Chapter 35 - The Spilt Drink
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Alessio finished his speech of engagement and I and Brandon were busy walking around mingling with the guests. Nicholas and Perla had left as Perla felt really sick and had a stomach ache.
Brandon had introduced me to Hunter Colton that was the C.E.O of Colton Enterprises and his girlfriend Claire who was quite shy. They both were around the area somewhere. Alessio and Melanie were both talking to Mr and Mrs. Jackson so they were occupied.
"Do you want to dance?" Brandon asked me with a broad smile.
"Of course!" I said.
Brandon and I walked hand in hand to the designated dance floor and began to sway to the music playing in the background. We stared into each other's eyes and as I looked into Brandon's beautiful blue eyes - it was the moment I realized my depth of love for him. I had always known that I loved him, I never questioned it but I never knew just how much.
His blue eyes felt like home. It was true when they said that home is not a building, it's not a room, it's not anything but a person. Brandon was my home. The admiration and love I felt for him really overpowered any resentment that I may have harbored or bottled up.
I had always asked my mom when I was younger how to know who is the one. She had always replied with "Oh, honey you will just know" and at the time I believed her response to be silly but standing right here, in Brandon's arms... I just knew that he was the one for me.
"Would you like to drink something?" Brandon asked and I nodded.
"Can I have a nonalcoholic beverage?" I asked and he nodded.
"Of course," He said and walked off after winking at me, "Stay here." He said.
I was alone on a dance floor when a man that looked unstable on his feet approached me, his eyes were bloodshot red.
"What's your name?" He slurred as he gulped his drink.
"My name is... Kiara!" I lied.
"Kiara - a beautiful name for a beautiful woman." He grinned, "You know my wife's name is Kiara!" He told me.
I nodded, "That's lovely,"
"I'm sure she'd love to meet you!" He grinned and grabbed my hand.
"Please let go of my hand!" I begged.
"Come meet her, Kiara!" He said, swaying.
"Maybe some other time!" I said.
"No! Now!" He yelled. I was hoping someone would hear what was going on but everyone was too busy occupied and the music was way too loud. I could barely hear myself think.
"Help!" I tried to yell but his gross hand covered my mouth.
"Help! Someone help!" I yelled louder but it was muffled and no one heard me.
The man dragged me out of the ballroom towards his car and I began to thrash and scream hoping to wake the two sleeping security guards.
"Please!" I yelled, "Leave me alone!"
"You're too beautiful to be left alone!" He yelled as he ran his rough hand down my cheek and I shuddered at his touch.
"Please!" I cried out.
"Now, now don't cry, Ashley." He said with an evil smile.
"How do you know my name?" I asked him shocked.
"You're Brandon Hawthorne's girlfriend. Everyone knows your name, dear. Richard promised me that his son would marry my daughter!" He yelled his hand wrapped around my neck, "But he broke it off to be with you. I wonder what he would do when he finds you dead in the ballroom-"
"I won't find her dead, I'll find you in her place!" Brandon roared.
"You!" The man yelled.
"Uncle Gregory it's a shame that we had to meet this way," Brandon smiled menacingly before he threw a punch in his face.
The man crumbled to the ground as Brandon kept on throwing punches. I tried to pull Brandon off but he wouldn't budge, at the end, I thought he was dead and my tears came out.
I began to sniff noisily when Brandon turned his murderous gaze to me and I began to walk backward, my back hitting the wall.
"What are you doing?" I gasped as he placed his hands on the wall behind me, caging me.
I couldn't explain it but I was not afraid of him.
"You see when someone says stay somewhere you do it," He barked.
I pushed his shoulders, "Who do you think you are?" I said gritting my teeth.
"Your boyfriend who is concerned about your ability to think," He hissed.
"Brandon!" I gasped as his fist came flying past my face and smashed into the brick wall, merely inches from my face, I heard him mutter a string of curses. "First you're not my boyfriend and second I do have the ability to think,"
"That's debatable," He said and moved to allow me to walk two steps forward.
"Are you insulting my intelligence?" I yelled at him.
Brandon ignored me and walked back in. I ran after him and grabbed his arm.
"Don't make a scene Ashley," Brandon groaned.
"Are you kidding me?" I said and began to laugh.
"Stupid and Insane," He muttered, "A perfect mix!"
"What's wrong with you?" I hissed and pinched his arm.
"Ashley I can't put up with you anymore. You're a burden to me." He admitted.
"What?" I cried.
"I love you, I really do, and seeing you walk out here willingly with a man probably thrice your age makes me wonder about your true standards," Brandon said sighing.
"He dragged me out of here against my will!" I yelled catching the attention of nearly everyone in the room.
"Why weren't you screaming for help?" He yelled back.
"I tried!" I yelled as tears threatened to pour out my eyes and I clenched my fists tightly, "But the voice came out barely audible because of the... his hand!" I continued.
Brandon sighed and began muttering another colorful string of curses.
"I'm sorry I accused you without thinking. I was just so angry." He apologized.
"Whatever!" I huffed and stormed to where Melanie and Melissa were sitting and joined them.
"What happened there?" Melissa asked giving her brother the stink eye.
"I don't want to talk about it," I told them and downed the glass in front of Melanie. As the drink slid down my throat, I grimaced as it burned me.
"I'm sure it will all be okay, it always is," Melanie said sympathetically as she watched order thirteen shots.
When the waiter brought them over, hissed at the horrid smell. I plugged my nose and drank three shots straight, each burning my throat and causing me to lose control over my already jumbled thoughts.
Stupid and insane. A perfect mix. I heard his voice say as I threw the fourth down my throat. I ignored Melanie who was begging me to stop and who was also asking me kindly to come back to my senses and watch Melissa yell at her brother. I was honored by how much attention and concern they all had for me.
"I'm taking you home," Melanie finally decided before she poured the last of my drinks down into the candle holder glass set on the table.
"I'm sorry," I murmured before tears burst out of my eyes and I was no longer in control of my own emotions.
As soon as Melanie reached our old apartment, she helped me into some of her clothes and wiped my makeup off gently.
"I'm sorry," I said again.
"It's alright," She said and rubbed soothing circles on my back, "Brandon was being a jerk tonight. It is his fault and not yours," She said and smiled.
"But I made you leave your own party," I sobbed.
"You didn't make me!" She exclaimed, "It was my own decision to do this."
"Still," I said stubbornly as she rolled her eyes and pulled her blonde hair in a bun.
"Ashley we've been best friends for many years, I'd leave my own wedding to comfort you," She told me.
"If I didn't know better, I'd ask why you were so obsessed with me," I said and burst out laughing.
"I'm not obsessed with you. I'm concerned. I'm concerned and hurt that I lost a lifelong best friend because I couldn't handle the way you were moping around. I'm concerned that we will never be the same as we were before, you know? We used to confide in each other everything and now... you seem really closed off. From me, from Brandon, and even the whole world. We're worried about you, I'm scared that the whole debacle with Sophia Lancross and Darren Gradley has done this to you." Melanie ranted.
I smiled, "Why are you concerned? I'm fine!" I said before I bent over and hurled all over the living room floor.
I groaned as I pulled myself back and tried to sit still and ignore the disgusting taste of alcohol that was in my mouth.
"I'm sure you're totally fine!" Melanie said and we both laughed.
Hey guys!
Aw, Brandon just had to be a jerk again. I guess he better be preparing his apology.
I'm 'guestimating' that this book will probably have about 14 - 16 chapters left, depending on how long I decide to drag this on, which probably won't be too long.
If you'd like to read Perla and Nicholas's story - It is out NOW!
It's called: The Billionaires Sweetheart
It's available on my profile and has six chapters (as I'm writing this) and updates the same time.
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Thanks for reading, see you next update :)
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