First Lies (The Second Life Series) Read online

  “You’re one to talk,” I laughed. “You look amazing in a tux.” I followed him inside the house. “You never told me what kind of event we were going to tonight.”

  Wes poured two glasses of wine and handed me one. I sipped it smoothly. It was delicious. I loved red wine. He said, “It’s actually a charity event at the Drake.” Normally, I hated going to events like that because of how showy everyone was, but I loved the idea of going with Wes Holden.

  “I love that restaurant,” I took another drink. “My dad used to take us for breakfast on Sundays when we were younger. What’s the charity?”

  Wes shrugged his broad shoulders, “I don’t know. Of course, I’m going to donate, and I’m going to say all the right, sympathetic things. I just didn’t take the time to look into it. I heard from a friend that the owner hit a bit of legal troubles and might be forced to sell several properties and businesses. I want to take a good look at the place before it goes on the market, maybe even throw out an absurdly low bid on it if I can appropriately do so. I’m interested in expanding to more upscale restaurants.”

  I admired the business man in Wesley Holden. It reminded me of my dad. Even though he was a distinguished and respected surgeon, it didn’t change his interest for investments. I’d spent my life growing up hearing about how you couldn’t reap reward without risk. Maybe that’s what really got my interest in business school.

  We enjoyed another glass of wine each, and then took Wes’s Range Rover to the Drake. It was a sprawling estate overlooking rolling green hills and a spectacular garden. It was probably my dad’s favorite place to be. I wished he could have been here with us. He would have loved every second like we used to.

  As we walked inside, Wes wrapped his hand around my waist, guiding me through the lavish rooms. We stopped to meet several of his acquaintances before sitting at our table. By the time I took my seat, my cheeks were burning bright red. He had introduced me as his date several times. I wasn’t used to this feeling. Everything was still so new and glorious to me. No guy had ever left me feeling so special. It had always been about sex with everyone else.

  “Wesley!” A man boasted. Wes stood up and shook his hand. The larger, bald man took a seat next to Wes. On his other side was a gorgeous middle aged redheaded woman. She looked bored as she sucked on a flute of champagne. “I didn’t expect to see you here. How’s the bar going? It’s a recession, so I assume the alcohol business is booming.”

  “Great,” he replied. “Profits are soaring. I’m thinking about opening a second location in Philadelphia. The hardest part is choosing where. I’m not sure what kind of demographic I want to appeal to with this one.”

  “You should open it in Center City near my apartment,” I laughed. “A free drink before work sounds fantastic.”

  “Center City is a marvelous idea, but everything you touch turns into gold. I’m sure wherever you open the second location will be a success,” the man looked passed Wes at me. He adjusted his thick glasses to examine my person. I felt like a farm animal right before it went up for auction, being judged and assessed for quality. His voice softened with the sound of intrigue. “Now, who is this young lady?” The redheaded woman glared at me from behind him and practically snarled before downing the rest of her drink.

  “This is Adriana Ward,” Wes wrapped his muscular arm around my shoulders, pulling me in closer. Electricity passed between us. “She’s my date for the evening. Adriana, this is Paul Carney. He owns a chain of department stores on the West Coast. He recently moved here after accepting a teaching job at Rutgers University.”

  “Yes, I’ve reached a point in my life where I’ve realized it’s time to be a mentor to the youth, our future. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Adriana. Forgive me, but you look so familiar,” he shook his head. “It’s almost eerie. I can’t place it. Have we met before?”

  “Perhaps, you know my mother, Isabel Darth?” I offered, fighting to cover the annoyance that came to me when saying her name. My mother was often the center of attention at these types of things. It wouldn’t surprise me if she knew more than half of these people in the room. Maybe, that’s why I hated going to these dinners so much. I’m sure I’d be getting this reaction all night.

  “Yes! You’re a spitting image of Isabel,” his face brightened with realization. “She’s a spitfire. Is she here tonight?” He looked frantically from left to right. “Dennis still owes me a round of golf.”

  “Actually, I’m not sure,” I almost cursed. I didn’t even consider the prospect of my mom and Dennis being here tonight. I didn’t want to have to deal with them, but somehow that felt inevitable. My mother ruled these events. Truthfully, I was on her territory. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she made an appearance.” I said my thought out loud.

  We spent the next hour discussing mundane topics like healthcare legalities and Paul’s recent trip to China. Dinner was spectacular. I was served duck. I had never had it before, but I was feeling bold when the maître d’ gave me my dinner options. I normally chose safe meals and rarely explored out of my comfort zone.

  Just when I thought I was in the clear, my mother and Dennis walked into the dining area as dessert was being served. He was dressed in a traditional tux, and of course, my mother was dressed in an ostentatious pink feathered gown with crystals cascading down the front. She made it a point to make her presence known to every guest in the Drake by calling guests’ names as she walked passed them to her seat.

  Wes squeezed my hand under the table and kissed my cheek. Suddenly, everything felt better again. I felt like I was losing my mind in the best possible way with him. It was amazing. I still wasn’t sure how he could have such a profound effect on me. After all, wasn’t it just last week that I was rolling my eyes and offending him casually over fondue?

  My mother neared our table and then stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes darted back and forth between Wes and me, and then an obnoxious smile consumed her face. I fought off the urge to slap it off of her. Wes automatically stood up and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek. He shook Dennis’s hand and said something to him that I couldn’t hear. Slowly, I took my stand and responded to my mother’s arrival.

  “Adriana, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” She said into my ear, so only I could hear her. It wasn’t like Isabel to be out of the loop, and she’d be damned if she let the rest of the party be aware of her ignorance. She hissed. “And with Wesley Holden? You two look marvelous together. Why wouldn’t you tell me?”

  I shrugged my shoulders and pulled away, trying to find some way to change the fact that it was pretty incredible that I not only agreed but wanted to go to one of these functions with a date. I chose instead to say, “Wow, Mom, I love those earrings. When are you going to lend them to me?”

  “Yes, they are interesting. Aren’t they?” She started twirling them along her fingers and nodded her head knowingly. She gave me another kiss on the cheek and dismissed herself from our table.

  As the evening went on, I enjoyed a lavish dessert and music. Wes asked me to dance, and surprisingly, I agreed. It took me a minute to get this slow rhythm of the trumpets and piano. He leaned into my ear and laughed, “You would think a professional dancer would be able to do this a little better?”

  I pulled back and pouted my lip playfully, “I’m used to doing things a little bit differently at work.”

  “Only a little?” He teased. “I seem to remember the best dance moves I’ve ever seen when you took me to that couch.” My cheeks flushed at the memory. So many other things happened last night, that I totally dismissed the couch dance.

  Just then, my mom walked up to the both of us with several women following her. Wes pulled me to his side, almost possessively. I fumed with a fresh layer of annoyance over the onslaught of women. He responded by stroking my arm, bringing my rage down to a controllable level. Still, I was annoyed. I knew what my mom was doing.

  “Ladies, this is my daughter, Adriana Ward,” she announced to the g
aggle of women. “Adriana, these are my friends who I’m always talking about.” Never talking about. “I explained to them that you’re normally far too busy with work and your studies in the Ivy League to attend such events, but tonight you made an exception.” No, I just don’t want anything to do with this world and the people in it. My mother stepped to my side, running her hand through my hair. “Isn’t she gorgeous and so well accomplished? I’m truly grateful you all could meet my precious and perfect angel.”

  “Adriana,” one of my mother’s Botox induced friends spoke up in a harsh and unforgiving tone that only a kept-wife could master, “your mother has gone on and on about all of your accomplishments. I feel so fortunate you could finally make some time to support one of her charitable contributions. You’re just such a busy girl.”

  “And this is her gorgeous date,” my mother prattled. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife, but that didn’t stop her from rambling on. “This is Wesley Holden.” He took the time to shake the hand of each woman, obviously handling this situation with much more grace and ease than I was. “He’s the owner of a local tavern and several eating establishments in the area. Isn’t he just divine?”

  The women gushed over Wes who managed the attention like a pro. He played the part well, laughing in all the right places, complimenting the women with ease. I almost wanted to hit him for being so good at this, and then all of a sudden, it hit me. He was being his own brand of Jersey right now. He was put into a position where he had to play a role well. Eventually, these women could be clients or business partners or investors or something. Maybe he was able to accept my career choice because he, himself, essentially did the same thing.

  “Okay, ladies,” my mother said with authority. “We should let these two have some privacy. I’m sure they’re looking forward to the rest of their evening together.” She winked in our direction and spun around.

  With that, Isabel left with her entourage. I bit my bottom lip in frustration. In her eyes, I was just a trophy. She knew nothing about my college career or my relationship with Wes for that matter, but she flaunted it at every opportunity. How could she ever expect us to get closer if she kept treating me like some glorified idol?

  “Are you okay?” Wes asked me as soon as they were out of earshot. “You didn’t seem too happy.”

  “I’m just tired of her doing this,” I replied, fighting the urge to let her ruin yet another night. “I used to go to my mom’s for Christmas when I was younger. I could’ve gone without seeing her for months, but she’d still flaunt me around the room like she’d been seeing me every single day, like she was the world’s best mom. It’s okay for a mom to be proud, but I just wish she meant it.”

  “Let’s go outside,” Wes grabbed me by the hand and led me out to the terrace. It was a bit chilly tonight, so only a few people smoking cigarettes were outside. Wes wrapped me into his arms, and I leaned my head against his chest, listening to the soothing beat of his heart. I was so comfortable here. I was more comfortable than I’d ever been. This all seemed to be happening so fast. I didn’t know that was possible for me.

  My muscles began to relax, and I exhaled slowly, “I could stay here forever.”

  “Are you happy?” He asked reluctantly.

  “Yes, why?”

  “I feel bad about taking you here,” he ran his fingers up and down the exposed skin of my back. “I didn’t even think about it. All these people, your mom, it’s everything you’ve been avoiding, and I put you right in the middle of it.”

  “You weren’t trying to be malicious,” I pulled away and looked up into those enchanting green eyes; my sight traveled down to those perfect lips. I remembered their taste when we were at the club. “Besides, I liked coming with you. You make me feel comfortable.”

  “Really? Because I’m intimidated by you,” He laughed.

  “How the hell can you be intimidated by me?” I asked genuinely confused. “I’m the least intimidating person in this whole damn building.”

  “Hardly. You’re beautiful and an excellent conversationalist. Everyone in the room is immediately drawn to you. I normally come to these things to meet people to get my name out there, and you’ve made that so much easier,” he stared straight into my eyes. All of time froze. My breath was caught in my chest. “Haven’t you noticed that every man and woman has their eyes glued to you? Everyone wants to be around the beautiful Adriana Ward.”

  Wes leaned forward and kissed me. Every muscle in my body seemed to react. I craved him. I wanted him. It was easy for anyone to tell. He was gorgeous and sexy, and tonight, he was mine.

  Slowly, he pulled away, keeping his gaze locked on mind. In this moment, nothing else mattered. In this moment, it was only us.

  “Don’t stop,” I breathed against his skin

  I ran my fingers to the back of his neck, twirling them within his hair. I pulled him back towards me, kissing him harder, more aggressive. He pushed my body up against the banister with his strong hips, slowly but expertly grinding himself against me. I could feel him growing erection, stiff and pressed against my stomach. A shiver ran between my legs. I was so horny. I wanted him right here and now.

  Light poured out on the terrace, and Wes tore himself off of me, keeping his back to the doorway. He let out a frustrated groan as the footsteps neared us.

  “There you are!” Paul Carney shouted over the music playing through the speakers. Wes spun around, simultaneously grabbing me by the waist to pull me with him, so I was standing directly in front of him. I could feel his boner pressed against my ass. Fuck, I was horny. It’s all I could think about.

  “Hey, Paul,” he said with a little less enthusiasm than before, making sure I remained in place to conceal him. “How can I help you?”

  Paul was literally clueless about the piercing sexual tension between Wes and me. In that second, I hated him for being between me and an orgasm. Paul replied enthusiastically, “What are you doing tomorrow? I spoke with Dennis. We’re on for golf at two. Are you coming?”

  “Yeah,” Wes cheered up a bit, sounding rather childlike with his obvious enthusiasm for the invitation. I could feel his boner going away. I tried to stay looking pleasant, but I was sincerely disappointed. “Are we meeting at Trump’s Club in Pine Hill?”

  “Of course, now come inside. He’s getting ready to leave. You should say goodbye to him,” Paul turned back towards the doorway. Wes grabbed my hand and led me back into the party.

  Wes spent the next thirty minutes kissing Dennis’s ass. Wes admired him, and that utterly irritated me. My mom and Dennis had been married for about five years now. They dated for less than a year before that. I could honestly say in that length of time I knew next to nothing about Dennis Darth. The only thing I was sure of was that he had a lot of money. Hell, that’s what it took to keep my mom happy.

  “Dennis, we should be leaving,” my mother complained with a tug to his sleeve. “We’ve been out too long. I don’t want the dogs having an accident on the new carpet.”

  “Yes, woman, in a minute. Don’t you see we’re talking? They’re just a couple of damn dogs,” Dennis huffed and shook his head. His face burned red. “Sometimes I just wished you knew how to keep your damn mouth shut.”

  I rolled my eyes and gritted my teeth together. Dennis had a Napoleon Complex. He was a short, pale man with a thick, gray mustache. He was balding with a comb over, and I couldn’t stop staring at his large beak-like nose. He was lucky to have someone as gorgeous as my mother on his arm. He talked down to her though. That’s why Nick almost got arrested after the first time they met. Nick gripped him up by the collar, and my mom had to yank him off of Dennis. It took a lot of convincing to keep Dennis from calling the police and to keep Nick calm until my dad came to pick him up.

  “No, I think we’re done with this conversation,” I stepped forward, folding my arms to my chest and surprising Dennis. We barely ever talked. In fact, he mailed his graduation present to me after my senior year. He,
however, did know that I had a mouth on me. I’d have no problem standing up for myself or my mother, even if that meant causing a scene at a charity event in front of all his high profile friends. “Goodnight Dennis, it’s getting late.” I said in a stern, final voice.

  The group of people surrounding the powerful Dennis Darth stared wide eyed at the usually absent Adriana Ward. We all waited for his response, but I stood firm, staring him down with a death glare, daring him to test me. Finally, his mouth twitched into an uncomfortable smile. He nodded politely and placed his hand on my mother’s back.

  “Yes, Adriana it is late. I’m sure you have plenty of studies to attend to,” he nodded at Paul, his date, and Wes. “Goodnight everyone. Come on, Isabel.”

  My mom leaned forward and kissed my cheek. She smiled softly, “Goodnight Adriana.” She looked up at Wes. “Take care of my daughter, Wesley. She can be a handful.” He nodded in response.

  “What a piece of shit!” I screamed when we got into the Range Rover. My skin was burning hot. “Did you hear the way he talked to my mom? If he says those kinds of things in front of people, can you imagine what he says to her behind closed doors? What the hell does she see in him?”

  “He’s one of the most admirable judges in the state and a very influential man. There’s a lot to respect,” Wes answered. He was still seeing through rose colored glasses. He didn’t know the Dennis Darth that I knew. “I’m not saying the way he spoke was appropriate, but you can’t judge her feelings for him. Only they know what they’re feeling and what they have. You can’t get in the middle of that.”

  “I’m not in the middle of it,” I pouted. I wanted to punch something. This is exactly why I signed up for kickboxing. I loved hitting things, and right now, I really wanted to hit something. “This, along with my massive list of other, equally irritating reasons, is why I stay away from them.”