Political Gratification (Interracial-BWWM Novel)

Chapter 16: A Flower Blooms

So this entire chapter got deleted and since finding that out I've lost all drive to write this story, plus I've been extremely busy with school and this has taken the last spot among my priorities. Let me know what you think. Not my best work, but it's something to hold you over 'til next chapter.

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Nelly stared long and hard at the man that was a past lover and friend. Past being the word of emphasis, a part of her life she would never choose to go back to if her mind was in its best state.

"How have you been since that night?" Malcolm questioned her, his beautiful eyes laden with mystery, mischief, and pity.

Nelly knew that he was mentioning that night to faze her, and for the briefest moment he did, her eyes widening slightly as he so casually mentioned a night they'd both promised to keep between the both of them, but she kept her composure, choosing to straighten her back. She knew that he didn't too much care for her reply as long as he gained a reaction. "Good actually," she answered with a curt reply and turned her head as the night auction began.

"Who is he?" Preston asked casually, his brown eyes piercing her temple as he asked the question that she knew was inevitable, his arm sliding along the back of her chair as he leaned in to whisper into her ear, his breath brushing against her smooth skin.

"An ex-friend of mine. One you don't need to worry yourself about. Be quiet the auction is beginning. I might make you buy me something," she joked, a naughty smile smoothing over her lips.

Preston scoffed, shaking his head slightly in indignation and incredulity before turning his eyes to the man he knew had some perverse history with his fiancée, only to find him staring at him as well with just as much intensity. He looked to be a man scorned and some part of Preston sympathized for a minute, before he'd realized that this was a man that knew his fiancée more intimately than he did.

That angered him.

He watched as Malcolm's lips turned up in a devilish smirk promising maleficent things for their relationship. Malcolm picked up his wine glass raising it in a motion similar to a congratulations or perhaps a challenge before he raised the glass to his lips, his eyes moving to the auction.

The charity, sponsored by the likes of HP Tech, Kellogg Cereal, and even the Red Cross, was built with the purpose of protecting young girls and boys from the hardships of human trafficking.

These kinds of causes were especially close to Nelly's heart as she had plenty of experience working with young girls that have fallen into prostitution and couldn't figure a way out. Tonight she would be introduced by Preston to give a speech on the subject and her work in the field. She didn't know if she would be able to do it without tears and she hoped that the support given by such an event would go to the right place.

Nelly glanced towards Malcolm out of the corner of her eye, catching him staring deeply at her. In his eyes she saw several emotions that caused her heart to stutter and stop. Lust... Passion... Need... Anger... Jealousy.

She quickly averted her gaze as she felt Preston's hand on her thigh squeeze fiercely. She turned to find him gazing at her with fury in his light brown gaze. Even in his anger, he was a beautiful man she had to admit that. His eyes said only one thing, "Stop looking at him now!"

And that she did, her hand gripping Preston's peeling it from where it burned into her thigh as she kissed it, ensuring that the cameras and Malcolm noticed it fully.