CHAPTER 1.
"We haven't moved in over fifteen minutes, Char."
One by one the red break lights of the cars in front of them flickered off as each shifted into park. So much for a night filled with loud music, chilled liquored drinks, and being engulfed into a crowd of complete strangers. Emerson rolled her eyes sighing at the thought. None of it even sounded the least bit enticing, but she had agreed to go and had spent the last two hours dedicating her time to sitting in front of a mirror. She was not about to waste all her patience and hard work on her appearance to turn back around.
"Em, you're being dramatic." Charlotte said paying no attention to the world around her. Her mind was drowned in the tiny light from her smartphone as her thumb scrolled vigarously upward.
Meet Charlotte Everton, her best friend, a wannabe socialite, and soon to be journalism graduate. She was every bit the spitting image of what a goddess should look like. Long blonde hair, high cheek bones, flawless skin, and blue eyes that mesmerized any soul she came in contact with. It was hard to compete with someone so stunning and beautiful as her, but don't tell her that. She had made that mistake one too many times before and received the lecture of how beauty was only in the eye of the beholder. Everyone had their own sense of beauty and we are all different in how we flaunted it, blah, blah, blah. Emerson had it heard all before.
From the ripe age of ten years old, they had been inseperable. As they grew through their teenage years and welcomed young adulthood, they found themselves attached at the hip. Despite the obvious differences in personalities, style, and outlook on life, they were every bit perfect for one another. It was a friendship that was meant to be and would go down in the books. Emerson honestly didn't know what she would do without Charlotte and vice versa. But as they continued to sit in the town car Charlotte had called for them to be picked up in, she was becoming more annoyed with her best friend by the minute. Only she would talk her into attending a party that was way out of both their leagues.
"Twenty minutes." Emerson mentioned and crossed her arms.
"Hold on." Charlotte raised her free hand and continued to scroll through her phone like her life depended on it.
Staring down at her arms, she tugged on the material that rested on her breasts and pulled it up. The little number she had on was beyond anything she would ever wear or buy. Fresh from the closet of Charlotte Everton, she had been bullied into wearing a white spaghetti strapped dress. If she had it her way, she would have thrown on her jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt, but this wasn't just some casual party. This was the party of the year or the century as Charlotte put it. Anyone who was anyone would be here, even the young, rich, and famous were rumored to be attending. She didn't want to be around any of those people, she didn't care, but this was for Charlotte and so she would suck up a few hours of fake laughter and conversations.
"I can't believe we are crashing this party." She mumbled.
"Not crashing." She was corrected. "Attending."
"We weren't exactly invited." Emerson stated and looked over at her.
Charlotte now held her phone with both hands and read something, while saying, "Yes, but we don't need an invitation." Her voice was filled with excitement and hope. "We are girls. That's all that matters, so stop hiding the goods away Reed and let your boobs do their job."
Tightening her arms around her body, Emerson looked back down at her barely there cleavage she was trying to not have and pulled the material of the dress down. A unpleasant moan escaped her as she hated thinking about using her body to persuade the male form. It was disgusting, but somehow it worked. Maybe it was because most men were pigs. The few that weren't were hard to find in this universe. She had yet to find them too.
"We're walking. Now." Charlotte ordered and threw her phone into her purse. She swung the door open of the car and flew out. It took her a few seconds to catch up and realize that she was serious. Out on the street, she straightened her dress and flattened it to her body. "Apparently, there was a fight. Damn, I can't believe I missed it." She moaned.
Tonight wasn't just about going to the "it" party. It was about getting the scoop and spilling the dirt for all to read. Charlotte had ulterior motives. Being the journalism major that she was, she knew what she had to do to make it in the business and under the pressure of her internship she was determined. Each of them were assigned for the semester to find the best story they could and in Charlotte's eyes this was it. Somewhere beyond the gates of wherever they were going, she would or so she hoped. Emerson deep down hoped she would too, but was not as enthralled by the idea as she was. While Char wanted to write what went in the papers, she wanted to read and edit it. That was her place in life.
As their heels clicked on the cement pavement and they passed cars filled with impatient people waiting, Emerson could already feel her feet hating her for agreeing to this. She wasn't sure how far they were from the party, but it was far enough to make the night even more unbearable.
From what Charlotte had informed her on, they were in the green light district. She saw this as a metaphor for money, but to her surprise she learned it meant green for anything goes and it made sense. She could smell the illegal substances in the air. The music and bass were set on high shaking everything in its path. People of age or not held drinks in their hands walking the streets without a second thought, while not a single law enforcement was in sight. Whether it was done intentionally or not, it seemed the place had a permanent get out of jail free card. It was known for its craziness and lavish parties, but not once was there any mention of problems to be had or least none that were reported. She had a funny feeling what happened in the green light district stayed in the green light district, except herpes.
"How much farther?" Emerson whined.
"Two more blocks. Stop whining. Loosen up Reed." Charlotte snapped.
Reed. The only time she had ever heard her last name was when Charlotte was either irritated with her or demanded something. Besides teachers and formal occasions, no one called her that, but her and she really didn't like it.
"I can turn around and leave right now Everton." She argued and played her game.
"Oh stop that!" Charlotte groaned. "Please, I swear it won't be that bad."
She halted in her tracks and she noticed. "Please Emerson, I'm sorry." Charlotte apologized. "It's just this is really important to me and I just want to find something here tonight that's worth writing about. I don't want to do this alone. I need you."
"I know this is." Emerson nodded her head and smiled. "Come on, let's go."
"Boobs out." She teased shaking her chest.
Bowing her head in embarrassment, she mimicked her and linked arms as they strutted down the next two blocks. As they turned the corner, they both stopped in awe at what they saw. A million lights shined and twinkled outside the three-story brick mansion. People danced on balconies and hung from windows shouting at the people below. The lawn was trashed with empty bottles and glasses. Techno music blared from easily fifty speakers. It was a complete nightmare or heaven depending on how you viewed it.
"Find your story and lets go." She shouted in Charlotte's ear.
Within minutes of walking up to the house and through the open doors, they were seperated. Emerson snaked through the crowds of dancing people and tried not to stick out like a sore thumb. She scanned the rooms looking for Charlotte, but it was next to impossible to try and find her. There were just too many people confined to not a big enough space. How anyone really thought this was enjoyable was beyond her? Only being inside for a few minutes, she felt the urge to breathe fresh air and she bolted for the back door. Outside it wasn't any different on the patio.
"Hey baby." A drunk man walked past her and tapped her ass.
Emerson cringed and felt her face grow warm. She didn't want any hands touching her. The slimy comments she could take, but the physical flirting was where she drew the line. Biting her tongue from yelling at him knowing he probably wouldn't remember anyways, she continued onward. Maybe she did need to loosen up and try to enjoy herself, but it was hard to when this was just simply not her scene.
"Emerson!"
Spinning around she saw Charlotte emerging from a crowd of people to her right. The eyes of every male in sight followed her. "There you are. Holy crap this is insane!" She shouted.
"I know. Find anything yet?" She asked.
"Just did my rounds. Now its time to sit back and wait." Her face lit up and she grabbed two cups off a tray filled with drinks. "Drink up buttercup."
"I'm good." Emerson pushed the cup away. "Shouldn't you stay sober? You know being on the job and all?"
"I need to blend in. That's the key. Blend in and the story will come to me." Charlotte rambled. "Stand out and we will be here all night."
All night? This looked like a party that would never end and she much rather be in her bed sooner rather and later. Taking the cup from her hand, she dumped what was in it on the ground and decided to take Charlotte's advice on blending in. It wasn't long before a continuous line of guys headed their way all obsessing over Charlotte and her goddess like body. Without hesitation, she had just become her shadow, just like she always had.
"If I wasn't working..." She started and bit her lip.
"You are not going home with any of these sleeze balls. I repeat you are not going home with any of them. You hear me?" Her voice was stern. "I mean it Everton."
"Same goes for you." Charlotte nodded her head and waved at a passing guy.
Emerson laughed. "You're funny. Like I would ever do anything like that." She shook her head in disgust.
No matter what she was told by her friends or family, she never saw herself as beautiful or desirable. Hell, she wasn't ugly, but she was just average. It was hard to compete when she was always around someone who was so strikingly gorgeous for anyone to notice her. And it wasn't like she wanted to throw herself out there for everyone to see, but it did hurt not to feel the desire that Charlotte was drowned in. Emerson blushed at the thought of how innocent she was amongst the people who screamed anything but.
"Whose that?" Charlotte asked in her ear and pointed over the edge of the patio.
Her eyes took awhile to adjust to the lights and landed on the tall man dressed in a white button up shirt and black slacks. He stood alone with his hands in his pockets and observing the crowd much like them. Fellow reporter maybe? No, he didn't fit the part. He just seemed so out of place compared to everyone else. Immediately, she knew Charlotte had found what she was looking for.
"Be right back." She tapped her shoulder and off she went. "Text me if you need me."
What was she going to do, watch him from every angle? Follow him around the party all night? Go up to him and play twenty questions? Whatever her plan was she knew it was going to take awhile and so she lost interest. Before turning away, she glanced at him one last time. From where she stood, he appeared handsome, but something was off about the guy. Not dressed in party attire, he just didn't seem to care to engage in the wild and crazy antics. So why was he here at all? She could ask herself that same question, but she knew the answer to that already.
Finding herself wanting to get away from the madness, she walked out into the lawn where the crowd thinned. Eventually less and less people were gathered around and then none. At the edge of the lawn and around a tree bank, she found the closest thing to peace and quiet all night. The moon shined bright and full overhead. The shore of the lake that sat behind the mansion was still. It was actually quite beautiful and she understood why people would want to live here. She just wished it wasn't for all the wrong reasons.
Emerson bent down and relieved herself from the pain of her shoes, and stepped into the dirt and sand. It felt good beneath her toes and she smiled. Charlotte would have to see this for herself. Who knew such a place existed amongst the parties that stretched out for a mile in the green light district?
While Charlotte was on her mission, she figured she would spend her time here reflecting on whatever came to mind, instead of trying to blend in to a group of drunk people she did not care for. She was careful to watch her time and not let herself get too carried away. Eventually she would have to head back and pull the plug on the night. The idea of watching the sunrise sounded better than actually seeing it happen.
"No, we will just have to move to it Monday morning." A voice of a man on the phone startled her and she grabbed her shoes quickly.
A few feet down the shore someone emerged from the trees and stepped out. She had a moment of panic. Should she stay or should she go? It was nice being alone, but now that she had company she didn't like the idea of her vulnerability and so far away from the party. Not like it mattered. Even if something awful happened to her here, it wasn't like anyone cared. The thought of what had been conducted at these sort of events made her sick. How many people had suffered from something they had no control over knowing nothing would ever be done?
"Tuesday morning works too." The man spoke again. He paused for a second. "Damn it, I don't care when it is! Just scheduled it and forward me the date. I don't have time for this shit."
The light from his phone could be seen as he ended his call and shook his head. As she peered over, she became aware who had joined her out on the shore of the lake. White shirt, black pants, it was him. The man who didn't fit in had found his way out here. Emerson wondered if Charlotte was somewhere nearby.
He turned his head in her direction as he placed his phone into his pant's pocket. Shit! She had been spotted and now she didn't know if she should make a break for it or pretend to blend in. How hard could it be to pretend you were drunk and wondered off away from the party?
"Hey." His voice travelled in her direction.
"Hey." She answered back.
What the hell? Maybe it was a natural reaction, but she hated that she had just invited the idea of a stranger to interact with her in a secluded area where no one could hear her scream. Actually no one could hear her scream for miles if she wanted to. She put her guard up instantly.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" He remarked.
Emerson smiled and nodded. Whether he could see her reaction or not, she was ready to burst through the line of trees if she had to. Why she was so on edge, she didn't know, but she really wished Charlotte would show up? She was following him, right?
The only response she gave was the nod of her head and her inching her way back up the shore.
"Too bad the rest of the world back there is too intoxicated to notice it." He shrugged and put his hands in his pockets.
The silent treatment continued. Maybe if x turn on Sirishe didn't say anything he would grow bored and leave or worse. She didn't like to think so negatively, but seeing as her best defense was the spikes of her heels, she was ready to take action if necessary. So far, the mystery guy from patio seemed harmless.
"You don't say much, do you?"
"No, I just don't know you." Emerson mumbled. Apparently her words were loud enough for him to hear even with the noise in the background creeping close to maximum level.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him react and he bowed his head. Had her remark left him bent? She honestly hadn't meant to say it out loud, but it just escaped her. His stance seemed less friendly and he peered over his shoulder back at the party. She followed his gaze and saw the dancing lights strobe rhythmically. High pitched girlish voices shouted and the music revved into some sultry beat.
"I see you wish to be left alone." He spoke noting her attempts to steer clear of him. "Have a good night."
And just like that he disappeared into the tree line and out of sight. She let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding and waited a few minutes letting him get a head start before she too made her way back up to the party. Forcing her heels back on her sore feet, she stomped through the grass with her arms crossed. It was time to end operation Charlotte.
In the time she spent by the lake, it seemed the crowd had multiplied and finding Charlotte was as tricky as ever. She dug for her phone and texted her knowing this would be the fastest way to find her instead of pushing herself through scenarios she didn't want to get caught up in. "Hey baby. Don't look so sad." A slurring voice whispered in her ear and she smelled the liquor on the man's breath. She stepped away from him, but his arm snaked around her waist and pulled her in. Emerson quickly placed her hands on his chest pushing him away.
"I'm fine. Please if you could let go." She uttered.
Manners or not, it didn't matter what she ordered, he was drunk and strong and dominating her. His head dipped for her neck as his wet, nasty lips kissed and sucked on it. She pleaded for him to stop. Her eyes scanned the crowd hoping to find someone who would notice her attempt to free herself from his hold. No one cared though. Even amongst others, no one paid attention to their surroundings and she felt like she was going to be sick. His hand on her waist fell down her back and she jumped as his rough hand felt the bare skin of her thigh.
"Fucking stop!" She shouted and punched his chest.
"You like it rough, don't you?" He slurred. "Give in baby. No one will see us."
"I'm not your fucking baby! Get off you sick fuck!" Emerson cursed.
Nothing she did helped though, he was determined and she wasn't breaking free from her hold. Panic erupted inside her knowing where this was leading and she felt the tears in her eyes form. No, not her, not here. This wasn't happening. His hand moved dangerously closer to the place between her legs and she squeezed her thighs together not letting him go any further. She pushed as hard as she could and shouted hoping and praying someone would come to her rescue. She felt so exposed and betrayed. She felt dirty and violated. This was really happening. In this moment, she cursed Charlotte under her breath.
"Hey douche bag." A low voice in the night startled her and the grotesque man was peeled off her. Emerson watched as her molester stumbled to the ground as he was pushed away. The prayers she called out had been answered. Someone had noticed. Someone had cared and that someone was the same man in his white shirt and black dress slacks, who looked beyond pissed.
"Are you okay?" He asked stepping toward her. She shook not knowing what to say or do.
"What the fuck man?" The guy on the ground shouted. "You mother fucking cock block."
His jaw tensed and he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. With one swift motion, he yanked the guy up by the collar of his shirt and threw a punch hard. Emerson gasped. The guy laughed it off as he touched his face. The mystery man from before repeated his actions and hit him again, and again, and again until she saw blood.
"Stop you're going to kill him." She protested.
He stood up wiping his face and snapped, "He was going to rape you!" His eyes blazed with fire and almost passion. She trembled as he towered over her and examined his stone cold face. Beautiful blue eyes stared back at her. For the first time since she laid eyes on the man who Charlotte had notedly pointed out, she saw how young and handsome he was.
Over the noise, he spoke more calmly, "I saw him all over you." He admitted. "I could see it in your eyes that the feeling wasn't mutual. I thought he was going to rape you right here in the open." His tone turned disgusted by the situation. "I had to stop him."
"Thank you." Emerson blurted out. "If you hadn't, he probably would have."
Just the thought made her stomach flip and she felt dizzy. A strong hand on the back of her arm steadied her. He walked her over the nearest place to sit down.
"How much have you had to drink?" He asked.
"None." She answered. "I'm just sick thinking about what if..."
The fact was it had almost happened and it scared the shit out of her. She never thought something so vile could occur and here she was visiting the aftermath of what if. Her eyes raised up to meet his. Out of anyone here, it had to be him that rescued her. He had to be the one that cared and now she felt bad for being so rude to him earlier.
"You don't go to these sort of things, do you?" He inquired.
"Is it that obvious?" Emerson replied. "I was dragged here by a friend, who I can't find."
"Maybe I can help. What does she look like?"
Emerson looked at her phone again. No response. Now she was beginning to worry about Charlotte. "Blonde. Tall. Gorgeous." She described her very plainly. "Probably has a group of guys following her around like lost puppies."
"That's not much help." He laughed.
"I'm sure she'll show up." She shrugged. "You really don't have to help me find her. Go! Enjoy your night. I'll try to make the best of what's left of mine."
"I'm not leaving you alone after what just happened." He argued. "Who knows what sick fuck might try to move in next?"
Sick fuck? Those were her words. Emerson watched as he suddenly became territorial over her. It was sweet, but she barely knew him. She didn't need a bodyguard. All she needed was Charlotte to show up so they could get out of here. She debated whether she should share her incident with her or not.
"I'll be fine." Emerson assured him.
"You think your friend is the only one who has a group of guys drooling over her?" He noted scanning the party. "I could point out easily five right now who have been eyeing you since we sat down."
She quickly looked around intrigued by his observation, but could not point out a single male soul who was captivated by her. What the hell was he talking about? "You clearly don't know my friend." Emerson mumbled. "She is a guy magnet."
"And clearly you underestimate yourself." He spoke directly to her causing her to hold her breath again. "You're beautiful. What guy wouldn't be interested in you?"
Did he just call her beautiful? She felt the threat of warmth rushing to her cheeks. No one had said that to her, at least not from the opposite sex and her Dad didn't count. She couldn't tell if he was just being nice or he too had ulterior motives. Emerson laughed.
"So where are they?" She asked looking over her shoulder. "Because I don't see them."
The corner of his mouth twitched in to a smirk. She felt her heart flutter. The only beautiful person she saw here amongst the craziness surrounding them was him. Something was shifting between them.
"Well it's probably because I'm sitting with you." He mentioned. Oh, so he was cocky. She rolled her eyes. "And the fact that I just beat the shit out of the last fucker that tried anything with you is probably another reason why no one is approaching."
Still on the ground, the guy laid making small movements. From where they sat, he looked like he was in bad shape and she had feared that her mystery knight would go too far. She was glad he hadn't, but she was happy he got what he deserved too. Her eyes scanned the area again and this time she saw the questioning stares that were made in their direction. Apparently, violence stirred the crowd, but a poor girl in distress left them blind. It was disgusting.
"Hey." He said softly. "Are you okay?"
Emerson shook at the thought of what if again and shivered from the night time air.
"I'll be fine." She smoothed out the material on her dress. Her phone still had no response from Charlotte. What the hell was she up to?
"I'm James by the way." He introduced himself.
"Emerson." She replied.
"Emerson." James stated her name. "I can't say I've meant many of you in my life."
The sound of her name coming from his mouth made her squirm. What was it with this guy? This was so foreign to be talking to someone as handsome as he and not feel like dirt. He was genuine and casual. Much like her, he too didn't seem to be part of the crowd.
This really doesn't seem like your thing either." She noted.
"It's not." His face dropped and his eyes scanned the crowd around them. "I'm looking for my little sister."
"Your little sister? Here?" Emerson questioned his reason.
His mouth grew into a fine line upon his face, while his still fingers began to tap his thighs impatiently. "She knows better then to sneak out and come here," he sighed. The comment seemed to spark something transforming more irritation than worry across his ever changing expression.
"Don't let me keep you then." She rose smoothing her dress nervously. "Go look for her. I'll be fine. My friend will show up soon."
"And what kind of man would I be if I left you, who was just nearly taken advantage of, to fend for yourself amongst this incoherent sea of people?" He barked appearing genuinely displeased with himself at the thought. "I'll stay with you until you find your friend. You have tried to reach her, right?"
"Yes. She isn't responding though." Emerson shook her head.
His sister was somewhere amongst this crowd and yet, he stayed put with her. It wasn't logical. If anything, after what had just happened he should be bolting through every crowd and room on the property trying to find her. Lord knows what other vermon lurked around seeking weak girls.
"But your sister..."
"Will be reprimanded for her stupidity and lack of judgement." Nothing was sentimental about his statement. His tone tight and firm as he spoke. "I have people on it. They'll find her and trust me, I don't think me finding her right now would end well."
People. What people? Was he not alone? Had he brought friends to track down his disobeying sister? The hot headed man that showed himself only minutes before had returned with a bitter tone and a scowl that even made her feel like she was about to be the one reprimanded for her actions. Somehow he had this strange affect on her. One that was unpleasantly new. She watched him as his frustration of the topic grew. Being an only child, she never had the chance to interact with a sibling. She never knew what it was like to have an overprotective older brother like James was proving to be. It was hard to relate to the matter at hands , and so she sat back down and checked her phone. With no message from Charlotte, her fingers dashed desperately across the keyboard sending her S.O.S. message once more. Honestly, if anyone was going to be reprimanded tonight, it would be Charlotte for dragging her to such nonsense.
In the midst of her plea and the thumping music, James phone rang. "Did you find her? Where?" He shouted. "I'm on the patio. I'll meet you at the...on the patio. No." His patience was growing thin. "For fucks sake, I'll just text you."
"Is everything okay?" She asked.
Before she could get confirmation from his confusing phone call, a tall, dark skinned man in a suit stomped toward them. Next to him in his hold was a tiny sun kissed girl, who appeared wasted and angered. Her small fists pounded on him, but she was no match for his strength. James stood up as they stopped in front of them towering over the girl. Watching her try to break free sent a ghostly reminder of how she must have looked when that douche bag had grabbed her. Only he didn't keep his hands to himself.
"You looked wrecked." James stated with his eyebrows furrowed and shaking his head like a disappointed parent.
"Fuck you James!" The tiny girl shouted. This must have been his sister, yet they did not strike any resemblance. "Fuck you and your fucking minions coming after me."
"Shae, please take Katherine to the car." He ordered the tall man. "I'll be there shortly."
Katherine did not appear to be any older than she was. She had long strawberry blonde curls that looked effortlessly styled. She wore a dress that hugged her so tight leaving nothing to the imagination. Her makeup was excessive and was smudged under her eyes that happened to catch sight of her momentary observation.
"What the fuck are you looking at?" She cursed at her. "Oh I see, I can't have fun, but you can? Go ahead and fuck your little slut friend before you punish me like a fucking child. Don't play the holy card with me, James. I know you're games."
Games? So he was a player. How was the sweet man she had just talked to now being viewed as the manwhore his sister was portraying him to be? Or was it just the anger talking?
"Shae, car now!" He ordered not letting her spew any more accusations out of her filthy mouth.
"Ugh, let go of me!" She screeched as the man picked her up and dragged her through the busy bodies and out of sight.
Well this night had been one thing after another. Slut? Really? Emerson yanked on the material of her dress trying to hide any bit of possible giveaway that she might be one, even though she was far from that. That was the first time she had ever been called such a vile term and to say the least, she didn't like it. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. Who was he?
"I'm so sorry you had to witness that. Please excuse my sister." He apologized. "She can be very sweet, just not when she's under the influence and being forced to go home."
"If you say so," she mumbled.
"Emerson!" The sound of Charlotte's voice caught her ear. She spun around to see her pushing through the crowd. "I got your text. Everything okay?"
Instantly, her radar was ticking as she looked from her to James, who stood like a statue not saying a word. Oh no, what was going on in Charlotte's head? The theories, situations, and thoughts she came up with scared her sometimes. She shifted her gaze over at him briefly trying to take in what message Charlotte could get from him. He appeared masked with emotions, but controlled.
"I'm fine." She lied knowing she wouldn't by it. Quickly, she asked, "Did you find your story?"
Charlotte scanned her eyes back and forth between them. Something was boiling inside that head of hers and as she nodded her head yes, she knew her masterpiece for the paper had started brewing. But her small excitement faded as she focused on her dropping her face into a concerned look. "What happened?"
What happened? How about too much uninvited excitement that had stumbled into her life in one night, that's what happened, but she wasn't about to dive into the details with her here. Not with the chaos going on around them. Not with him standing here looking like a Greek God wanting to say something, but was debating his thought. What was it? Was it his excuse to leave and go to deal with his sister? Another apology? Or a blushing comment of her striking appearance that he had seemed to notice? She didn't know. Once again, he was nothing more than the mystery man on the patio. A mystery she secretly wanted to solve.