Chapter 02: Secrets Unveiled at the Party
1157 Words
I arrived at Camilla’s house to find her already dressing up.
"Hey, girl, you're here!" Camilla said excitedly.
I nodded and took a seat on her bed. "Are you serious about this party?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course, girl! Can't you see?" she said, slipping on her heels. "Why don't you grab something from my closet?"
Reluctantly, I headed to her bathroom, took a quick shower, and returned to pick a short white gown from her closet.
“Wow, that looks amazing on you!” Camilla exclaimed, her face lighting up.
I gave her a small smile, and soon we were on our way to the party.
When we arrived, the bouncer stopped us at the door. We pleaded with him, but he wouldn’t budge. Just as we were about to give up, a tall, handsome man walked over.
"Why are you keeping these pretty ladies outside?" he asked, his voice calm but commanding.
“Sorry, boss,” the bouncer muttered, stepping aside to let us in.
The man turned to us with a charming smile. “I’m Logan. Come on in, ladies.”
“Thank you, Logan,” I said, glancing at Camilla, who was already grinning.
Inside, he led us to a VIP section, where a group of wealthy-looking men were seated. My heart froze when I saw one of them. It was him.
Caspian Wolfe.
The man I’d just signed a fake marriage contract with hours ago.
I gestured discreetly to Camilla, who followed my gaze and gasped. “Girl, you’re so lucky,” she whispered. “He’s insanely cute—and stinking rich. Look at that Cartier on his wrist!”
Caspian didn’t seem to recognize me, which gave me some relief. Meanwhile, Logan was already chatting Camilla up, and they seemed to be hitting it off.
Caspian turned to me. “What’s your name?” he asked.
“Tasha,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.
“Well, nice to meet you, Tasha.”
“Nice to meet you too, Caspian,” I said, forcing a smile.
The party was in full swing, the music was vibrant, and the atmosphere was alive with Christmas cheer. Snow fell gently outside, painting the city in soft white hues.
Then, the mood shifted.
A man entered the VIP section, exuding an aura of power and arrogance. His sharp eyes locked onto the Caspian.
“Caspian,” he said curtly.
“Grimes,” Caspian replied, his tone icy.
The tension between them was palpable as they began arguing about who deserved to be the CEO of one of the biggest textile companies in the country.
“I’m clearly the better fit for the position, Caspian,” Grimes sneered. “You’d better sort things out with your father before you get kicked out of the company entirely.”
“I have no time for your petty games, Grimes,” Caspian shot back.
“Oh, spare me the drama. You’re a loser, and everyone knows it,” Grimes said, laughing maliciously.
Their heated exchange began drawing attention from the other guests. My heart raced, and before I could stop myself, I stood up.
“Hey, dude!” I snapped, glaring at Grimes. “Enough of this nonsense. Get out of here!”
Grimes turned to me, amused. “And who do you think you are, telling me to leave? This is my club.”
I froze momentarily, realizing my mistake, but I refused to back down.
“I don’t care if you own this place,” I said, meeting his gaze defiantly. “You have no right to ruin this party. Caspian paid for it, so if you can’t behave, maybe you should refund him and leave.”
Grimes looked at me in disbelief. “Have we met before?”
“No,” I said firmly. “And I’ve never met a jerk like you either.”
His lips curled into a smirk. “No one—no one—talks to me like that.”
“Well, now someone has,” I shot back. “Leave.”
To my surprise, he did, but not without pointing a finger at Caspian. “This isn’t over,” he said before storming out.
Caspian turned to me, his expression a mix of surprise and gratitude. “How did you manage to do that?”
“Never mind,” I said, brushing it off.
“Thank you for defending me,” he said sincerely.
“It’s nothing. Let’s just enjoy the party,” I replied.
We sat down, sipping our drinks in silence.
“So, Tasha, where are you from?” Caspian asked, breaking the quiet.
“This city. And you?”
“Same here,” he said, nodding.
He hesitated for a moment before asking, “What about your parents?”
“They’re gone. It’s just me and my brother now,” I said, feeling a pang of sadness.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said gently.
“Why all the questions?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
“Just curious,” he replied.
I debated whether to ask him about his argument with Grimes. My curiosity won. “Why were you and Grimes fighting?”
He sighed. “It’s a long story. Our families have been business rivals for years, ever since his father betrayed mine. Now, our fathers co-own Grimes & Wolfe Textiles, and mine wants me to take over as CEO. Grimes doesn’t agree.”
“I see,” I said, nodding. “But causing a scene at a party isn’t the way to settle it, don’t you think?”
“You’re right,” he admitted.
As the night wore on, Camilla and Logan seemed to grow closer, their laughter filling the air. Caspian, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought.
Then his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, and his expression darkened.
It was time to leave. Camilla kissed Logan goodbye, but just as we were about to step out, Logan offered to drive us home.
Before I could respond, Caspian cut him off. “My wife will go home with me.”
The words hung in the air like a bombshell.
Logan and Camilla froze, staring at us in shock. My heart sank.
“How did you know?” I whispered.
Caspian turned to me, his eyes blazing. “Tasha Cole, yes or no?”
I nodded silently.
“And you didn’t think to tell me?”
“I told you my name,” I said weakly.
“Everyone has a first name, Tasha!” he snapped. “Why didn’t you say your last name?”
“I didn’t want it to happen like this,” I admitted.
“Well, it has.” He grabbed my hand, pulling me along. “You’re coming home with me. Now!”
I glanced back at Camilla and Logan, their stunned faces mirroring my own fear. What had I gotten myself into?
- Writer
