Freya
Of course, just when I thought this might actually be a favor to me, I find out it's all about him. He couldn't let me show up looking like my usual fat self if I was meant to be beside him. Sighing I nodded and stood up straighter, if we are going to pretend tonight, I suppose I should start playing my part too. Walking and nodding to others I passed by, I could see so many of my favorite authors, one being my idol who writes about a strong willed sexually active necromancer. This was my dream event, which made me worry more about what my publisher had actually planned for the night.
"Freya? Oh my goodness, is this the infamous boyfriend whose image has stolen so many hearts in the department already?" A loud elegant woman's voice rang out from behind me and Mikeal. He turned us around and I could see him raise his eyebrow his face was in his usual aloof state.
"Madame Publisher, it's very nice to see you again." I smiled and nodded to her before continuing while bringing Mikeal closer. It's his fault we are here and so he should be in the forefront of this. "This is my boyfriend, Mikeal. Mikeal this is my publisher Anna Delorne." I smiled at her as I could see her smile falter before she regain her control and she giggled and held her hand out for him to take.
"It's a pleasure Mrs. Delorne." His voice spoke without any emotion, and he did not move to take her hand at all, but she didn't seem fazed by it and just returned it by her side laughing a bit.
"Oh dear, I'm not that old to be automatically called Mrs. Though I suppose, if the right man happens by, I could get use to the title." She laughed again taking a drink obviously flirting with him. Her eyes lingered over his chest and body making me feel very jealous, pretending or not he is my boyfriend tonight, shouldn't I stop her from ogling him as he had with Henry for me? Stepping in front of him as he had with me I smiled at her taking his hand around my waist.
"Yes, I do hope that right man does come by for you some day Madame." I spoke slowly through a gritted tooth smile. She sneered slightly at me before nodding. She stepped back and looked over towards Nancy who was now glaring daggers at me without Henry beside her, he had been replaced by her mother, my stepmother. So this is why she didn't reveal the truth to me. Not her, but them, had thought I didn't have a boyfriend. Nancy knew that he wasn't my boyfriend, this is going to go very unwell. Nancy walked up to me gently clearing her throat.
"Freya, mother would like to speak to you." I smiled at her and looked at Mikeal and he nodded to me letting me know he's alright. I went to move away before he grabbed my arm gently bringing me towards him while he leaned down he kissed my cheek gently.
"Hurry back my chubby little lamb." He whispered causing goosebumps again to cover my body. I nodded and walked towards my stepmother with Nancy. As I neared closer I could see how angry she was while she looked me over.
"How dare you! You came here looking like that? Do you not know your place? Do you not know that girls that look like you should never show off like this?!" She quietly spoke angrily at me. I looked at her not sure why she truly cares, usually she just puts me down. "And lying about having a boyfriend then bringing a random man with you?"
"He is my boyfriend though." As soon as the words left my mouth my head went dizzy and my face began to burn on the right side, I could feel my cheek begin to swell.
"How dare you! You pretend to have him and yet you tried to take my boyfriend as well!" Nancy shrieked loud enough that most people could hear her causing everyone around us to turn and see what the commotion was.
"Nancy, I don't understand what you're talking about." I spoke quietly while rubbing my cheek gently. She began to cry and her mother held her to her before glaring at me.
"You know exactly what she is saying! When you came here you instantly tried to seduce her boyfriend because you are jealous she found a wealthy handsome man! How can I ever call you daughter again!?" My jaw was almost dropping the floor as tears welled in my eyes. I understood it now. It wasn't actually about my book. It was about getting revenge still for the club. Nancy wanted, no needed, to put me in my place. They needed to remind me where I truly belonged.
"Apologize to your sister!" My stepmother's voice was very high pitched by now as she brought Nancy back to a standing position. I looked at Nancy, and caught the slight grin that crossed her lips before she slipped back under her mask and she let tears flow down again ruining her makeup.
"Nancy I di.." Suddenly I was interrupted by two male voices.
"You really shouldn't cry like that dear, you do not have a face that cries well. It's rather repulsive when you do." Henry spoke with his dignified voice stepping to my right looking straight at Nancy.
"Do not apologize little goddess." Mikeal's deep raspy voice spoke loudly while he stepped up beside me on my left side.
"What is this? Are you truly that low, that you sell yourself just to be here tonight? What is your rate? I will pay you if you will just leave your sister's boyfriend out of your sights!" My stepmother spewed at me grabbing her purse, while Nancy stood there shocked staring at us still processing the words that Henry spoke to her.
"Henry, I will never cry again if you so wish it. I was just so hurt that my own sister would try to seduce you and I was worried for you. She truly is not as pure as she pretends to me." Nancy's shaky voice finally spoke out while she walked in front of Henry. Just then a wad of cash was thrown at me as bills spilled around my feet after my stepmother threw it at me.
"Leave Freya, you don't belong here." I couldn't hold it back and the tears began to fall down my face, I knew they were evil and never liked me, but this was too much. I could feel my voice choking in me as it got stuck in my throat, only quiet sobs leaving my slightly parted lips. I felt a cold hand on my left cheek lifting my head to that side and up, opening my eyes I could see the brown and blue eyes that capture me in an instant. Looking at him my tears didn't stop and I could only think about how embarrassing this must be for him, for my career, for everything. I truly owe him now. His reputation will be worse then he probably already had it. I can't imagine a bad boy like him could risk being seen with such a weak and ridiculous woman. Trying to pull my head away slightly I felt a warmth on my lips, it was soft and made me feel safe. I was pulled closer to Mikeal as he continued to slowly kiss my lips then moved to my right cheek as he gently kissed where I had been slapped by my step mother.
"She's right Freya." Mikeal's words were like cold water thrown over my whole body. I tried to push away from him but he held me tightly. "No goddess like you belongs with such common folk like these here. My woman should never have been treated as I let you be treated tonight." I looked at him, his eyes focused on me. His bad boy imagine for a moment slipped away and I could see the sincerity in what he spoke and I appreciated it, for that moment whether it was pretend or not but right then he acted like a boyfriend to me. I could hear my stepmother's gasp while she stared at us. Henry then took my right arm and turned me to him while he put his hand under my chin looking at the slap mark on my face frowning deeply he looked at Mikeal, the men were as though they were talking silently to each other. Soon Mikeal took me towards him again and brought me out of the mansion. Tonight was a confusing mortifying night, but if he wasn't here I don't think I would even be able to continue showing my face outside. Even though he is a mysterious rude house break in womanizing a*shole, for tonight he was exactly who I needed.