Chapter 8

Two evenings later, Tanya came into my room with Rachel in tow. " Listen Barbie, "she said in her usual blunt way, [she sometimes called me Barbie, though I could never figure out why], "listen up, we're going to a party and you're coming with us." I began to stammer my refusal but Rachel came forward and hugged me, whispered loudly, "Marianne the Snob will be there too and we need to show her what you are really like, right? ‘ I hesitated. At some point, I had explained that I had fled from the hostel, because of Marianne. she added, squeezing my hand, ’We got this, girl.’ The thought of how I had ended up on a stranger's carpet, doing unspeakable acts of passion, made me blush furiously. Marianne was the last person on my mind now. The girls, however, would not take a No for an answer. I tried to put my foot down but Tanya was adamant. 'Jazz's rugby team has won the championship, 'she explained. 'It is a big thing; Jazz is in line for a scholarship now. Anyways, the owner of the team was throwing a celebratory party for the boys and their friends.' 'But why should I come?' I asked, chin jutting out obstinately. After all, I was no buddy of Jazz. And spending the evening with a room full of husky young males with their testosterone levels soaring wasn't my idea of fun. Yes, your idea of fun would be older men with dominating personalities, making wild love to you on the carpet, sneered a little voice inside my head. Tanya sat down on the bed beside me, pushing away my stacks of books impatiently while Rachel made herself comfortable perching on the edge of the table. "You look like you need a break,' said Tanya sincerity glowing in her beautiful green eyes. 'Hey, hold on! 'I spluttered indignantly getting to my feet. 'Just a few days ago, you were telling me about m...what was that?...energy levels and...' Rachel slid off the table and came to me, smiling. 'Yeah babe, that's just it, 'she drawled in her soft Southern way, 'You need an outlet for that energy! Cos my buddy Liam has been checking you out quite often these days and I sure am beginning to feel jealous.' Tanya chipped in, nodding her head seriously, 'It's like you're waving a flag, a come hither flag or something without being aware of it. All those signals are getting your attention but you're the only one totally unaware of it all! I think Jazper has been looking at you differently too!' She sounded so earnest, that I burst out laughing. Trying to imagine Jazper having the hots for anyone except for Tanya was a laugh. The poor guy was besotted by her! As for Liam, he was a computer geek and he generally went about with a lost look on his face when he entered the realm of the real world and real people. He came around with Rachel when she needed help with her studies and sat in the front room, munching on the goodies I had baked. Shaking my head in exasperation, I gave in to them although I didn't believe either of them for a minute. Within hours we were on our way, but only after I'd made sure that we were NOT going to the country club where I had been so thoroughly... well, just thinking about it made me feel hot! *** On the way, above the din in the car, I discovered that we were attending a black-tie gala at the residence of Delano, the co-owner of the rugby club which was one of the foremost of the Mid-America Geographical Union, particularly the state of Nebraska. So Jazz and Liam were in black ties. To be honest, neither of them looked happy about it but then, as I heard Jazz grumble morosely to Tanya, 'When the Boss pays us to dress up like dummies, we must.' From the snatches of conversation, I had picked up. Delano was a man with very deep pockets, involved in a lot of shady deals. The words gun running and drug trafficking floated around me but I was too concerned about my appearance to really pay attention. Soon the lull of voices faded away as my thoughts fled back to Lucas. When had I ever stopped thinking about him, anyway...? Shifting restlessly in the cramped space of the car since there were seven of us, all of who were Tanya's friends and those of Rachel and Jazz I sighed. The girls were dressed to kill in tea gowns that emphasized their long legs and slim hips. It had come as no surprise to anyone that I had nothing even remotely suitable for the occasion. My lame suggestion that I would go with the vanilla-colored dress I had brought from home was shot down unceremoniously by Tanya. I had last worn it at a christening and it did look a little old, I sighed as I studied it tiredly. But my friends, ever protective, had dived into their wardrobes and finally, Rachel had flourished a gown someone had gifted her which she had not worn as it was a couple of sizes small for her. Length-wise short, I discovered, as I squeezed my ample bosom into the gown which was pale pink in color, the color of pearls. My olive skin made me look like an exotic doll, I thought when I saw myself in the mirror. The slinky gown was a little stretched around the hips and the top for me, since though I was shorter than them, I was well-endowed. Tanya had whistled appreciatively while Rachel had laughed and rolled her eyes, mouthing 'Hottie". Predictably, I'd turned beet red. With my long hair swinging freely down to my waist, I'd applied the minimum of makeup. Tanya said I looked like a bit of a nun out for a good time. I didn't try to wrap my head around that one! ***** The car came to a halt. I looked around me, startled. I'd been miles away. Rachel was grinning, calling me. I stepped out, hesitantly, taking in the sprawling lawns, the huge house, and the sounds emanating from around: loud music, bright lights, Party mode! The place reminded me of the club where I had lost my head and more! Gritting my teeth, I resisted the urge to dive back into the car as a shiver of trepidation coursed through me. "What's wrong?" frowned Tanya, ever sensitive to my moods while Big Jazper hugged her and tried to drag her ahead. "Nothing, nothing," I said quickly not wanting to spoil the evening for her. I studiously ignored Jazz's sly grin and tipping my head back, I gave Tanya a reassuring smile. I trailed behind them into the mansion, up the stone steps, and into the interior which was overflowing with people and loud talk. The hall we entered must have been a long corridor with a sweeping set of stairs leading upstairs at the end of the room. Exquisitely carved tables were arranged artlessly while the walls held framed works done by maestros. The house of a billionaire, I thought, trying not to gawk. The chandeliers that hung from the high ceiling were twinkling invitingly as the guests milled around. Doors opened discreetly off the hall and a host of liveried helpers moved around balancing trays of food and drink which the guests seemed to be helping themselves to. Tanya swept up a champagne glass as she walked and I saw Rachel and the men do the same. Sadly, Uncle’s lectures had too strong an effect and I rarely drink, only for a rare glass of wine if at all, on a special occasion. Not wanting to appear like an oddity, I demurred when the bearers offered me sparkling drinks. We entered what looked like a glass-domed hall, where the sounds were the loudest. I saw Thomas Harding but my friends were flanking me and hurrying me along. I had not told anyone about that disastrous night, certainly not about Lucas and what I had been up to on his carpeted floor! He had two girls hanging onto his arms, dressed in skimpy clothes that left nothing to the imagination but he had not noticed me. I looked around me with curiosity as the group I was in laughed and talked loudly. The wealthiest people in the country seemed to be there. I saw a couple of movie stars, two Senators, and other celebrities, all turned out in their glamorous best. A few journalists too, snapping pictures, hanging on the words of the high and mighty. ***** There was an enormous decorated stage at one end of the room, and I idly wondered why anyone would want a monstrosity like that in a room that was already so tastelessly decorated. Left to myself, I would have stripped it of those ugly-looking wall hangings... I was beginning to get a headache, standing there sipping fruit juice, which a dour Jazz had managed to procure me on Tanya's explicit instructions. Suddenly, the sound of applause; I turned as Tanya nudged Rachel and said, 'There's Delano. He would have been Harding''s stepdad if his mom had managed to keep her claws in him long enough!" Rachel giggled and said, "Yeah, I heard they had a torrid affair a year ago. But Delano's a smooth guy. Works his way through women like he was using paper towels or something! I heard he dumped Alice Smythe-Winston and took up with Senator Elly Gregory the next day!' I barely registered what she was saying as I watched the man who limped to the center of the platform. The man I knew as Lucas...the man who had made violent love to me for one night and left me clamoring for his touch... Lucas? WAS HE the billionaire Delano?
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Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 appChapter 12 appChapter 13 appChapter 14 appChapter 15 appChapter 16 appChapter 17 appChapter 18 appChapter 19 appChapter 20 appChapter 21 appChapter 22 appChapter 23 appChapter 24 appChapter 25 appChapter 26 appChapter 27 appChapter 28 appChapter 29 appChapter 30 appChapter 31 appChapter 32 appChapter 33 appChapter 34 appChapter 35 appChapter 36 appChapter 37 appChapter 38 appChapter 39 appChapter 40 appChapter 41 appChapter 42 appChapter 43 appChapter 44 appChapter 45 appChapter 46 appChapter 47 appChapter 48 appChapter 49 appChapter 50 appChapter 51 appChapter 52 appChapter 53 appChapter 54 appChapter 55 appChapter 56 appChapter 57 appChapter 58 appChapter 59 appChapter 60 appChapter 61 appChapter 62 appChapter 63 appChapter 64 appChapter 65 appChapter 66 appChapter 67 appChapter 68 appChapter 69 appChapter 70 appChapter 71 appChapter 72 appChapter 73 appChapter 74 appChapter 75 appChapter 76 appChapter 77 appChapter 78 appChapter 79 appChapter 80 appChapter 81 appChapter 82 appChapter 83 appChapter 84 appChapter 85 appChapter 86 appChapter 87 appChapter 88 appChapter 89 appChapter 90 appChapter 91 appChapter 92 appChapter 93 appChapter 94 appChapter 95 appChapter 96 appChapter 97 appChapter 98 appChapter 99 appChapter 100 appChapter 101 appChapter 102 appChapter 103 appChapter 104 appChapter 105 appChapter 106 appChapter 107 appChapter 108 appChapter 109 appChapter 110 appChapter 111 appChapter 112 appChapter 113 appChapter 114 appChapter 115 appChapter 116 appChapter 117 appChapter 118 appChapter 119 appChapter 120 appChapter 121 appChapter 122 appChapter 123 appChapter 124 appChapter 125 appChapter 126 appChapter 127 appChapter 128 appChapter 129 appChapter 130 appChapter 131 appChapter 132 appChapter 133 appChapter 134 appChapter 135 appChapter 136 appChapter 137 appChapter 138 appChapter 139 appChapter 140 appChapter 141 appChapter 142 appChapter 143 appChapter 144 appChapter 145 appChapter 146 appChapter 147 appChapter 148 appChapter 149 appChapter 150 appChapter 151 appChapter 152 appChapter 153 appChapter 154 appChapter 155 appChapter 156 appChapter 157 appChapter 158 appChapter 159 appChapter 160 appChapter 161 appChapter 162 appChapter 163 appChapter 164 appChapter 165 appChapter 166 appChapter 167 appChapter 168 appChapter 169 appChapter 170 appChapter 171 appChapter 172 appChapter 173 appChapter 174 appChapter 175 appChapter 176 appChapter 177 appChapter 178 appChapter 179 appChapter 180 appChapter 181 appChapter 182 appChapter 183 appChapter 184 appChapter 185 appChapter 186 appChapter 187 appChapter 188 appChapter 189 appChapter 190 appChapter 191 appChapter 192 appChapter 193 appChapter 194 appChapter 195 appChapter 196 appChapter 197 appChapter 198 appChapter 199 appChapter 200 appChapter 201 appChapter 202 appChapter 203 appChapter 204 appChapter 205 appChapter 206 appChapter 207 appChapter 208 appChapter 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appChapter 276 appChapter 277 appChapter 278 appChapter 279 appChapter 280 appChapter 281 appChapter 282 appChapter 283 appChapter 284 appChapter 285 appChapter 286 appChapter 287 appChapter 288 appChapter 289 appChapter 290 appChapter 291 appChapter 292 appChapter 293 appChapter 294 appChapter 295 appChapter 296 appChapter 297 appChapter 298 appChapter 299 appChapter 300 appChapter 301 appChapter 302 appChapter 303 appChapter 304 appChapter 305 appChapter 306 appChapter 307 appChapter 308 appChapter 309 appChapter 310 appChapter 311 appChapter 312 appChapter 313 appChapter 314 appChapter 315 appChapter 316 appChapter 317 appChapter 318 appChapter 319 appChapter 320 appChapter 321 appChapter 322 appChapter 323 appChapter 324 appChapter 325 appChapter 326 appChapter 327 appChapter 328 appChapter 329 appChapter 330 appChapter 331 appChapter 332 appChapter 333 appChapter 334 appChapter 335 appChapter 336 appChapter 337 appChapter 338 appChapter 339 appChapter 340 appChapter 341 appChapter 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