HARDY contd-
Joanne was taken aback when I unexpectedly pulled her into a passionate kiss. However, I had no choice, as observers began to realize that we were on the brink of our arguments. I was practically devouring her jelly lips with her lip gloss, making them even more lustrous.
In places like this, people niche over the smallest details of your life.
They all seem to take pleasure in witnessing the downfall of others or revel in the chaos of a turbulent love life.
But I wasn’t planning on giving any of them what they want.
Not like I would like to give a darn about what they think about my life. But clearly, these are all for shows
I didn’t like Joanne, and I shouldn’t. I would never.
But I liked this.
Joanne slowly reciprocated my kiss and her breath relaxed against my skin.
My hands reached for her waist and I trapped them.
I wasn’t a fan of PDA, but here I was.
Joanne smelled incredible, and I felt like eating her existence this time, a combination of a soft flowery aroma that made my nose dance and a calm and pleasant scent that lingered in the air.
When I terminated the kiss, our tongues were practically out of control.
If we had continued, we would not be standing where we are now.
Joanne looked a little scarlet when I pulled away, a feeling of satisfaction and bashfulness crimsoned against her cheeks.
Her hands, which were still hanging carefully, dropped, and she avoided my gaze like a child.
At least the kiss had transformed her entire bratty mood from before.
Gradually, a sense of dizziness overcame me as I observed her gently tucking her lower lip into her mouth, as if trying to erase the lingering taste of the kiss.
I noticed how heavy eyes had left us and was now replaced with pretend sudden conversations.
“Let’s be careful” I mumbled and Joanne nodded, reaching for the tiny cake again before shoving it in her mouth.
I shamelessly wanted to kiss her again.
“Oh.. look who it is,” A famaliar voice pulled me and Joanne’s attention to the left, and there Anne was.
Anne Shaw, The back-bone and creator of the Ale-o house and one of my heavy suspects around Lisa’s fabricated suicide.
Anne is as cruel as she appears. And she was never trustworthy.
She was once interested in me and demonstrated different levels of obsession. I never gave in until the week I proposed to Lisa. A party was arranged in honor of our engagement, and Anne had mixed my drink with aphrodisiac, bringing us both to a room where she shut the door.
The worst transpired between us that night, leaving her completely content and making me feel terrible the next day after I regained my wits. We never discussed it after that day, and she kept it a secret. I remember her holding a higher shoulder over Lisa’s naivety and unawareness because of what we did.
“Oh Hi Anne,” Joanne muffled. Anyone could tell she was forcing her enthusiasm.
“I knew I’d meet you two here,” Anne began. “The other ladies weren’t invited. But I guess you were” Anne sounded bitter admist her smile.
“Oh didn’t know I’d find myself here until my invitation came in” Joanne shrugged gently.
She was showing off.
“Jones sent you a private invite?” Anne sounded like she had heard wrong.
“Yeah, me and Hardy separately. Wasn’t that the same for you?” Joanne asked, battling her lashes.
Great.
Joanne had a knack for giving sassy comebacks. That was one particular thing I would say I liked about her.
It was truly fascinating to witness how these women engaged in a battle of strategy, despite their opposing appearances.
“I mean, yeah it was” Anne’s hesitation gave it away that it was a lie.
You could see her cussing herself on the inside.
“Well… You look gorgeous tonight,” Anne began. “But don’t you think stuffing your face before anything begun is a bit… unsophisticated?”
Joanne’s face lit up with a radiant smile. And it was unclear if anyone else noticed the underlying anger beneath that smile.
“Oh you know,” Joanne gently tapped her stomach, which moved Anne’s eyes and mine. “The cravings are unbearable,”
Anne beamed.
“Some pregnant women just try to blame their gluten nature on their poor child, but I’m pretty sure yours is just cravings… Hopefully.”
I took a step toward Joanne, ready to speak for Joanne cause Anne had just pushed a button and you could tell as soon as Joanne’s smile dropped.
“Anne,” Joanne said before I could. “You don’t try to speak for others, cause that’s also a bit unsophisticated. You don’t know unless you’ve walked in our shoes. I’m sure you’ll know how it is to be a new mom soon… Hopefully” Joanne added with a shrug, wearing a victory smile.
Anne was indeed hurt by Joanne’s words but covered it with another smile.
“I better go, Asher might look for me. Anyways I’ll see you later?” Anne glanced back and forth between me and Joanne waiting for an answer.
“Sure,” Joanne nodded.
Anne’s chestnut eyes make a quick glare at Joanne’s stomach before she threw another smile and walked away.
Joanne scoffed, clutching her stomach.
“Did you see the way she looked at my me?”
“Pay no attention to Anne, she hates everyone with me” I said, only to make Joanne feel less angry.
We were both quiet, and Joanne decided to ask.
“Do you guys have a history together?”
I stared down at her.
“It’s just a question,” she scoffed.
“And it’s none of your business” I added.
“That has clearly answered my question” she rolled her eyes. “You’re way too difficult”.
I ignored her.
She was the difficult one.
°°°
The dinner was over in a flash. Similar to myself, every dish placed on the tables caused Joanne to feel nauseous, prompting her to decline them all. The atmosphere during dinner was unusually quiet, as if an invisible force had silenced everyone. Surprisingly, I found myself enjoying the peace and quiet.
The only thing I didn’t like was how I caught Trevor stealing glances at Joanne.
What the hell did he actually want.
We entered the castle’s grand ballroom for the auction, where our names were discreetly engraved on the elegant wooden chairs reserved for us. Each chair had a paddle with our assigned numbers neatly placed beside it.
Our names were proudly added to the front row seats. We swiftly took possession of it.
Strangely and obnoxiously, Trevor’s name happened to be right beside Joanne’s, conveniently placing her in between us.
I tried not to care.
Joanne meant nothing to me. And it would be nothing to me if anyone else showed an interest in her.
She was an interesting woman.
A brunette so pale that she flushes scarlet or pink at every insult or compliment you make.
Her eyes are bright and brown, which may be appealing to some people since they are soulful and deep, similar to how pools of water reflect light. They were also like glowing embers, which matched her strong attitude, always burning with resolve and escapism, hatred and death, all directed at me.
Joanne exuded an undeniable fierceness that made it impossible not to admire her. Her beauty was simply captivating.
With flowing brown hair and shiny jelly lips, there was no denying that her eyes were the most captivating feature. The thick and long lashes that surround them only added to their allure. And Indeed, her teeth were flawless when she smiled.
But definitely wasn’t my type.
So why would I care if Trevor or even Theo took an interest in her?
She meant nothing to me.
–
Anyone could tell what was going to be auctioned tonight because the large sheets covering the painting revealed it as it took shape. Antiques, too.
This auction was completely unnecessary, but I had to do what I needed to do.
I attempted to focus on something other than Joanne and Trevor, who were already striking up small talk. Talking in whispers about stuff I shouldn’t be concerned about.
Why? And when did they get close?
Not like I should care but why?
Everyone watched as the auctioneer stepped up on the platform, accompanied by a few men, and began removing the sheets from each artwork and antique allowing everyone to mentally choose anything they wanted.
I watched as Joanne gaped at a massive artwork that drew the attention of half the audience.
Basically, everyone was drawn to the paintings because they screamed passion.
But the painting Joanne was looking at was the biggest; it was over nine feet tall and depicted two naked women hanging over a man, attempting to draw him into a sea or whatever liquid they were in. Trying to get him to satisfy their sexual cravings.
The painting had an undeniable liveliness due to its foamy bubbles and distinctive color.
Their bodies were painted in such perfection that you could feel the steam coming off of them. I instantly noticed some horny freaks bobbing their Adam apples and some ladies fanning themselves a little too hard. Some pale cheeks had even turned flaming red.
Joanne strictly stared at it, as if she wanted to dive in.
I scoffed almost quietly.
“Do you like it?”
Trevor didn’t whisper so it was loud enough to hear him asking joanne.
“So much” Joanne laughed at her reply.
“Wouldn’t mind if I get it for you?” Trevor asked.
“Why would you?” Joanne retorted immediately.
Yeah. Cause why the fuck would he?
I threw him a look from where I was seated and he laughed.
I wanted to ask what the fuck was funny but my phone buzzed.
Pulling it out of my pocket, I saw a message from Trinity.
-*Sir you should see this, it was sent to the mail tonight*
A picture immediately followed and I tapped on it faster than I have ever. Already knowing who it was from.
The picture contained a familiar envelope and the note Trinity had pulled out saying.
*I love that black dress on Joanne, what colour do you think it’ll turn to if she was hanging by a rope?*
I cautiously covered my phone’s screen and peered around.
The culprit was currently in our midst. also staring at one of these paintings too.
Joanne was in danger.
Who could the Fuckin Bastard be?
**