Kissing Mr. Bradley

Chapter 20

It was the night of the Black Tie Gala.

My dress waited in the closet for me, just like Ethan had said it would be.

It was a little black dress at first glance but as soon as I tried it on, it became more than just a simple piece of attire.

The velvet was smooth against my skin. The lace corset scattered about with sequins like stars in the night sky and the long slit riding up my leg accentuated every asset of my body. The last piece of accessory was the black lace garter around my thigh. Ethan knew what he was doing when he picked this one out for me. The dress was a chosen Bradley staple by the man himself.

Ethan opened the door, peeking his head in.

"Step into my office," I said from the vanity mirror. "We need to discuss something."

He came near, dressed in a matching velvet suit and tie with diamond studs in his ear and his signature Rolex.

I held the dainty necklace in my hand.

"I'd be happy to," he said, taking the necklace and turning me around until we were both facing the mirror. "There are no words to describe how beautiful you look, Saffron."

The warmth of his breath, a scent of mint, hit the back of my neck. He clasped the necklace and let his fingers brush against my neck.

I closed my eyes and fell back into his chest, letting his arms wrap around me tightly as he kissed the back of my head.

"Tonight is the night," I said, facing him. "You have to tell Katherine."

He sighed. "I know."

"Okay," I continued. "When do you plan on telling her?"

"Before the night ends," he replied. "Is that good enough for you?"

"The sooner the better, Ethan."

He kissed my cheek and I slid down to my knees, holding onto his waist.

"No," he said before I could unbuckle his pants. "I don't want to mess up the suit."

I went back to the vanity mirror and continued getting myself ready for the night.

"I know it's hard," I said, referring to Katherine. "But it has to be done."
He sat down in the chair, watching me apply the lipstick in the same way Noelle used to. Every little thing reminded me of her. The fancy dresses and all of the makeup scattered on my vanity.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, as if he could read my mind.

I turned around, taking in a deep breath before letting it out.

"I think tonight will be fine," I said. "I'm really excited about it."

"I feel the same way," he revealed. "Despite the broken engagement talk with Katherine."

"I never asked before," I said, crossing my arms. "Why do you want to break it off with her?"

"We're perfect on paper," he explained. "Our backgrounds are similar, our families are close and we understand each other in a socioeconomic stance but we're not compatible."

"Understandable," I said.

He was close to me again, his hands on my hips and pulling me forward until I could feel him.

"We are compatible," he whispered as his lips met mine.

He put me onto the desk of the vanity as the makeup tubes rolled onto the surface and fell to the floor.

"What makes us compatible?" I asked through his kisses. "Sex?"
"That's not all important," he said honestly as his hands slid up to the garter. "We value the same things, I believe."

"Like?"

"Business," he responded. "Power and being at the top of our game."

"Anything else?" I asked as he rested his head on mine.

"Family values?"

"Family?"

"Do you want children, Saffron?"

I laughed, pulling away from his grasp.

"What's so funny?" he asked seriously. "What about marriage? Would you like to be a wife someday?"

The truth was that I had no future plans for either one of those possibilities. It made me think of Noelle all over again and how she never got the chance at being a mother or enjoy the next chapter of her married life with Mr. Humphrey.

"Can we think about the gala?" I asked him. "I think your mother is somewhere downstairs wondering where you are."

He paused for a moment but let the conversation fly.

"I'll meet you downstairs," he said before leaving.

I waited a couple of minutes before leaving, just in case anyone were to see us together. It seemed like I was more concerned with being caught than Ethan.

As if the timing wasn't perfect enough, I ran into Bronwyn coming up the grand staircase. She was drunk beyond repair and stumbled as she walked. In one hand was a champagne glass and in the other was a young man trying his best to hold her up. She spoke as if her tongue was twisted and her eyes were tired and jaded yet she was still as beautiful as ever in her gold, skin tight dress that hugged every part of her body.

"Oh, look," she mumbled. "My brother's mistress."

My heart raced at Bronwyn's words and I wondered if she had seen Ethan and I together.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

Bronwyn looked down at my dress with a drunken smile.

"That's a way to make an impression," she said. "Who knew my brother had style?"

She tipped the champagne glass, letting a few spills onto the vintage rug. The man took it from her hands and set it down on the stair rail.

"Who is this?" I asked, looking up at the man who was struggling to help Bronwyn. He was older with a bit of scruff around his face and piercing gray eyes. The first few buttons of his shirt were undone with chest hair peeking out. He was quiet and looked elsewhere as if he was keeping an eye out for someone.

"This is Andrew Cunningham," she said as she jabbed him in the chest with her finger. "One of the hottest Cunningham boys."

"Nice to meet you," I said as Andrew shot me a weak smile.

"His family owns a shit-ton of land!" Bronwyn exclaimed loudly as she swayed from one side to the other. "They are loaded with money!"

Andrew impatiently held onto Bronwyn as she slipped down to the floor.

"I hope you two have a good night," I said, more so to a drunken Bronwyn than an aloof Andrew Cunningham.

Bronwyn reached for her glass, still balanced on the rail. The look on her face had turned haunting in a matter of seconds. The usual beige of her eyes had turned to black. She swallowed hard before taking one more quivering sip from her glass and letting it slip out of her hand and onto the floor.

"How do you feel?" she asked me. "This is your first Bradley event."

"I'm not sure yet," I replied. "I'm hoping everyone will have a great night."
"They will," she said with an awkward nod. "It will be a night to remember."

"Why is that?"

Andrew whispered into her ear with a side smirk on his face.

"I have to go," she said with a seductive glare toward Andrew. "I have some business to take care of with a Cunningham boy."

Andrew picked her up in his arms as she squealed with laughter as they turned a corner at the end of the hall.

I didn't think much of the short conversation I had with Bronwyn.

I didn't even think it would turn out to be our last.