is gorgeous.”

Spitefully, I took a while to get ready. I mean, what’s the worst he can do to me? Leave me? The dress actually had fit me perfectly. I pinned my hair up (nothing too impressive, I mean a five-year-old could have done that) and did only a little makeup. I was never too fond of wearing foundation every day. Eyeliner and mascara were usually what I’d go for, and a little lip colour- but not too bright. Honestly, I just wasn’t feeling in the best mood for this occasion.

As I stepped out of the room, I saw him already in his suit waiting impatiently, “If you were going to have me wait this long, I’d expect something prettier.”

“You’re not that important to me, so why should I even dress up for you? Besides, I don’t care what ‘your’ kind of people thinks about me.” I said rolling my eyes.

Those individuals in the upper class always annoyed me- the bratty ones, that is. Even though the Dawnlys were of that class, they always distanced themselves from that sort of ‘cult’ and I highly admired that about them. Maybe it’s because they were old and liked the little things in life now? Who knew? One thing for certain was that I missed them. I missed Jenna and Nina. I just wanted to see and be with them again. Oh God, Jenna must be so worried.

“Shouldn’t you be wearing shoes, Ms. Greene?” Adrian asked, arching an eyebrow.

“I….uh….I don’t….” I replied, feeling a bit awkward to tell him I don’t have any.

“They’re on the table over there.” He said carelessly as he tilted his head to a bag.

Opening the box, I found the highest pair of shoes ever. Actually, they weren’t the highest, but to me, they were the highest I ever picked up.

“I can’t wear this.”

Irritated he walked up to me, “Put the shoes on now, you’re wasting my time.”

“No, Adrian, I can’t!”

It seemed as if I really pissed him.

“They’re too high. I’ve never worn shoes so high before. I can’t walk in them.” I said as I remembered the time Mrs. Dawnly took me to a Pageant after-party with her. It was the most embarrassing day to me because she made me wear high-heeled shoes and I couldn’t even walk three steps without clinging onto something. And these heels in front of me right now were twice the height of those shoes.

“You don’t care what ‘my’ kind of people think of you, right? So why should you worry?” He replied with a soft wicked smile, “You’ll put it on during the ride there.” And with that, he walked out the door without a care.

I sighed reluctantly as I followed behind him. Coming out of the room, I noticed a few of the maids and employees staring at me. Urgh, I hated being stared at.     

Everyone was already in the limo when Adrian and I approached. As we went in, Ricardo asked, “What were you doing so long?”

At that moment, I felt a bit awful that I was also making everyone wait. And to rub salt in my wounds, Adrian laughed cruelly and replied, “She was throwing another tantrum.”

“It’s one of the perks of having a woman.” Donnie chuckled.

I was feeling immensely lousy at that moment and during the ride. I just wanted to wake up and tell myself that this is not real, it’s just a dream. Or maybe I am being pranked? I would love for that right now. But then reality hit me and I realized that I had actually been pushed into a pond, scored injuries that could hurt for a lifetime, and am wearing shoes that I don’t even know how to walk in. Adrian was probably going to attract attention for everyone to look at me and how horribly shameful I would be at the function.

“You look lovely.” I heard Finny say to me, but I was too caught up in my worries.

“Juliet?” I heard him say again.

“Oh, thanks,” I replied dryly, still feeling crummy about my situation. 

Suddenly the vehicle stopped at this large building, it was so different from any I’d ever seen. Its upper structure protruded outwards and was incredibly magnificent. Everyone exited, leaving me the last to step out. I was about to step out when someone offered me their hand.

Adrian?

Reluctantly I took it, only because I was afraid of falling when I came out.

“What are you doing?” I asked a bit perplexed by his sudden act of kindness.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he walked forward towards the elevator where Finny and Ricardo were. I guessed Donnie went elsewhere. I tried keeping up with him as fast as I could; as lady-like as I could, but it was very difficult considering the heels. It wasn’t long until we reached the entrance of a large hall. Finny and Ricardo had already walked in but as I was about to step in, I stopped abruptly.

“Oh my God,” I said in alarm.

“What’s wrong with you now!” He asked annoyingly in a hushed voice.

“I can’t go in there. Please don’t make me go in there.” I panicked, a bit flustered as I looked at the floor. I hated being whiney but I just couldn’t step foot into that room.

“Hell, you’re afraid of people now, Greene?”

“No, I’m not. It’s just- the floor.” I replied back as I kept my eyes frightfully glued on the strange transparent glass floor. It reflected the city lights on the bottom, so in other words, it made you seem like you were walking in the air. Even though I knew it was safe and strong enough to hold a lot of weight, it didn’t take away my embarrassing fear of heights.

This was just not my day.

As if he understood, Adrian smirked, “Don’t be such a baby. You won’t fall through.”

“Look, Vandermir, I’ve had it with you. I didn’t say no to coming here, I didn’t not wear these heels. But this you can’t do to me. You can’t just expect me to get over something that I’ve been afraid of for years in just one day.”   

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” He exasperatedly muttered softly to himself, “Take my arm, I’ll hold you.”

Doing so, we walked in as people stared at us and whispered.

Again with the gossiping? How mature.

“Walk straight you idiot.” He ordered softly.

“I’m trying you douche.”

“And don’t talk until I tell you to. You’re enough trouble for me already.”

He was awful enough to say that to me. As we neared more people, his grip on me seemed to be getting even tighter. Abruptly, someone came in front of us. It was a man around his fifties, he wore this all-white suit which made him look a bit pale, almost like a ghost, yet he was loud and had a hearty laugh. His appearance contrasted with his personality, meek, dried, and plain versus bold and energetic. There was something about this man though that just gave me the chills.

“Vandermir!” The man called with a laugh, “How are you, my boy?”

“Pleasure to be meeting you again, Mr. O’Neil,” Adrian replied in his velvety voice.

“I haven’t seen you since the auction in Hawaii. That after-party was quite the relaxation, too bad you couldn’t get the chance to stay a little longer.”

“Yes, I was on a tight schedule.”  

“Well, I wouldn’t stand the chance if you were there.” The man continued.

“And why do you say that?” Adrian asked a bit curious.

“Because I’m just the second choice for the women, right?” He laughed again, “You’re the first.”

Urgh, how disgusting this man was turning out to be. Were all men this repulsive? The man was so old, yet he was thinking about such young women in such a manner? And I thought Vandermir was bad. At this age, he should be practicing golf or taking his wife on cruises and such, or at least sitting and watching some television. I mean, that’s what Mr. Dawnly does, like a good old man. Not some creep who was eyeballing young girls. I felt mentally sick just looking at him. Almost as if he noticed my intense distasteful staring at him, he looked at me but I lowered my head on Vandermir’s hand where our arms looped. I wasn’t going to risk looking at the ground.

“So who’s this beautiful arm candy of yours tonight?” Mr. O’Neil asked as he absorbed my features.

Did he just call me arm candy? That mangy old hen.  

“How intoxicating she is.” The old man continued as he outstretched his hand to touch my hair when Adrian slightly pulled me.

“Please, Mr. O’Neil, don’t touch her.” He said in an apologetic manner.

It seemed like that irritated the old man a lot.

“You seem to take a liking to this one, boy,” O’Neil replied. keeping his irritation on the low.

“I have actually,” Vandermir smirked towards the man, “She is my fiancée after all.”

Wait, what?

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