Kissing Mr. Bradley

Chapter 22

Ethan could smell the alcohol on me.

"Were you with my brother?" he asked knowingly. "You're on the clock, remember?"

We were standing in the front row where Donna took to the stage. She wore her dark locks down to her back and her black gown moved swiftly across the platform as if she walked on air.

"I was having fun," I said. "Remember?"

"Getting shitfaced is not what I meant," he said. "Especially with my brother."

"What is it with you two?" I asked. "I thought you were close?"

"What're you talking about?"

"If something were to happen to you," I started. "Will Ezra take over the family business?"

Ethan tugged at the collar of his suit.

"Where is this coming from?" he asked.

"It's just a thought," I said. "Hypothetically speaking."

"Well," he started as the lights began to lower into a soft glow. "Let's hope that nothing happens to me so I don't have to deal with that decision."

The applause that ensued at Donna's presence was loud and obnoxious. She stood on stage for half a minute while the claps continued to get louder with guests whistling and standing in ovation.

"Oh, please!" she exclaimed through the mic. "I feel extremely loved right now."

Donna was enjoying the attention. Hundreds of eyes were on her. Just the way she liked it.

She began her speech. It was all about her. She didn't mention anyone else, not even her own family, for the success of Bradley & Sons.

I looked around the room, hoping I wasn't the only one in the crowd who noticed the self-centeredness of the woman who put everyone in a trance.

Ethan, along with the rest of the guests, clapped for Donna after every story she told and every piece of advice she shared about being a businesswoman. Everyone was entranced by her while she took in her every moment on stage.

"Lastly," she spoke. "I would like to thank my children."

It was long coming that she would put the spotlight on her children, the ones who made her better.

Ezra stood near, raising a glass toward his mother as Ethan beamed at her happiness. Their relationship dawned on me. They put on a really good show in front of their friends. It took me back to what Ezra had said just moments earlier, how looks can be deceiving.

Donna's speech about her sons was a heartfelt letter through a narcissistic mind. It was calculated and disingenuous. It was all a facade to fool everyone into believing that the Bradleys' were a happy family. They couldn't fool me as I could see right through Donna's words. It was unlike her to praise her children in a way that didn't seem selfish. She painted herself as the victim, a single mother whose children worked hard to make a better life for themselves, all because she raised them well.

"I love my children," she said in a tone that was serious and dark. "I would die for them."

Donna ended her speech with a quick gratitude to the guests that arrived, making the night just as special for her.

"Thank you for coming!" she exclaimed. "And enjoy the rest of your night!"

"Where is Bronwyn?" I asked Ethan after realizing I hadn't seen her in awhile.

"Probably sleeping," he guessed. "Or having an all night session with Andrew Cunningham in the presidential suite."

Although the latter seemed more likely, it had been over an hour since I had seen her. I was starting to worry and I didn't know why. It wasn't like Bronwyn was in immediate danger. She was with Andrew Cunningham and Ethan didn't seem to be worried about it.