The Wedding Issue

Chapter Nineteen - When Fire Met Rain

I stared at my reflection as I tugged against the hem of my short Balmain dress. It was a fitted black leather dress with metallic gold embroidery that made it glisten like the night sky. It made me look both feminine and badass. It was perfect the perfect combination of sweet and sultry. After the last stunt that Killian pulled on me, I was eager to win the little game we had going on between us. I let my hair down in gentle, bold curls and made sure my eyes popped with the perfect smoky shadow. I looked confident, sexy, presentable, yet I couldn't quiet the butterflies that fluttered anxiously in my tummy.

I had a bad feeling deep down that I couldn't shake, like something terribly wrong would happen today. Try as I might, I couldn't shoo the feeling away. It was a corporate party at a nightclub. What's the worst that could happen? There were an infinite number of things that could go wrong tonight – I knew it.

I decided that I should focus on getting back at Killian for being so damn cocky in that sexy way of his – and to try and sabotage whatever decent relationship he had with his fiancée. I simply had to have him all to myself. I just had to. I don't know how or why I was suddenly feeling very possessive of Killian, but deep down I knew he was mine to keep – and do other things with. So I slid my coat on and left my apartment. Monica was waiting for me in the Merc.

'I thought we had these parties after we published our issue', was the way she decided to greet me.

'Well with all the changes going on why not change this tradition too', I opted for a reasonable answer rather than a snarky comeback.

Wasn't quite sure I achieved that, though. Luckily, she let it slide.

'I'm glad you did because mama was due for a night out', she said, and I silently thanked her for tagging along tonight.

Throughout our ride I was battling the idea of telling Monica about my untamed feelings for Killian. I didn't really make sense of these feelings myself to begin with. I just knew that I had them and I was acting upon them without really thinking much about the consequences. I knew Monica would understand and would probably give me some amazing advice since she was once good at the whole finding-the-right-man thing. But a part of me willed me keep my mouth shut because telling her that I was about to commit a serious crime against humanity would make me feel so little about myself. It was bad enough that I was on this crazy ride to begin with. Maybe telling Monica after I committed the deed would be a much better idea.

But the fact that she was sitting right next to me made me start to feel guilty. She was a married woman. What would she think if some hot-shot blonde tried to steal away her man? She would be miserable, devastated, and would lose all hope in life. Thinking about how happy she is in her marriage made me think about all the failed relationships in my life. The way I was acting upon my feelings to Killian was wrong. I knew it was wrong, and it was time that I sobered up from the madness that has somehow affected my brain.

I decided to lead tonight in a friendly manner and not give this complicated situation a second thought. It defeated the purpose of the night, but what the hell.

The club was livelier than I had anticipated. The lights that bounced out of the LED disco ball made the place seem bright and colorful, despite its dark walls. The D.J. was playing some of the most popular songs with a dancy club remix. Dancers were dressed in white and pink costumes of leather and feathers as they danced on the ramps above us. Everyone seemed like they were having a wonderful time. I wanted to hug myself with glee.

And then I spotted Killian with a blonde at the bar, drinking and laughing, and a very unfamiliar feeling started bubbling in my chest. He seemed like he was really enjoying himself. She whispered something in his ear that made him go berserk with laughter. I felt a chill run down my spine and I wanted to turn around and leave. Tears threatened to leave my eyes and the butterflies grew wilder in my tummy. It took every cell in me to contain myself and not act like a heartbroken teen.