UNCONDITIONALLY YOURS

Making me laugh // 35

When we went back, barely anyone was still there, so we knew the event had already started. It was an auction event, they held it every year, but this was the first time I had gone for years. What would have been nice is if the money went to charity, like some auction events do.

But no, the money went to yet another rich person who really did not need more money in the slightest. Even if I was interested in giving money to people who didn't need it, the things there sold were ridiculous. It was mainly antiques, collectibles or ordinary items made with 24 carat gold or something else expensive. I was about to follow Parker through the door and into the room everyone else was in when he stopped in his tracks. He began laughing to himself.

"What is it?" I whispered, trying to talk quietly because everyone in the next room were also silent.

"I had an idea." He grinned at me cunningly. "OK, wait there I'll be right back." I rolled my eyes at him because he ran off. I wondered was he was doing. I suddenly felt extremely awkward and uncomfortable standing alone. I just hoped while Parker was off doing whatever no one that I knew approached me.

Just over five minutes later he ran back into the room whilst checking behind him. He was holding vegetable oil for some strange reason. I could instantly tell he had stolen it from the kitchen by the way he was checking around to see if anyone noticed him. Hopefully, the chefs wouldn't need it because they were serving food in an hour. By the look on his face, he was definitely up to something.

"Not that I doubt you, but what are you doing with a bottle of vegetable oil." I giggled. Without speaking and only giving me a quick glance, he opened the bottle and poured it over the wooden floor and started spreading it around. "Woah, what are you doing there." I gasped.

"Trust me." He winked and put the now empty bottle to the side. He grabbed my hand and lead me through the entrance to the next room. We opened the door particularly quietly and no one noticed our presence. Parker stood behind me holding my waist. He leant down to my ear and whispered to me.

"Who in this room do you hate the most?" He murmured almost silently. There were multiple people in the room I strongly disliked due to certain experiences, however my gaze automatically fell on Ben. Parker noticed where I was looking. "Good choice." He assured.

As we walked in, a few people glanced at us and began whispering to the person next to them. Like I mentioned, this crowed loved drama and gossip was only a sub-section of that. Parker kept on walking closer and closer to where Ben was sitting, and I almost stopped and asked him to turn back.

Even though things had most likely just become a lot better for me, I was slightly dubious of how he may act. I didn't fear him anymore. He had hurt me mentally and more recently, physically. But deep down he was just another rich boy who wanted power. I had faced too many people like that in my life to fear it. And I didn't like fear, I liked to face things head on.

The only reason I was hesitant was for Parker's sake. I had nothing to lose anymore, but I had to remember Parker still had a business and reputation to take care of. Ben was the kind of person who liked to stay prepared, he had dirt on a lot of people.

Even he didn't, Parker was more likely to get into a fight with Ben than anyone else. I had clarified that when I was involved Parker tended not to be at his calmest, and Ben would almost certainly want to push Parker to his limits. But Parker surely would know this and have something planned. He was smart, and I had faith in that.

We sat at the table next to him, out of all the many possible spaces. Ben instantly noted this and turned around to us.

"Really?" He hissed. "I thought everyone must be kidding. And Riley, I didn't know you were alright with being someone's bed warmer. You know, this is Parker Jones you are with, right?"