Carson rushes to the bottom of the stairs and holds out his hand to her. She nervously smiles and takes it. He does an exaggerated bow and kisses the back of her hand.
“You are the most divine creature I have ever seen. Who are you?” he purrs.
Bridget smiles nervously. “My name is Bridget,” she whispers as the whole room looks on.
“Well Bridget,” Carson purrs. “You are my date for the night. I am not letting you out of my sight.”
She giggles nervously, unsure what to say.
My eyes widen and flick to Ben. He stands stock-still, glaring at Carson, his jaw ticking in anger.
Hmm, this night just got very interesting.
Joshua and I approach the double front doors of the white three-storey mansion, the venue for the pussy party. What in the hell goes on at this place to earn it that name? Bridget and Abbie were in the car in front of us with Cameron and Carson and have already gone in. Adrian and a few of the other boys are in cars behind us. Security guards are lined up along the huge circular driveway in front of the house and are greeting everyone by their first name. Are they bodyguards for the people inside? Crap, I am so out of my depth here.
“See you in there,” Ben says as he sees someone he knows across the lawn.
“OK, Joshua replies.
Ben walks over and shakes the burly security guard’s hand and they both laugh out loud at something that is said.
Large white paper lanterns line the pathway and the sound of dance music echoes from around the back of the house.
Joshua looks down at me. “What?” He smirks.
“Nothing,” I reply as I try to act casual and swallow my fear.
“We can leave anytime you want,” he says as his eyes stay forward on the crowd.
I nod. “Ok.”
“Don’t tell anyone anything,” he whispers.
I frown.
“This place is the gossip capital of the world. Anything you say can and will be used against you.”
My horrified eyes meet his.
He smirks and bends to kiss me gently on the cheek. “Just so you know, this is the life I don’t want anymore.”
I bite my bottom lip and nod.
“It is you who wanted to come here, remember?” he murmurs.
I nod again.
His eyes hold mine as he senses my trepidation. “I would rather be at home with you in your pyjamas,” he whispers.
I smirk. “What is it with you and my granny PJs Stanton?” I reply.
Raising his eyebrows he shakes his head. “I have no idea actually.” His hand runs gently down to my behind and he smirks as he winks.
We walk through the doors and are passed glasses of champagne by a woman walking around with a circular silver tray. We follow the crowd through the house. Loud dance music thumps through the space and Joshua grabs my hand and leads me through the crowd to the backyard. As people move to the side to let us through I notice them all do a double take at Joshua and then me, then instantly say something to whoever they are standing with. I glance down at myself to check all my bits are tucked into this skimpy outfit. This is uncomfortable… god. We walk out another set of double doors to the huge backyard and the resort pool and my eyes fly around nervously. I see the girls across the pool and a wave of relief hits me and I go to walk off but Joshua keeps hold of my hand.
“Don’t go anywhere. I want to introduce you to some people.”
“Ah, ok.” I swallow my nerves again. You have got to be kidding. I don’t want to meet anyone. I want to binge drink until I forget why I am here.
Joshua leads me around the pool by the hand and, unlike inside the house where people were pretending to be polite, people are now just blatantly staring. Beautiful women in next to nothing and men who look like they stepped off a modelling shoot are interested in me-what’s wrong with this picture?
“Hi Stan,” the girls all remark as he keeps walking with my hand in a death grip.
He nods.
“Hello Stan.”
He nods and smiles in return, fuck. These women are all gorgeous. Why did I want to come here? Oh my god… and this is the pussy on demand that Cameron was talking about. I’m so screwed!
We walk towards a group of men and they all turn. “Stan, you made it out, old boy,” one man says in a throaty voice, and handshakes happen all around.
Like Joshua’s prized pig I am then introduced to about 100 people. The men are all very interested, maybe too interested, and the women are just downright catty and look me up and down and then exchange looks. I finally can’t take anymore and pull out of Joshua’s grip. He frowns in question.
“I am just going over here with the girls.” I smile.
He nods. “Don’t go anywhere I can’t see you presh.”
I frown. “Am I under investigation or something?”
“No, I know what these people are like and I don’t want you to have to put up with it.”
“Joshua, just do what you normally do here and I will hang with the girls. I don’t want to listen to boy talk all night,” I reply.
He bends as he gently holds my jaw and kisses me tenderly and I smile.
“Ok, my Lamborghini?” I ask as I smile into his kiss, a little relieved that we are still the same.
He smiles and rubs his hand down my hip and around to my behind but then his eyes catch something over my shoulder and he slowly drops his hand from my behind and takes my hand in his.
I turn immediately to see who is there.
Shit, the model. What’s her name again? I have seen her in photographs with Joshua on numerous occasions. She is wearing a skin-coloured tight dress and perfectly matching stilettos and has a figure to die for. Her long thick layered caramel hair hangs effortlessly around her shoulders. She’s beautiful.
“Hello Stan,” she murmurs with a trace of a hopeful smile on her face.
Joshua seems uncomfortable. “Hello Mills,” he replies.
Crap, Heidi Mills. Oh how cute, fucking nicknames. I want to vomit in my mouth.
Her eyes flick to me. “Hello.” She smiles.
Joshua interjects. “Mills, this is Natasha, my fiancée.”
Her face drops as her eyes flick between us and I see an emotion I know too well. Pain, this woman is in love with my Lamborghini.
She forces out a smile. “Congratulations,” she whispers.
Joshua grimaces, knowing how uncomfortable this situation is. “How have you been?” he asks her.
She smiles again. “You know me, always happy.” She fakes a smile as she lies through her teeth.
Why do I feel pity for these women?
He nods. “That’s good.”
Her eyes flick to me again. “How long have you two been together?”
I go to speak but Joshua cuts me off. “Natasha and I went out seven years ago and have just recently reconnected.”