Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>
Yet, with Becca—I couldn’t.
Becca.
The conversation with James weighed heavily on my mind. I didn’t want to be that person to always be negative, but the rational part of my mind was screaming at me for being absolutely ridiculous.
“Everything okay?” Allegra asked as she stood by the entrance to the shoe store.
“Hmm… oh yeah. I’m okay.” I pushed my phone back into my purse.
“You don’t look like you’re fine.”
“It’s just a lot. You know everything with James and his family.”
She knew very well what I meant, but she had been rooting for James and I to work things out ever since she met me. I wasn’t sure if that was because she was friends with James or simply because she really did like me.
Regardless, even she had to know I had to have limits to the crazy.
Any sane person would.
“I know it’s rough, Becca. In the end, though, if you both care for each other, this will only bring you closer together and make you stronger.”
“… And if it doesn’t?” I asked, raising a brow in question.
Shrugging her shoulders, she took to a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes. “Well then, at least you can say you tried. Now, what do you think about these? I think the gold buckle accents your dress well.”
Laughter escaped me at how quickly she could change the conversation. It was one of the things I liked about Allegra so much. She was always quick to make sure she stayed in a positive attitude.
“They’re cute,” I replied, watching her eyes widen in shock.
“Cute? Girl, they are divine,” Allegra said with exaggeration.
“If you say so. Let’s get them and head back to your place.”
“Oh, good idea. Neal is still here, and there is no telling what he is getting up to in my place all alone,” she laughed. “That man can make a mess sometimes.”
I was surprised to hear that Neal was still in town. The last time I saw him was the night at Velvet, and that was the same night that James made it very clear I was his.
I wasn’t sure why he was so jealous of Neal, though. The man wasn’t interested in me; he was simply being friendly. Neal had clarified that he liked men.
“I thought he was going home,” I asked as I glanced at her with curiosity.
“He was supposed to, but then he changed his plans. Not sure why?”
“Hmm… maybe he met someone here, and that’s why he is staying,” I commented, watching as Allegra’s gaze went from concentrating on money to soaking in what I’d said.
Turning to me with wide eyes, her lips parted. “Oh, my god. Maybe he did!”
“It would be nice to see him with someone. He is a very attractive man, and any man would be lucky to have him.”
I watched her lips turn up into a grin. “Oh sweetie, if you only knew the truth about him.”
I wasn’t too sure what she meant about that, but I decided not to pay any attention to it. We paid and quickly left the store to get a cab home.
The entire day had been eventful, but there was nothing like coming back to the apartment and taking off my shoes and relaxing. Pouring myself a large glass of wine, I turned on the music in the apartment and took my shopping bags towards the back room.
Within the walls of the apartment, I felt safe, but it was only when James was with me that I felt I didn’t have to worry about anything.
At least most of the time.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t realize the music had turned off until the sound of footsteps in the hallway caught my attention. Furrowing my brow, I slowly made my way towards the door to see James standing there.
“You’re back early,” I said with a smile.
Yet, for some reason, there wasn’t a smile on his face. Instead, he cleared the space between us and crashed his lips upon mine. Lost for words, I let him do as he pleased with me, and with as rough as he was being, I could tell that he desperately needed the release.
Placing my hands upon his chest, I gently pulled away to catch my breath. “What’s wrong?”
He stared down at me for a moment in silence before shaking his head. “Nothing, I’m just glad that I’m back here with you.”
His answer touched my heart, and even though it was sweet, I knew it wasn’t the truth. Something was really bothering him, but if he didn’t want to tell me, I wasn’t going to press the issue.
Instead, I would enjoy the time I had with him, because I had no idea how long it would last. Pushing up on my tippy toes, I brushed my lips against his and wrapped my arms around his neck.
The kiss was slow and gentle, but I could tell he was holding back.
We both were. “Take me how you want me, James. Don’t hold back.”
When James said we were going to a Gala, I had imagined a hotel with a bunch of politicians. However, when the limo pulled up to the front of the massive white building that reminded me so much of the White House, my jaw dropped.
“Holy shit…” I gasped, causing James to laugh.
“It’s nice, huh? Wait until you see the inside. For a man with that kind of money, he had big inspirations while building it.”
Looking over my shoulder at him, I paused. “What is this place?”
“The Trump National Doral,” James replied as a chauffeur opened my door in tails with white gloves. I was taken aback by his words.
This was only a glimpse of what was to come. I could only hope high society was ready for me, because tonight was surely going to be a night I would never forget.
A red carpet and lights came down from the front doors and stretched for what seemed forever. I took James’ arm as we walked up the path. My long emerald green dress flowed behind me as my gold buckled heels moved across the red carpet.
I felt like high society, but I couldn’t help but notice the looks some women gave me as I passed with James. They were shocked, but also some held disdain.
“Don’t pay them any mind, Becca,” James whispered in my ear. “You’re dripping with elegance, and they are jealous of you.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and laugh at his comment. “I highly doubt that.”
“It’s true,” he teased. “No one has seen me come with a woman in many years. I’m technically an eligible bachelor and instead of them being with me…”
“You’re with a woman half your age,” I smirked, glancing up at him, watching his lips curl up into a smile.
“Essentially.”
I had thought the outside was lavish, but as soon as I stepped through the doorway, I felt my breath leave again. Crystal chandeliers were dripping from the ceiling’s accent with sheer white cloth and high vaulted ceilings.
There had to have been a thousand people here tonight, and each one of them were dressed to impress. Diamonds, designer clothing, and so much more.
I wanted more than anything to fit in with the people here. To blend into the mix and enjoy my evening with James, but as soon as we stepped further into the room, he was flocked by people coming to greet him.
I wasn’t sure who half of them were, but when one man glanced down at me, his eyes were swirling with lust, and the way he stared at me felt like he was undressing me slowly with his eyes.
“James, who is this lovely creature on your arm?”
James went rigid for a moment before glancing down at me and smiling. “This is Rebecca Woods. She is lovely, isn’t she?”
The fact that he called me by my entire first name was a complete first for me. I have never heard him call me anything but Becca. However, when he said it—I felt myself clench with desire as I glanced at him.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Rebecca. My name is Charles Hyatt.”
When Charles said my name, it didn’t make me feel the same way, but regardless of the notion, I took his hand and watched as he kissed the back of it while smiling at me.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Charles. Please, call me Becca,” I replied with a smile.
I didn’t want him to think he could call me Rebecca. Not even my father called me that, and if James saying it made me feel that way, I didn’t want anyone else to ever call me Rebecca but him.
“So how did the two of you meet?” Charles asked with a smirk that made me feel rather uncomfortable.
“Through family,” James replied, causing me to inwardly laugh, but keep my composure. It wasn’t a lie. We had, indeed, met through family, but just not in the sense everyone else was going to take it.
Before anything else could be said, laughter echoed from behind us, and I already knew who it was before I turned around. Tally and her mother had arrived, and even though James had told me not to worry about them tonight—I was.
“Oh, look Tally. There’s your father,” Allison said, causing James and I to turn slightly to look at them as they walked up.
Charles seemed all too familiar with who Allison was, and he greeted her in the same way he had greeted me. Except the hello was more familiar and the smiles more relaxed.
“Allison… Tally,” James said with a straight face. “You both look lovely tonight.”
I knew he was being polite, but when Allison’s eyes gazed in my direction, there was no doubt in my mind there were going to be issues. She had a glint in her eye that spoke volumes to whatever she was planning.
“James, I see you brought Becca tonight,” she said as if she hadn’t already known that was going to happen.
“Oh, you know Becca?” Charles grinned as his gaze turned back to me. “It’s refreshing to see that you both are cordial when it comes to who you’re seeing.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Allison softly scoffed with a smile. “Didn’t he tell you how they met?”
“Allison,” James replied firmly, glancing at her which made her smile. “I already explained that we met through family.”
His emphasis on family made Allison smile wider. “Yes, family indeed. Tally introduced them. Isn’t that right, Taliana?”
“Yes, that’s correct,” Tally replied, giving me a sly glance of hatred.