Ok, that didn't make me any less confused. "What party?"
He chews his lip and looks away, visibly stalling before letting out a resigned sigh. "For Dorian and Aurora. Father is throwing them some kinda grand affair to celebrate the wedding in a few weeks. And he requests your presence."
My tired eyes pop open instantly. "Oh hell no! Hell-fuckin'-no! I am not going to a party for my ex and his ho-bag bitch fiancé! Hell no!"
Niko pokes out his lip. "I thought you'd say that. And I get it. But it's important that you come. Father insists. And denying him will not be good for anyone. I'm trying to keep him from coming near your friends again, Gabs, but you have to help me out."
"No!"
He lets out an exasperated groan, desperation marring his angelic face. "Ok, I didn't want to say this, but Gabs, you have no choice. Either you go to him, or he will come to you. And if your friends or family are around, it won't matter. He gets what he wants. Don't you get that yet? You either play by his rules or you don't play at all!"
I sit up with an irritated huff. "So are you telling me that if I refuse to go, your father will come to me? And that my loved ones may get hurt in the process?"
"Yes."
I purse my lips and shake my head, beyond pissed and unable to successfully unleash my contempt. I know it's not his fault and I shouldn't blame Niko, but all I want to do right now is slap the Dark out of him. "You know this is complete bullshit, right?"
He nods, his shoulders slumping with relief. He's knows I'm considering it. "I know. And I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't necessary. He only wants to talk. He wouldn't try anything around so many witnesses. And even if he did, I'll be there. And so will Dorian. Do you think any one of us would sit back and watch him hurt you?"
I shrug, unsure of what to think at this point. It's true that Niko has been undoubtedly loyal to me. But he's still Dark. And deception and betrayal seem to come second nature to his kind.
"Look, I'll come. But you don't need to take me shopping. I do happen to own a clothing store. And I'll stay long enough to hear him out then I'm gone. I don't need to see them flaunting their fucked up love for one another."
"Thanks, Gabs," he says leaning forward and kissing my cheek. "I promise it isn't what you think. And for the record, I just have to say … I don't believe he did anything with her in that video. I would bet my life that he didn't have sex with her."
"Doesn't matter," I shake my head, trying to erase the conjured memory of the video from my mind. "He's with her now. What they do is none of my business."
After he says goodbye, I begrudgingly roll out of bed. Jared had an early class so I know he was out of here hours ago. Waking up to the Dark King's demands was not how I pictured starting off my day.
"Morning!" Morgan chimes, sipping her coffee at the breakfast bar. I give her a half-grunt and head for the pot. I'm still too annoyed to be cordial. She taps her acrylic nails against the marble top impatiently, indicating that something is on her mind.
"What?" I ask after taking the first sip of caffeinated heaven.
"So this Friday, I have to go to this function for work. I'm dreading it but I absolutely have to go, Gabs. All the Luxe employees do. And I wanted to tell you but I didn't know how you'd react. But now that you see how the tabloids are blowing up with information, I'd rather you hear it from me," she rambles nervously.
"The party for Dorian and Aurora. I know," I say, putting her out of her misery.
She sighs with relief. "How did you know?"
"Because I'm going too," I reply stoically. "I guess with Cashmere formerly being owned by Dorian or something, I'm required to make an appearance. I'm just popping in for five minutes then leaving."
"Are you sure you can handle that, Gabs?" The space between her big brown eyes puckers with doubt.
"Yeah, what's not to handle? He and I have been broken up for like six months now." Before I am forced to convince her any further, the doorbell rings. Fortunately, I am greeted by Jared's smiling face, bearing a paper sack full of bagels.
"Now that's what I'm talking about! Did you remember to get smoked salmon cream cheese?" Morgan asks, snatching the bag.
Jared makes a disgusted face and fishes the individual servings of cream cheese out of his pocket. "Yeah. Gross." He drops a kiss on my smiling lips, cradling my face in his large hands. "Good morning, beautiful. Sorry I left so early."
"It's ok," I grin, folding my body into his arms. "You're here now. And you brought bagels." We both look over at Morgan who is muttering her thanks between large bites of bread and sesame seeds.
"So Gabs, I'll stop by the store later and look for a dress. You wanna meet me there so we can shop together?" she asks after washing down her bite with a gulp of coffee.
I shrug, not sure what I plan to do for the day. The last thing I planned to do was shop for formal dresses for an event that I don't want to attend. I'd rather cut off my left foot than go to a party to celebrate Dorian and Aurora's upcoming nuptials.
"A dress for what?" Jared asks, grabbing himself a mug. Morgan and I lock gazes. Shit.
"Oh nothing. Just some bullshit party Morgan and I are being forced to attend on Friday. But I was planning to OD on Thursday so my RSVP is still tentative."
"A party? What kind of party?" he asks eyeing me curiously. He knows I'm dancing around the truth, trying to throw him off the scent of my anxiety. I look to Morgan and plead for help with my eyes.
"A party for Dorian and Aurora," she answers. "You know how ruthless these socialites are. We are practically being dragged there against our will."
I mouth my thanks to her behind Jared's back before he turns back to search my blank expression. "And you're ok with that? You'll be fine to be in the same room with them again?"
I don't have the heart to tell him that Dorian and I tried to work things out and that I had seen him on New Year's. But I hadn't even really considered Aurora. Can I really stand to be anywhere near her without wanting to snatch every single hair from her corrupt little head? Doubtful.
"I guess we'll find out," I shrug.
"Ok," he nods. "What time should I pick you up?"
Huh? "Pick me up for what?"
"For the party. You really think I am going to send you to deal with those soulless assholes by yourself? If you have to suffer through it, so do I."
I cock my head to one side and look up at him questioningly. "You'd really subject yourself to that for me?"
Jared sets down his coffee mug and takes mine from me as well, placing it on the breakfast bar. Then he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me into his body. "When are you going to realize that I would do anything for you? Of course, I'm going."
I snuggle into his embrace and forget for one moment what I've committed myself to do. In a matter of days, I will be face to face with the Dark King and God knows what else. I could be walking into my own assassination. But I can't tell Morgan or Jared that without raising suspicion. I just have to see this through and hope like hell that Niko is right about my safety.
Chapter Twenty Six
I stand in front of the full length mirror, adjusting the delicate straps of my dress. My hair falls in soft ringlets from an intricate knot atop my head and my eyes are perfectly smoky with a touch of golden shimmer. It all seems oddly formal for just a party but of course I know nothing about black tie formal affairs. Most of the parties I attend are BYOB or include beer funnels.
"Oh … Em … Geee, Gabs, you look stunning!" Morgan says from behind me after putting the final touches on my hair.
I run my hands down the front of the cream beaded gown. "You really think so?"
She beams at me through the mirror and places her hands on my shoulders. "I know so. Do I look like the type of chick that dishes out compliments just to blow your head up? Now tell me how fabulous I look so we can go."
I turn around to face my best friend decked out in head to toe emerald green satin. "You look absolutely beautiful, Morg," I smile. She truly does, and for a moment I feel the threat of tears forming at my perfectly lined eyes. I quickly blink them away. Morgan would kill me if I ruined her hard work. But being here, her arsenal of beauty products splayed all over my room while she treats me like a life-sized Barbie, feels like old times. I almost feel normal.
A tap at my bedroom door interrupts the sentimental thoughts going through my head. "We better get out there," I remark. "The guys are getting impatient."
"Oh, screw them," Morgan replies, adding another coat of mascara to her dangerously long false lashes. "Perfection takes time!"
When we emerge from the bedroom, appreciation is written all over Miguel and Jared's faces. Miguel quickly wraps his burly arms around Morgan's tiny waist and kisses her senseless, eliciting quite a few squeals. Jared takes a smoother approach, grasping my hands and pulling me into his body. He rests his forehead against mine and lets out a breath.