VEGAS

Chapter 9: A Plan In Motion - Juno's POV

I wake up sore, every part of my body literally screaming at me. Some pains are reminders of my humiliating experience with Oliver a few hours ago and the others must be from sleeping on the cold, hard floor.

I groan, peeling my eyes open and the first thing I register is the smell. Urgh...I smell like s*x.

I look down at my body to see the semen already dry and stuck to my skin. The brief image of Oliver looking down at me as he pumped himself free on my body in a condescending manner flashes through my mind and I wince in embarrassment.

"Well, I can't say it wasn't my fault this time," I whisper to myself as I reach for my dress.

I pull it up, only to realize that it's torn completely, something I forgot still disoriented from sleep.

Fuck...I need to get to my room. But I'm naked, and the house is literally surrounded by staff and what if I bump into any one of his family? He would kill me, I swear it.

Plus, it'd be embarrassing for me too. I can't just...walk out naked.

Dang...what do I do?

As if on cue, the door opens softly behind me and Dean steps in with a blank stare and a little basket hanging from his left arm. He freezes when he sees me, his eyes taking in the bruises blooming along my skin and the dried mess clinging to me.

Okay, this is not awkward at all.

Jesus, of all people to see me in this unbecoming state, Dean?! Well...better than any one of Oliver's family.

Without a word, he sets down the basket and unpacks it, pulling out a small pack of wipes and a bathrobe. He then hands them over to me and I take them wordlessly with shaking hands, realizing Oliver must have sent him.

Of course, he reasoned that I would be butt naked in his study floor and sent a saviour to clothe me and preserve whatever is left of my dignity.

Which was ironic, because last I remember, he took ever last shred of it - that f*****g man.

I begin to wipe at my face and chest with the wipes, trying my best to remove the semen coating on me. I notice Dean's eyes trailing my movements as he stands fixed by the door.

“Stop looking at me,” I snap, my voice sharper than I mean it to be.

He smirks, tucking both hands into his pockets. “I’m the last man on earth who’d be interested in you, trust me.”

“Because I’m a slut?” I fire back, my irritation burning through.

He rolls his eyes. “Because I’m gay.”

Oh yeah...

I stare at him for a second longer, then I go back to wiping.

"Seems like you had a rough morning," he chuckles. "You missed lunch, and Mrs Kane couldn't stop asking about you. Poor Oliver, he was under a lot of pressure."

I snort, ignoring him and slipping on the robe.

"You still have some..." he breaks into a mildly irritated sigh, "on your face."

I take the last wipe from the pack and rub my face vigorously with it and glare at him. "Better?"

"Not remotely. You reek of s*x so you're going to have to shower. Also, make sure to be done in 20 minutes, Oliver would be waiting for you in the maze."

"I'm not going," I hiss.

"His patience is hanging by a thread after the stunt you pulled this morning. So if you want to make money off this deal, you better go see him." His gaze sharpens for a split second, then they return back to indifference. "Now, go."

He doesn't wait to see if I take his advice. He just walks out, leaving me standing there with my jaws set tight in anger.

He wants to see me? After what he did, he wants to see me? To apologize?

Heck no.

Probably to tell me how I'm walking on a thin line and my mother's health is in his hands.

Bastard. Repetitive, but true threats.

I head out of the study and take the longer route to our room. On my way, I pass by the second living room, having to sneak by Christopher and Hazel who seem to be having a tender intimate conversation.

Christopher looks like he could die for Hazel, the way his eyes scan her face softly like she's all in his world. But I know better. I know he stares at her like that because she has a p***y.

When I finally get to our room, I discard the robe and step into the shower.

I scrub, cleanse and force the humiliation out of my skin along with the mess. I take my time because I can, and because I need to. When I'm done, I dress up in a cute denim mini skirt and a lilac crop sweater, something casual, approachable, and not red...yet.

Smirk...

I make my way out of the house and to the lawn, already dreading having to talk to Oliver.

"Juno!"

I turn to my left, to catch Millie and Tillie in matching bikinis, heading towards me.

"Hi guys, what's up?"

Millie takes my hand. "Are you alright? You didn't show up to lunch and Oliver was in an attitude."

"Oh, it's nothing. Just a little disagreement, you know how he is," I shrug. "But it was nothing serious. I'm even on my way to him now."

Tillie huffs, taking my other hand. "I know for certain he was angry because of the dress you wore. Oli is very conservative, you know? That's why ladies don't really like him. It's a boring thing to be as a young billionaire."

"Yeah...but I may have pushed him too far, don't you think?" I act guilty.

Millie scoffs, letting go of my hand to adjust a wrinkle on my sleeve. "The dress was gorgeous, Juno! Oli is just being a man. You know how they are. Like my ex? Urgh, that guy was the absolute f*****g worst. He hated when I outshined him and always tried to put me down anytime unnecessary. But I assure you, Oli will crack eventually. I mean, you stayed with him long enough to be engaged? He loves you, and he'd be forced to take your little pretty extra self as you are."

How...sweet. My heart actually warms, as if this was a real situation and I was really upset.

Wait...I was really upset. f**k, I hate this.

Tillie groans and turns my face to hers with her free hand. "That was a lie actually. Everything she said was in reverse. Austin loved her to bits but Millie? Oh, she's always the problem."

I can't help the laugh. It's genuine and it feels good. It feels good to pretend like I'm also privileged like they are. To pretend like the only problem I have is love.

But then we reach the middle of the maze and I'm met with Oliver's stare. His expression is controlled, his jaw is tight and his hands are clasped behind his back.

"Oli, you asshole!" Tillie runs over to him, smacking him on the chest. "Loosen up with your fiancée a bit, would you?"

"I thought the dress was nice," Millie adds. "I see no reason to pick a fight for it."

Oliver's smile is tight, I can't express this enough. His eyes find mine and harden, but when they fall back to his sisters, they soften a bit.

"Just...leave us, okay? Our relationship, our issues." He points towards the exit of the maze.

"Okay, but we're watching you!" Millie calls as they begin to walk away.

We stand in silence, both facing the Cupid statue until the sound of their footsteps fades completely. Then, he turns to me with his dead eyes and his lips flatten.

"Why did you keep me waiting for an hour and fifteen minutes?" He asks, lowly.

I tilt my head. "Why did you expect me to want to meet up with you after what you did literally a few hours ago?"

He ignores the implication as if it never happened and sighs. "New rule. You're free to interact with my family as much as you like. Go out with the twins, indulge my mother in whatever conversations women like to have. Converse with my father, though I doubt you'd hardly have anything to say to each other."

Oh, I doubt that.

"But?" I raise an eyebrow.

"But you will bring the conversation back to us. Always center it on us, and avoid talking about you. Every thing you wear must go through my approval, and Dean will follow you everywhere so you're not alone with my family. Understand?"

"Oh, so I'm free to interact with your family however way I want, but the way I want must be approved by you, and I will be followed around by your paid slave so he can report whatever I say and do to you?" I suck my teeth. "You and I have different concepts of free."

"Do you understand?"

I exhale, folding my hands across my chest, then I nod. "Fine. We'll have it your way."

I'm free to converse with his father? That's a deal.

His shoulders relax slightly as he nods and before I can react, he leans down and presses a cold kiss to my lips. My stupid heart flutters.

He pulls back and whispers,"Ugly sweater by the way," and strides away like nothing happened.