Lesson Thirty-Three - Be Loyal To Your Future Not Your Past.
"Lyra."
My name came out as smooth as silk from Riker's mouth as he caught my attention. As my eyes snapped to him I could see he was giving me a pointed look to shut up. For the first time I noticed that we weren't in here alone with my brother. The paparazzi was here too. Shit.
There cameras were flashing at us as they took the three of us in. I had clearly walked into something I shouldn't have. The future heir of the Anderson empire should not be here holding her brother against the glass window.
I groaned internally. I couldn't wait to see the news tomorrow my dad was going to kill me before I could even explain.
"Lyra is there something going on between you and your brother?" Asked one of the reporters. "Is there a storm happening in the Anderson house?"
I put on my best fake smile in front of them. "Nothing is happening in our family, we are all getting along like always."
"There is reports of you and twin brother having issues with your mom. Is it true youse don't get along."
I was really starting to hate this bitch of a reporter in front of me. I could see the sly grin on her face like she knew more than she should and she probably did. All they did was get into your business.
"Me, Damon and our mom have always got on. In fact we were planning on going to lunch with her tomorrow weren't we Damon."
I looked at my brother with a pointed look almost daring him to refuse in front of these reporters. He looked like a deer caught in headlights. He was pushed into a corner and there was nothing he could do about it.
"Yes of course." He said while clearing his throat. "We are going to lunch with our mom tomorrow." I could hear his hate at saying the word mom but I prayed the reporters didn't. Judging from there reactions they didn't notice.
"The Anderson family as been under the radar since your mom announced her engagement and marriage to Riker Kennedy's father. I'm sure the public would love an interview with you all don't you think?"
Looking at bitch's camera man I could see the red light on the camera. This was live. I was completely caught off guard and backed into a corner.
Then I did something that I would probably completely regret as soon as this was over.
"Yes why don't you come....." I waited for her to say her name.
"Holly."
"Holly. Me, Damon and my mom would be more than happy to give you an interview tomorrow." I almost thought my face was going to crack with the fake smile currently covering my face.
"What about you Riker?" She asked. Riker though looked completely natural. It was almost like he knew this was coming. This man was always five steps ahead of everyone.
"What about me?" He asked with a natural smirk on his face. I could see him look the woman up and down not even hiding it making me roll my eyes.
"Are you going to come tomorrow? After all she is your new mother in law." I could see her bar her eyelashes at him making me roll my eyes. What did this bitch think was going to happen.
"I'd be more than happy to." Riker threw his arm over my shoulder catching me off guard which wasn't the first time tonight.
"Great." Said Holly as she turned and faced the camera to speak but I completely blocked her out as I turned to face my brother.
"This is all your fault." I whispered into his ear completely pissed off but the fake smile was still in my face as I glanced at the camera seeing that it was still on.
"What the fuck how is this my fault you're the one that stormed in here." He spoke through a grin. I could see Riker trying to hide his amusement as he looked down at the ground.
"You could've warned me." I bite back under my breath.
He scoffed and gave me a pointed look. "You came in here like charging bull what the fuck did you want me to do tranquillise you?"
I glared at my brother as soon as I seen the cameras were switched off.
Riker clapped his hands and reports attention was drawn to him and away from us. It was probably for the best or else they might see us murder each other.
"Ok if that's it guys it's time to go we have some family business to talk about." I watched as Riker got the reporters out of the room with the help of the bouncers. Holly though stood back and waited.
"Who should I talk to for tomorrow?" Her attention was just in Riker and he gave her his infamous smirk.
"Mike here will bring you to one of my planners he'll sort everything for you." He nodded to the bouncer and he escorted her out without even batting an eye.
As soon as the door closed Riker's attention was snapped to both me and my brother. "That was very smooth guys, very smooth indeed."
For the first time I took in my surroundings. It was a nice room decorated in grey and white. Marble was everywhere from the floors to the countertops at the private bar. The room was dimly lit but I could still see every detail.
"It's his fault."
My brother ignored my comment as his face lit up, almost like he remembered something. "Wait. What the hell were you on about when you first came in here. I never texted mother and asked her to met for lunch."
"Well I know that now don't I." I spoke as I rolled my blue eyes. "She got a text which was apparently from you saying that you wanted to met for lunch tomorrow."
He frowned. "Who do you think did that."
"I don't know." I said shrugging. "But it's not the only problem we have right now. These stupid reporters are expecting us there tomorrow and seeing as this is your fault you should go plan it."
"What the fuck." He said for what must have been the thousandth time. "I have nothing to do with this. I blame the one that send that text in the first place."
"Damon just go talk to the reporter."
This time it was Riker who spoke and Damon completely shut up. It was clear my brother wanted to say something but he just turned and gave me the look of death. He ran his finger along his throat showing I was dead but I just smirked and waved him off as he left the room.
Got to love me brother sometimes.
"As for you." This time my attention snapped to Riker who was pointing his drink at me. He was wearing a suit with the top button undone and the shirt untucked.
"What about me?" I asked with a taunt in my voice. I crossed my arms showing him I was ready for his shit.
"You need to learn when to cool that pretty little head of yours. If the reporters heard much more of your rant, fuck knows where we would end up." He had set his glass down again and was now taking of his suit jacket. It was clear he was only wearing it for the reporters. It made me slightly jealous of the bitch I wasn't going to lie.
"I don't care about that stupid whore." I remarked snapping myself out of checking him out. "My family could pay her off to keep that dirty mouth shut."
He raised an eyebrow at me and undid all the buttons on his shirt and left it open. This made me give him a curious glance.
"Not all your problems can be solved by money Princess."
For the first time I seemed to realise he said my name earlier. My real name, not princess, he called me Lyra. I wasn't going to lie he caught me completely off guard when he said it maybe that's why my attention snapped so quickly to him. He knew what he was doing.
I then snapped out of my thoughts and seen that Riker was waiting for me to reply. "No someday there will be a problem that my families money won't be able to solve. That's the day I wait for though. That's the day I'll find out what I'm really made off or if I'm no better than the next rich kid."
Riker let out a chuckle and started to walk towards me. "Want to make a bet princess?"
Now this was getting interesting. "What?" I Asked challenging him to continue. I wasn't one to turn down a bet.
"I bet you that say in.... five years..." he seemed thoughtful as he spoke like he thinking very carefully about what he said. "That money isn't what your going to be famous for Princess. The whole world will know your name and you won't need introductions. The money though won't be the reason for it."
"If money isn't the reason then what is?" I was curious on where he was going with this. I was starting to think he had one to many to drink.
He poked me on the forehead something I wasn't expecting at all. "That Princess is what the world will know you for. That brain of yours that seems to work out everything. You'll do something great with your families Empire."
I didn't believe him. My family was famous for our money and always will be. "For once I'm going to say your wrong." I walked around him, circling him he never took storm like eyes off me. "I'll agree that the word will know my name, that's my aim after all. Money though will be the reason for it."
"It's a bet then." Grinned Riker as he looked down for a second before matching my gaze.
"What do I get if I win?" This was the part I really wanted.
"What do you want princess?"
I was thoughtful for a moment but I knew straight away what it was I wanted. "I want you to keep away from my empire. I don't want the name Kennedy to have anything to do with it. No matter what happens you are to keep your business out of mine."
He smirked almost like he knew this is what I was going to say and he probably did. I had been going on about it for a good while now.
"Do you want to know what it is I want princess?" There was a challenge to his gaze and I didn't know if I liked it or not.
"What?" I asked carefully.
"You have to go out with me."