Chapter 6 - 10
Avara POV
I stand at the same spot I was when I saw my dad talking to the mystery man. Which I suppose, is the same man that followed me and danced with me. I brush a hand down my prickly skin, rousing the forbidden sensations that I experienced when I was in his arms. Something I’ve never felt. Which is something I’ve been desperately trying to ignore, but it’s there, burning quietly.
He’s dangerous. Despite what my mind reasons, my heart won’t deny the feeling. And as insane as it sounds, a part of me wonders if I’ll ever see him again.
A larger part of me doesn’t want to, for the obvious reasons, and one of them being what he said about me being a pawn. And it has me thinking. Why do we need to put up with this charade? Why can’t we just marry now? Each party extracts what they want from the marriage, then we get it annulled. Why do we have to showcase this lie to the world? It’s like we need to convince them, or perhaps just someone, that it is real. It doesn’t make sense.
I have turned a blind eye to a lot of things because I never wanted to believe anything bad about my dad. But I can’t help but contemplate if there’s more to this than I’m not being told. I clearly know nothing about my father—only what he wants me to know. But I know someone who can tell me things I don’t want to hear, but maybe what I need to know.
***
Allison: Vance wants to meet you.
Me: Another fake date? Why can’t he just ask me himself?
Allison: He is. Should I send a car to pick you up?
Me: I’m not home. And there is another press conference about the go-green initiative that I’m speaking at.
Me: Something he should know, like I’m aware of his corporate gala with the board of directors and principal investors in attendance. Which I already have a dress for. We can talk then.
"Miss Du Pont."