Joanne –
I honestly will never understand how these wealthy people walk and talk.
I thought it would just be a friendly dinner for Trevor Jones, the man of the hour, who took it in his time to invite these people over to celebrate his birthday with him.
And I thought we would all just have dinner and head home. Maybe after a few toasts or whatever.
But boy, was I wrong? Again.
I will never be right with these people.
It wasn’t dinner at all, but hell.
And I should have seen this coming, for the fact that I’ve spent time with these women at the ale-o house and would have known what they were like.
We were all supposed to be having dinner, but yet it feels like an interrogation center.
What happened to everyone’s table manners? Don’t talk while eating.
Even the juicy sauced stake that has been blemishing my brain for a bite has run far from my appetite, all thanks to the tight spot the woman around the table had created.
The men had quietly ignored every conversation, leaving the ladies to talk about how extravagant their lives are, interrogating any other female who immediately felt less of herself to feel more on top.
Do they not get tired? I am greatly tired.
I am honestly tired of these people.
How do they keep up with these things that just itch me?
Thankfully, I’ve managed to avoid two or more questions and focus on my food, like Hardy and the rest of the men.
But Chloe, Ruby, and the other ladies are not stopping for anything.
And Chloe has been seriously trying to ignite either Hardy or my flames because she won’t stop talking about us or trying to get something out of us.
“You know. Joanne… I still can’t get over that necklace of yours. It’s driving my eyes crazy,” Chloe giggled, gently stabbing her steak with her fork.
I smiled, pretending I didn’t want to just get on my feet and leave this place.
“Come on! We know you want Xavier to take note,” Ruby chimed in.
“Of course,” Chloe said, rolling her eyes with a smile.
I didn’t say a word and just continued with my food. Whatever they were planning to get out of me? They wouldn’t get it.
They wouldn’t even get anything.
“But wait… Lisa once had this exact same necklace.” An unfamiliar voice at the end of the table sucked in, and the table quieted down in an instant.
So everyone’s zeal tonight was to pounce on Hardy?
Wow
These people are sure heartless.
Hardy didn’t react in the way anyone thought he would.
Instead, he raised his head and arched a brow at the woman at the end of the table who had said those words.
I immediately caught a glimpse of his hand being folded under the table.
He was mad.
“In some ways, Joanne reminded me of Lisa. I had no choice but to burn my money for her. She’s precious.” Hardy’s lips stretched into a hard smile.
I almost choked on my food as Hardy’s fingers gently brushed against my face, tucking invisible strands of my hair.
I was shaking, maybe not entirely because Hardy’s rough and hard hand on my face was nerve-wracking, but because everyone’s eyes were on us.
“Oh,” the lady said.
Who knew Hardy was this showy?
“Not from me,” the lady began. “Not from me, but I heard around. I know it’s sweet and all. I love how you love Joanne.”The lady paused to catch her breath, tucking her blond hair away.
“I heard from the party earlier that Joanne might be Lisa’s rebound. I mean, you both got engaged a month after Lisa’s de-
“Kiera. That’s enough!” Kaleb, the nice gentleman from earlier who Hardy somehow hates, shunned her, causing the lady to purse her lips and keep quiet.
I had no idea he’d been here the whole time.
“I heard from others.” She rolled her eyes.
Hardy’s hands are getting tighter under the table, and I kind of felt sorry for him.
Ruby and Chloe seemed satisfied by the uproar this Kiera lady had caused, as invisible smiles lay on their lips.
“Why would anyone think that?” Hardy’s voice was surprisingly calm.
The Kiera lady looked taken aback.
“Well, I didn’t think of that myself. Like I said, I heard it flying around the party. And it’s rare to see you hang around with party poopers like us, so it’s best I ask you in person.”
Everyone looked mad, wishing they could shut Kiera up. And I could tell.
Hardy turned me to him, and it forced me to turn to him too.
Act like a couple. They said.
“Maybe I did think of Joanne as a rebound, at first.” He sighed. “But then she showed me she could be more than that; she showed me that Lisa wasn’t all I should cling to.” His voice is shockingly soft, which scared me.
I could suddenly tell, when Hardy grabbed my hand, that he was burning on the inside.
His hands gently dropped to my face, and he leaned down and kissed me.
A slight brush against my lips.
It was just a show. An act to fool everyone.
But I could swear I saw a glint of something I couldn’t decipher when Hardy pulled away.
Or maybe I was being delusional.
“That’s it. Joanne basically saved me.”Hardy smiled and got a few “aww”s” from some of the ladies around the table.
He slowly kept his hands to himself, leaving me and my weakened grip against my fork. His act was way too good.
If I wasn’t kidnapped and forcefully inseminated with his child and also forced to come to this darn place and pretend for Hardy, I would have almost believed Hardy meant every word.
The entire table was quiet now; the sound of forks and knives hitting against the ceramic plate felt more like peace than these ladies trying to come at Hardy.
Someone clearing their throat could be heard, and everyone raised their heads to Trevor, who was dropping his fork.
“So… um… This was supposed to be my party. I didn’t know Hardy would be the main talk for tonight. He’s known to steal spotlights, but guys, come on. Tonight should be about me.
Trevor pushed out a tired grin.
“You’re right.” Spenser nodded.
I glanced at Hardy, who was calmly eating. I knew he would internally thank Trevor for that speech.
–
The table started to become empty as the guests emptied their plates. A lot of the ladies almost threw themselves at Trevor before leaving the place, all in the name of wishing him a happy birthday.
I wanted to leave too, but Hardy was still eating, taking his time somewhere between enjoying his food and taking his time.
He looked mad.
I wasn’t sure, but I could somewhat tell.
The place became entirely empty with just Trevor, Hardy, and me.
Despite finishing his food, he started to help himself with some wine.
The strongest alcoholic you could find in any market.
When he popped the bottle open, the strong alcoholic smell hit my nose from a mile away.
Why wouldn’t he leave?
Hardy hates parties, so why wouldn’t he leave this one?
“Not leaving anytime soon, huh?” Trevor took his seat, undoing his button shirt.
Hardy shook his shirt as he pushed the glass cup in front of him and started gulping the wine from the bottle.
“You good?” Trevor asked.
“Why would you ask that?” Hardy scoffed. “I am perfectly fine.”
“Right,” Trevor said, popping his own bottle open.
“Because I know you, Hardy, you hate events like this and you hardly drink. Something’s bothering you.”
“Funny how everyone thinks they know me,” Hardy spat bitterly.
“Don’t we?” Trevor chugged.
Hardy didn’t bother to give a reply and continued drinking.
I remained quiet, trying not to start yelling and slamming my body against the table.
I hated the dress on my body, and I wanted it off of me.
“Are you okay?” Trevor asked, seeing me shrivel in my seat.
“Yeah-
I glanced at Hardy.
“Well, anyway, thank you for earlier. I felt better thanks to you,” Trevor beamed.
Hardy glanced at me and then at Trevor.
“And what happened earlier?” He asked me.
“Nothing, we just talked.” Trevor broke out before I got a chance to speak.
–
Finally home, I couldn’t wait to step into my darn room, strip the dress off my body, and then soak my body in a nice warm tub for maybe three years-compared to the stress I went through today.
I was already being guided to my room by Trinity, who welcomed me.
I unzipped my dress and walked out of it, and at that moment I felt myself breathe.
Immediately, Hardy walked into my room.
I immediately grabbed the robe Trinity had held out for me and threw it over my body, throwing the rope in a quick loose knot.
“Trinity, leave,” he quietly ordered.
F*ck. He looked drunk.
–
*