Bride of Convenience

Chapter 13

HE notices how hesitant she was, there must be a past issue there that his investigators missed. Why hadn’t they found out information on her mother? He knew she had grown up with her father but why? There didn’t seem to be any information obtainable on her mother. He would look into it further. The more time he spent with her, the more he enjoyed her company. Marriage wouldn’t be that hard for their short time together. She reached over and grabbed another carrot to peal, and her hand brushed over his. That is one thing that scared him when she touched him his skin became a burning inferno. That first night when he kissed her for the cameras, why did it come to him every night before he fell to sleep and that picture of her touching her lips after the kiss. Why did that make his world spin? Did she really do it on purpose as she said for the cameras? He wanted to know, and that was not all he wanted to know. He wanted to know what their wedding night would be like together. When she first came to his home and was signing the papers and asked him that question his original answer was no they didn’t. No one would know if they had consummated their vowels or not. She had stirred something in him though, and he had changed the answer. Rolando, his lawyer, had given him a knowing look after he varied the contract. He threw the veggies she had peeled into the over to roast he had sprinkled them with rosemary and garlic. Then they went back to the fire with their drinks. They talked casually about events coming up and the people attending. After their first big social event, she wanted to know about the people so she could start conversations and not, as she had put it, be just the girl on his arm. People warmed to her so fast he had comments after comments about the excellent choice and that she was a keeper. She was a keeper but only for six months. Why did that make him feel empty? He would have his shares for the company, and everything would be as it once was. He would be happy and content.

The next month flashed by, and they were in the society pages more often. Reports were hinting ‘might there be something more to this new affair?’ ‘Is Harrison ready to settle down?” “Could this Australian girl tame the wild Americans heart?” He enjoyed seeing their photos and reading what reporters were writing about them. He couldn’t have planned it better if he had written it himself. Tonight was another big event, and he couldn’t wait to see what beautiful dress Julia had picked out.

HARRISON and Julia arrived at the cocktail party. There were hundreds of people there, and everyone stopped to talk with Harrison. It’s a fantastic feeling having this much power on your arm, she thought. Once again like all their social events, champagne was passed around, and she felt quite at home strolling around with Harrison.

Shortly into the night, a tall blonde haired beauty walked up to them. She gave off bad vibes and seemed to know Harrison very well.

“Harrison darling, it’s great to see you. How long has it been six, seven months?” She asked as she kissed him. He immediately responded to her and dropped Julia’s arm to hug her. Julia didn’t know why but this made her feel very uneasy.

“Katrina, it has been a very long time. You look great though, working out are you?” They both laughed like they knew something she didn’t, a private joke perhaps. She felt very insignificant standing next to two gorgeous people who apparently had a history.

“And who is this lovely little lady Harrison?” Katrina asked as if he had someone of no real importance next to him. Harrison looked a little surprised like he had forgotten someone else was even in the room with them and he was stumped for a moment. Julia felt a warm flush starting up her face. He had forgotten her name.

“Julia. Lovely to meet you, Katrina.” Julia said before the whole room realised he was not remotely interested in introducing her to this blonde beauty.

“Hello Julia, you seem to be doing a great job of keeping Harrison occupied. You won't mind if I borrow him for a moment would you?” She asked. Julia was seething, Katrina had also noticed that his interest seemed lacking in Julia and didn’t mind pointing it out. Harrison didn’t see a thing except for Katrina, and he was delighted to wander off with her.

“That’s fine, I see some people over there that I need to catch up with anyway.” Harrison didn’t even acknowledge that she had walked away. She could feel the fury building inside her. She walked over to some people she had met earlier that night that seemed really friendly.

“Hi Samantha, are you enjoying the evening?” Julia said as an opening to start up a conversation with Samantha and her husband, Ivan. They imported something, she couldn’t remember what but they were the high society like everyone at this party except for her.

“Yes, it’s just divine. I see Katrina didn’t waste time stealing Harrison away.”

“Yes, I guess they are old friends?” Julia agreed.

“Is that what he told you? I would say; differently, they were in a relationship for about eight months and then she took off and dumped him. The way she’s looking at him tonight though looks like she may have changed her mind, but I’m sure he's too smitten with you to fall for her again. You guys seemed to be in the social pages a lot lately. What’s it like dating the most eligible bachelor around?” Julia heard this question often, many times at events like this.

“I do have to say I am fortunate, he is charming and the most amazing man to be around.” She smiled, but she didn’t feel the slightest bit happy.

For the next two hours, Julia made small talk with different couples. She was getting a little tired and realised these things weren’t as fun without Harrison there to keep her company. People around her were getting up and dancing everyone was have fun. She wondered where Harrison had got to. She didn’t need to wonder for long because across the dance floor they came, Katrina and Harrison dancing up a storm for everyone to see. They were very comfortable with each other and remarkably at ease in each other arms. She danced beautifully so unlike Julia. People were ohhh and ahhing as they danced. Julia felt like someone had just slapped her face. She could feel people staring at her wondering what her reaction would be. The photographers there were snapping their cameras a hundred miles an hour. She had never felt this awkward and hated Harrison right now for making her feel this way. What would people be thinking? Still chatting with people and trying to ignore the display on the dance floor, it was hard not to pay attention, and when she did look in that direction, it seemed pretty apparent just how close Harrison and Katrina were. Slowly, very slowly the night came to an end people were leaving, and Harrison came to find her. People were coming up to him and saying their goodbyes. She noticed the difference in him straight away, usually as they strolled out of one of these events he held her tightly comfortable under his arm and gave her a squeeze every now and then. Tonight he walked beside her, a million miles away.

HARRISON strolled behind Julia and found her to be not her usual self. She seemed cold. He had been surprised to see Katrina tonight it had been a long time since they had been together and he forgot how she made him feel. He said more goodbyes as they headed for the car. He opened the door for Julia and helped her in. He got in the other door and again felt something was wrong. “Julia, is everything ok?”

“Fine.” He didn’t think she seemed fine. She looked anything but fine! The drive to the apartment was filled with tension. He was sure something was wrong with her but couldn’t think what. They arrived at the apartment shortly after and he walked her up. The elevator ride to the penthouse was silence. He couldn’t handle it anymore he needed to fix whatever was wrong.

“Julia, please just tell me what’s wrong.” He demanded.

“Surely you can’t be that dim-witted to not know what is going on?” He was horrified why she was speaking to him like this.

“I don’t know what has happened, has someone said something to upset you?” He asked trying to discover the problem.

“Damn it, Harrison! Do you realise how that made me feel tonight? A woman from your past walks in, you don’t introduce me, you can’t remember my name, and you disappear with her for two hours and then turn back up dancing up a storm on the dance floor. Everyone was watching the two of you, and then everyone looking directly at me to see my reaction. Not just the people there either I’m talking photos being taken of my every move when you guys started dancing. You made me feel totally insignificant. If you feel that much for Katrina why don’t you just marry her!”

“Because I don’t want to marry Katrina and it’s not what you think anyway. We were simply old friends having a good time.” Why was she making a big deal of this he had done nothing wrong.

“Old friends? Samantha Nelson tells me that you were practically engaged until she dumped you and took off.” He winced at that comment. “What do you think people are going to say, you have been seeing a girl for two months everyone thinks you're smitten with her and in walks, your ex-girlfriend and you don’t even realise I’m present. I understand that compared to her I may not be much to look at, but you chose me for this contract, and now she walks back in and claims her property, is that what this is?”

Harrison had had enough she just didn’t understand how it went with Katrina.

“She is not claiming her property, I am no one’s property. She doesn’t even want to start things back up she was just feeling a little down, and we always were able to pick each other up in the past.”

“Are you blind? Do you really believe that? Everyone there tonight new she had her claws out and wants you back. God! I don’t believe you can’t see it. She has come back and seen what she previously rejected, is now getting attention, most women see that as competition. Katrina wants everyone to know if she wants you back she can stroll in and have you. She certainly did that tonight. You know I just felt so humiliated. I don’t know when I’ve ever felt like that before.”

“You don’t think this compares to how Adrian humiliated you?” As he said it, he knew it was a step too far. Her face went white, and he thought she was going to pass out. He shouldn’t have said that that situation wasn’t her fault. Her eyes teared up. He felt a sharp pain in his chest. God, he was an arse he’d made her cry.

“How did you …..I …..really…..don’t think that needs to be discussed here.” She said slowly as a tear trickled down her cheek.

“I just mean I think your over-reacting to this situation and I’m wondering if this is about how it made you feel rather than how the public thinks.”

“Are you saying you think I’m jealous? You think you acted perfectly normal this evening?” She asked. He seen the venom in her eyes, he had struck a cord there.

“I simply think that there is no issue here and you seem to be making it into a huge issue. I don’t see the point.”

“I think you should leave Harrison. Truly if you think this is all because I’ve fallen for you and I’m jealous you really do not understand me at all. I suggest tomorrow you look in the social pages you rely on so much and see what your public thinks and maybe think about what Aunty Sally lawyers think as they read those papers. I’ll see you in the office in the morning, shall I?” She was standing by the door holding it opened. Her cheeks wet from tears that had escaped. Harrison left because he didn’t know what else to say. He headed down the elevator and kept replaying the evening in his mind. Did Harrison really hope that what Julia said was right and that Katrina wanted him back? He had never had a woman dump him before and when Katrina did it didn’t sit well. Did he behave as bad as Julia said he did? Why did she infuriate him so much? Why had he brought up Adrian, that was a low blow and it’s probably been a while since anyone mentioned that, the hand full of people that knew had swept it under the carpet for her benefit so she could move on and not be scared? Funny though even though that information didn’t get out, she still was scared no one would hire her with that kind of background anyway. I guess it would be worse if they knew the whole story.