"Life With A Title"
I had only been back for a week but then again, I should know better than to expect anything less from my father. He had probably planned this from the second I left.
After having faced his controlling behaviour for several years, I had grown accustomed to where I stood with my father. However, this time was different because I wasn't the only chess piece.
The new addition was Melody Grant, who now sat on the other side of the booth.
Sure, she was pretty.
Dark brown hair but wound up in a tight professional bun. Porcelain skin, brushed with a pink blush. Her angular features were sharply defined, emphasising her fierceness. She had bright blue eyes that hardened every time she would flicker her gaze towards me. Her lips were thin and coated with a bright red lipstick. The red matched her perfectly manicured nails.
She was dressed immaculately in a simple black dress with a red blazer on top that matched her very high heels.
Yes, she was pretty.
Her regal mannerisms were calculated, even as she graciously picked up her glass of champagne and brought it to her red lips.
When she found I was studying her, she reached over once again but I was quick to draw my hand away. I pretended to be picking at my untouched food while my gaze was now diverted.
With a fatigued sigh, I assumed she would wave the white flag and claim defeat. Sadly, I was wrong as she simply began to trail her leg up my inner thigh.
Releasing a frustrated groan, I looked up to glare at her before moving back and shooting up from my chair. "I uh..."
Melody stood up and placed a hand on my shoulder, which had me within an internal battle of not squirming away. "Are you alright Fitz?" she asked, her bright blue eyes boring into mine with a great fixation.
The woman was fierce, ambitious and so obviously made for a life with a title. Being raised in a white mansion made her crave power and that was why she was here.
Big Jerry sure knew how to pick em'
"Why don't we leave you two lovebirds alone?" he piped up and began to wave the waiter over. All the while, there was a pleaded warning within his glued stare.
No - not this time.
"Actually, a few buddies of mine were going to-"
He cut me off with another glare before masking it with a falsified smile to benefit our guests. "That's all fine and dandy but you can't just leave Mellie alone" he laughed half-heartedly.
"No no, that's alright Jerry. It's been a long day and my wife is probably worrying, right about now" Melody's father and my father's new golfing buddy finally interrupted.
I silently thanked the heavens for his interference.
He had been short with me. Unlike his daughter, he was an observer, a listener although, occasionally he had broke from his conversation with Big Jerry to turn to me and quiz me.
It was soon made obvious that he too played my father's game.
Turning to face the reason behind this, I took her hand in mine. "It was nice meeting you Melody" I forced a smile, only this time it wasn't so difficult as it meant I would leave soon.
"Please, call me Mellie" she purred with a small but disappointed smile.
How could she be okay with this?
How can she so easily agree to being part of this callous game?
"Alright then, Mellie" I complied with another smile.
As our fathers walked away with an obvious intention of giving us some peace, Melo- Mellie even, turned back to me. "Here" she placed the white card into my palm. "We should do this again" she whispered and then read up to place her lips to my ear. "...but without the supervision"
When she moved back, her eyes were gleaming and fired with that determination. It seemed that every time she looked at me, she saw what my father saw - a prize.
I had tried everything to show that I was not here willingly, nor did I want to be but now I was exhausted.
This explained why when she chastely pressed her lips against mine, I jumped back in disbelief.
No - I couldn't do this.
I just can't...
"Goodnight Mellie" I gritted through clenched teeth and left.
-XxxxxxX-
I convinced myself that I was doing the right thing.
Hopefully Melody would understand and realise that she deserved better than a blind date pursued by two men.
With another tried sigh, I finally slumped my shoulders and was about to get into the car when my door was slammed shut. "Where are you going?"
I turned around but then fell back to lean on the car. "Like I said, a few of my friends were going-"
As always, he wasn't listening to me as he interjected, "You should've invited Mellie" he crossed his arms over his chest.
"I didn't think she would be entirely comfortable in a bar filled with men" I lied, scared at how it had now become so easy to do so.
"Maybe next time" he inquired and withdrew for a moment, collecting his thoughts so I knew better than to excuse himself.
"She's a gem, ain't she?" he spoke again with a smug smile. "Graduated from Harvard University and Yale Law School at the top of her class" he began and I shook my head, wanting - no, needing him to stop. "She's a lawyer now" he laughed lightly but that didn't stop him from shamelessly continuing, "Her father, owns his own multinational company. Her mum-"
"She told me" I snapped but adorned a convincing smile.
His eyes widened with appraisal. "She did?" he wondered and fell silent for a second,before stumbling back slightly. "Well that's good" he murmured to himself with a nod. I could only imagine what he was thinking at that moment. "It's good she told you" he added with a slight sway.
Three glasses of the Minot, six glasses of scotch and finalised with a bourbon.
"A true gem" he murmured lazily and then leaned in to place his hand on my shoulder. His stale breath reeked and I turned away from him as he breathed. "Well goodnight son"
I said nothing.
Simply, watched as he stumbled his way back to the back to his black mercedes. He was about to fall but Dean, his driver managed to catch him on time. Big Jerry leaned up to whisper something in Dean's ear - some girl's name no doubt.
My father, ladies and gentlemen!
If mum was here to see this...
As soon as the car sped out of the parking lot, I felt the nip of the icy cold air. The frosty breeze breathed through my thick layers and gradually becoming unbearable.
I needed a drink.
-XxxxxxX-
I found comfort at the sounds of drunkards taking a crack at karaoke, or hearing the clutter of people playing pool or the creaking sound the stool made when I collapsed onto it.
Donell's Karaoke Bar.
Nothing had changed in the past five years and for that, I was grateful.
"What will it be tonight, Fitz?" Donell called out to me before I had a chance to take my seat.
After a second to think it over, I pointed out to the shelf. "Whiskey please" I ordered but when he made a move to prepare my usual, I hastily added, "And you can leave the bottle"
"Well that does not sound healthy" a female voice on my left chimed and I turned to question their interference.
However, this was proven an impossibility as I could only manage an audible gasp.
Long coffee brown locks that was falling down her shoulders in a sleek straighetend style. Her eyes were a dark rich chocolate - soulful and perceptive. Her features were youthful and brightened with the pleasant smile she adorned.
She had a dark olive complexion, with skin so fair and smooth that my fingers itched to reach out to caress her cheek.
She was casually dressed in a dark skinny jeans that hugged her figure and a white and blue baseball t-shirt. Dodger's fan - she was slowly manifesting into the perfect woman.
"Tough night?" she inquired but her full lips captured my attention when forming the words, leaving me with a dark desire.
Beautiful.
"Tough year" I gulped nervously, feeling myself lose sanity as I continued to battle with my primal instinct of taking her and ravishing her body right at this moment.
"Why don't you buy me a drink and tell me about it?" she smirked, her brown eyes gleaming but still enclosing her secrets. She then lifted her empty glass, which was actually a champagne flute.
With her casual attire and the fact that she was in Donell's I would have expected her to have a Heineken but I was left pleasantly surprised.
It also left me wanting to know more.
"Buy you a drink?" I questioned her confidence and self-assured nature but I was actually amused and impressed by it.
"Come on, you would have offered anyway" she retorted with a small smile and jumped onto the stool next to me. "I'm just speeding things along" she whispered and for the first time today, my smile was genuine.
Maybe there was still hope for tonight.
A/N: Leave a review and let me know what you think.