Trapped by the Bastard's Kiss

Chapter 8

For weeks Roman had done his best to stay away from anything relating to Becky Quin and anyone with the last name Pollen. He had actually focused on his company, managing to close a new deal that would bring him a minimum of half a million dollars if he played his cards right.

That was what should have mattered. The headache of ironing out all the nitty-gritty details of the new deal should have been enough to keep his mind occupied. After all, Roman was determined to make sure nothing about his future bore the barest resemblance to his past. He had shaken off the shackles of lack and struggle and was determined to keep them off. He was determined to give his mother the best of life.

But all his determined and focused mindset had come to a staggering halt once again when he received another envelope at the office.

He honestly didn’t know why Frederick used white envelopes to deliver his invitations. Roman thought the color black would have been more suitable. Considering how dark they turned his mood.

This time, the invitation had been a two-for-one offer. The first was for Cole’s thirtieth birthday and the second invitation was for Cole’s and Becky’s wedding a week later.

There was something to be said about people who never thought of him as more than a fly disturbing their perfect soup, then suddenly eager to call him to every event like a long-lost son. And it was nothing kind and conducive for children’s ears.

But, against his better judgment and that of Sean and his mother, Roman stood in front of the ugly wall painting in the Pollen house, trying not to choke on the air in the room.

The room was filled with people of different ages, all dressed in their finest, but Roman felt completely alone, out of place. And it wasn’t a matter of status. He had almost as much money as some of these people and his clothes were not cheap. That, however, didn’t change a thing. It still felt like he was a cheetah in a pack of wolves. He stood out and not in a good way. Roman had a feeling Grace had something to do with it. Not that he had expected differently.

Although, the moment he had entered the house, Frederick had welcomed him with a wide smile and open arms. The man had even taken the time to introduce him to a few people before whispering in Roman’s ear that he would love them to have a word before Roman left the party, and then Frederick had moved on to play host and proud father elsewhere in the room.

Roman made his way through the crowd, feeling increasingly out of place as he scanned the sea of unfamiliar faces that gave him side glances that spoke volumes and wished he had taken Sean up on his offer to come with him. It certainly would have made the whole thing less frustrating.

He couldn’t help but once again notice the grandeur of the Pollen’s home: the crystal chandeliers, Grace must have made the maid polish to death, and the plush carpets. Of course, not forgetting the extravagant, ugly artwork that adorned the walls. It was a stark contrast to the modest surroundings he had grown up in. And a reminder of everything he tried not to think about.

As he made his way towards the bar, he overheard snippets of conversation about Becky and Cole’s upcoming wedding. Everyone seemed to be buzzing with excitement, but Roman felt a knot form in his stomach at the thought of Cole marrying Becky. And if he was honest with himself, that was what had brought him here tonight.

He saw Grace just before reaching the open bar and almost made a detour but thought, what the heck! And walked on until he was standing beside her smaller, round figure. He couldn’t help the smile that crept onto his lips when she turned with a polite smile to greet him, only to realize who he was. Roman could see how much she wanted to snarl and possibly curse at him, but Grace knew better than to make a scene.

“Good evening, Grace,” Roman said, his smile still in place. “My, you look lovely tonight.” He made the exaggerated show of taking a step back and really taking her all in. “Just lovely. I love the red dress. You look like a walking stop sign. And that hairstyle is simply... unforgettable. Did you do it yourself, or did you let a blindfolded Cole have a go at it?” Roman finished, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Roman,” Grace gritted out. She lowered her voice and subtly looked around to ensure they didn’t have an audience before continuing, “Remember that you are only here because my husband wants you here.”

“How could I possibly forget? Any idea why, though?” Roman decided to ask. Even the devil gave clues to a mystery sometimes.

To his shock, Grace clammed up tighter than a clamshell at low tide. She calmly collected her drink, gave him one last glare, and left. Interesting.

Roman watched Grace Pollen for a moment make her way through the crowd, smiling and chatting with everyone. He had spoken to Sean, and his friend had made more revelations concerning the Pollen house and even the Quin family. Grace’s reaction to his question made him wonder just how much the woman knew of what was happening behind the curtains.

After a minute of musing over this, Roman knew he wouldn’t get any answers out of thin air, no matter how long he stared at it. He gave the room a sweeping glance from his new vantage point. Now he could see there were at least close to a hundred people in the room. But Becky wasn’t one of them. He knew she wouldn’t miss her fiance’s birthday party, so he assumed she was still on her way.

He finally got a glass of wine and decided to find a quiet spot against the wall and wait for the only reason he had made the effort to show his face in this house again.

Then Cole had found him. And just as strange as Frederick’s actions when Roman had arrived this evening, Cole was being too friendly and too chatty. Unfortunately, unlike Frederick, who had moved on and left Roman to at least enjoy the expensive liquor in peace, Cole had stuck to Roman’s side like a blood-sucking tick and was just as irritating.

Roman ground his even white teeth together and suppressed the urge to punch his half-brother in the nose to shut him up. It had been almost twenty minutes since Cole had walked over and stood next to him. And the guy wouldn’t shut up and leave, regardless of all the clipped responses Roman had given.

Roman’s fingers wrapped around the stem of the wineglass, knuckles white with the force of his grip. He could feel his frustration simmering just below the surface, threatening to boil over at any moment. For a moment, he considered throwing the glass against the wall, shattering it into a million pieces. But he knew that would only make things worse.

Taking a deep breath, Roman forced himself to relax his grip and raise the glass to his lips. The aroma of the Merlot wafted up to his nose, the rich scent of dark fruit and oak filling his senses. The wine flowed down his throat smoothly, the dryness of the tannins a sharp contrast to the sweet aroma.

Despite the situation, he couldn’t help but appreciate the quality of the wine. He had developed a taste for the finer things in life once his work started paying off, so he appreciated the Merlot. It may not have been enough to calm his nerves, but at least it was something to enjoy amidst the chaos of the evening.

Although he shouldn’t have been surprised. No expenses would have been spared by Grace to celebrate her son’s birthday. The said son continued to ramble about his upcoming wedding a week away, completely oblivious to Roman’s dark thoughts and boiling irritation. The hum of conversation around them added to his half-brother’s voice, meaning it added to Roman’s building frustration.

What was he doing there? Roman questioned himself for what felt like the hundredth time. He didn’t want to believe he was putting himself through all this because of a woman. And what did he intend to do once he saw her?

Roman wondered if he was secretly a masochist and just wanted to torture himself by watching Cole with Becky together. Sean had even offered to go out clubbing tonight and find some night entertainment. But Roman had turned him down. He needed to be here. Something in his gut just wouldn’t settle until he saw Becky again.

Speaking of the woman, where the hell was she? He wondered in frustration.

“Becky assures me that the dress she got will knock my socks off,” Cole said, pulling Roman out of his thoughts and bringing his eyes back to the man.

It took him a second to process what Cole had said, and then he tried to shrug like he didn’t care. “With good money, one can only buy the best of anything.”

Cole chuckled, as though Roman had said something truly hilarious. Roman fought the frown he could feel pulling his brows together. He was still wondering why his half-brother had stuck to him like glue. Close was not how he would describe his relationship with his half-brother on any day. This was the longest conversation they ever had alone, just the two of them. Cole hadn’t even tried this at the dinner several weeks ago. Something was really off.

Somehow, he pushed the uneasy feeling away and asked the burning question, “And where is the lovely bride?”

“She should be here any second. She is coming with her parents.”

Roman looked towards the doors as though expecting Cole’s fiancee to waltz in that very second. Irritated with his own eagerness to see Becky, Roman finished his glass in one gulp.

To survive the evening, Roman realized he was going to need something stronger than Merlot. He scanned the room for a server, intending to ask for a full glass of Johnnie Walker or a cocktail. He had come driving today, but he could always call Sean to come to pick him up when he was ready to leave.

His distracted mind and searching eyes caught the attention of Cole. “What is with you?”

Roman turned back and looked at the man. “What do you mean?”

“I am talking to you, but you are not listening.”

Seriously? The urge to roll his eyes pulsed strongly in Roman’s veins. Oh, he was done pretending to be civil. “I have, unfortunately, heard everything you have said. From the flower arrangement to the color of socks you will be wearing. What?... Would you like me to give you pointers on how to f**k your wife on the wedding night?”

Cole’s face turned an ugly shade of red in a heartbeat. The fake smile he had worn the last half hour finally faded as he glared, clearly no longer caring if one of his guests saw. “I nearly forgot what an ass you can be.”

“But I don’t forget how much of a snake you are,” Roman retorted without missing a beat. He tilted his head and plastered on an almost amused expression. “Which begs the question, what are you up to? Why the sudden urge to involve me in every little detail of your life?”

Silence pulsed around them as they stared at each other. Roman hoped he would finally get an answer that would unravel all the mystery. Sadly not.

“I just thought my brother would be happy for me and want to know how excited I am to be getting married,” Cole finally said, a little too strained.

“Bullshit.”

The frown on Cole’s forehead deepened. Then he sighed and shook his head before looking across the room. “I see someone I need to talk to. I will catch you later.” And he was gone.

Roman wasted no time striding towards the bar, his long strides reflecting his mounting frustration. As he approached, he couldn’t help but mentally berate himself for even agreeing to attend this event. f**k, he must be losing his mind, he thought with a frown. With a heavy sigh, he found an empty space in front of the bar, his eyes scanning the bottles of alcohol displayed behind the counter. He silently hoped that the bartender knew how to mix something decent, for he was in dire need of a stiff drink to help him get through the night.