Psycho Billionaire

Chapter Ten

Kiara

I hated how Jasper paraded me around like a golden medal, telling people we were a couple. These people didn"t even know me, didn"t know who I was or where I came from and yet, they were judging me for the way I looked, the way I dressed or how I spoke as if they knew that I used to live in the trailer park, like the designer clothing weren"t made for me.

I didn"t belong here.

After making small introductions with the guests, Jasper told me to fetch a seat and ordered me that I wasn"t supposed to move a muscle. I didn"t know what that meant, but I assumed he didn"t want me to leave the table as he chitchatted with people he knew.

I took a sip of the red wine as I scanned the room of strangers. There"s usually this looming feeling like you"re being watched, as if on instinct, I turned to face the other side only to notice a tall man in gray tailored suit, long dark hair watching me with curiosity.

I held his stare for a second longer and realized he wasn"t the type to look away so I averted my gaze.

I was seated at a table opposite a middle aged couple. The lady was dressed in an elegant royal blue gown, her hair pulled back in a bun, her features stark and radiated a glow. She was beautiful. She assessed me politely and her eyes lingered on my face longer than necessary.

She smiled at me when I caught her staring and asked. "Have we met before?"

"Not that I know of." I responded, not sure what else I was supposed to say.

Realization hit her faster than lightning. "I"ve been watching you for so long and I thought I saw you somewhere." She laughed as she turned to her husband. "Haven"t we seen a girl like her on the news, darling?"

Her husband nodded. "We did. What was her name again?"

"I don"t recall her name." She said shaking her head.

"No way. She looked like me?" I laughed nervously taking another sip of the wine.

She nodded. "Yes. She had your features but her hair was longer and black color, and she seems to be on the run from the police for some murder."

I coughed, almost spitting the drink. I felt uncomfortable. I dabbed a tissue over my lips.

"They say there are seven people in this world with identical faces." She said good naturedly.

I didn"t have a reason to think she suspected the girl on the news was still me.

"What"s your name?" She asked.

"Aria." I lied. "How about you?"

"My name is Lisa." She said and pointed at her husband. "And this is Ronald, my husband."

"Nice to meet you, Lisa and Ronald."

"Likewise. So, are you here with someone?"

My captor. "My boyfriend, Jasper."

Her smile suddenly faded "Jasper Lockhart?"

"Yes." I said. The wheels were turning in my head, I was thinking of a better way to bail this conversation.

"I don"t know you very well dear, but you seem like a sweet girl so I"m going to tell you what I would have told my daughter."

I waited. She lowered down her voice and whispered. "Get the hell away from him as fast as you can."

My eyes brimmed with tears. "I can"t."

"Why not?"

Because he knows about the murder and he knew it was accidental and would use his power to frame me and make it seem like a strategized murder.

"Because I love him." Another fat lie.

She passed me a weak smile. "There"s no use loving a person who doesn"t have redeeming qualities."

A jolt of electricity pierced through my neck and coursed through my body. I bit back a scream and watched from the corner of my eye as Jasper strode over to my table. I knew what this electric shot was about. He wanted me to realize where my boundaries ended. Engaging in conversations with strangers was forbidden.

He had a radiant smile on his handsome face, not giving away any secrets. Masks on. "Lisa, Ronald, I see you have met my girlfriend already."

"Yes we have. Aria is a lovely young woman. You are very lucky, Jazz."

She called him Jazz. Only people close to Jasper called him that.

Jasper pressed a kiss on the side of my face. "I am." He raised his hand towards me, his lips pulled in a mysterious smile. "May I have this dance?"

I placed my hand over his gingerly as he pulled me to my feet and led me onto the dance floor where couples were already slow dancing to the soft music. When I met his gaze, I noticed his eyes studying me carefully and I wondered if he could mind read. We moved slowly to the music, Jasper was a good dancer which I assumed was because of years of practice.

All of a sudden he pulled me taut against his body. I gasped. He brought his lips to my ear and whispered. "Why did you lie to them about your name?"

Was this some test?

"They had seen me on the news, so there was a possibility they could have recognized me."

"Good girl." Jasper kissed my earlobe. A shiver ran down my body. "I"m very pleased with you."

His hands dropped from my waist to my backside and his squeezed it gently. I touched his hand. "Jasper! What are you doing?"

He chuckled and groaned, "Did I tell you how gorgeous you look in this dress?" His fingers dug into my waist and he whispered in his silky voice, "Baby, wish I could do you right here."

It should have disgusted me, and I willed my mind to feel disgusted but I strangely felt turned on. I felt ashamed of myself. Was this Stockholm syndrome?

"May I also have a dance with this lovely lady?" Jasper stopped touching me as another man came forth, his hand raised towards me.

It was the same man who had been ogling me from the table earlier.

Why was he walking into the lion"s den?

Jasper"s face dawned recognition. "Lucas, what a great party."

So he was the host. Lucas Johnson.

"Thanks. I"m glad you"re enjoying it."

Jasper turned to me. "Aria, meet Lucas. He is my best friend for as long as I remember." I smiled at him politely. "And Lucas, meet Aria, my girlfriend."

"It"s nice to meet you." Lucas said. "So, Jazz can we trade partners for a while? Amy is tired of dancing with me."

A red head with green eyes stepped forward. She grinned at me, she was wearing a red dress, her neck had a necklace similar to mine, although I wondered if it was a collar. Her eyes didn"t seem to hold any sadness though. Amy was cheerful.

Jasper shrugged and glanced between me and Lucas. "Sure. Just for a minute though."

"May I?" Lucas asked me.

I nodded as he took my hand in his, and placed his other hand on my waist. He pulled me in the center stage. He had pulled me far away from Jasper and Amy who were dancing at the far end of the room now.

He whispered. "You"re not Aria, you"re Kiara Reeves, aren"t you?"

My eyes shot up to his. I was speechless. How was I supposed to respond to that one?

He chuckled. "You"re not quite the talker. Is it because of my dear friend?"

"I can"t say anything." I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"I"m going to ask you a few questions, if the answer is yes, I want you to squeeze your hand on my shoulder. Okay?"

I gave a nod.

"Is he keeping you at his mansion against your will?" He asked.

I squeezed his shoulder.

"Do you want to get out of there?"

Another squeeze.

"Are you in love with Jasper?"

I didn"t react.

He brought his lips close to my ears. "I"ll help you get out."