"I didn't say that I thought she was perfect, Dad."
"You might not have said it, we both know that you think it. Now run along to James and play the dutiful little fiancé role that you're here to portray."
"Why are you doing this to me, Dad?"
"I'm not doing anything to you, Rosie. We're here because-"
"I know why we're here, Dad. We're here because you want funding from James' father because you want to become the President of the United States. But have you ever thought about what happens next? What happens if you actually win the nomination you become the President? Do you expect me and Mom to just go along to the White House? Do you expect John and-"
He cut me off. "Enough." He was pissed off. He hadn't wanted me to finish that sentence and quite rightly so. There were far too many skeletons in our closets. Far, far too many. My father walked away from me then and I stood there by myself, wondering where everyone was. I couldn't see James. I couldn't see my mother. And now my father had disappeared too. There was not one face in the room that I recognized, other than James' father.
I walked back over to the bartender. "Another triple scotch?" he said with a wry smile.
"No, let's make it a single," I said. "I don't want to get too drunk."
"Smart idea." He poured another scotch and handed it to me. "I made it a double just in case."
"Thank you." I took it gratefully and downed it.
"Everything okay?" a deep, familiar voice said behind me and I froze.
I turned around slowly and looked up. Fuck, what was he doing here? "Jackson? Are you following me? You can't just-"
He held his hand up. "I'm not following you. Don't get a big head," he chuckled.
"I don't have a big head. I'm ... " I chewed down on my lower lip and noticed that he was wearing a suit. "You look very handsome all dressed up. You were invited to this party?" I asked him, surprised.
"Why? Why couldn't I be invited?"
"I don't know. I just thought-"
"You thought because I beat up Joey that I wouldn't know highfalutin people?"
"I just didn't think you were part of this world. I've never seen you at any of these events before."
"Maybe you've just never paid attention," he shrugged. "So what are you doing here?" he asked me softly, his eyes narrowed as he took in my dress, my red cheeks, and the dry tears in my eyes. He looked down at my glass, empty. "You want another?"
"No, I think I'm okay," I said.
"So what are you doing here again?" he asked.
"My dad's the Senator, remember? He gets invited to all these to-dos. What about you?"
"Well, remember I told you about the cousin I was living with. He kind of ... " he paused. "Hold on."
"Yeah?" I asked him.
"Sorry, my uncle's coming over." I looked up and my jaw dropped because the man headed towards us was James' father.
"Wait a second," I said, my heart racing. "You're related to James?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "James is my cousin."
I stared at him, my heart racing. This could not be happening. This could absolutely not be happening.
"This is his engagement party." His eyes narrowed as he stared at me. "Is there something you want to tell me, Rosie?"
"I ... " I stumbled as I stared at him. Did he already know?
James' dad stopped in front of us and he gave me a big hug. "Rosie, there you are my darling. Ah, you've met Alexei."
So he didn't go by Jackson.
"Alexei, this is Rosie, James' fiancé."
"Nice to meet you, Rosie." Jackson's eyes were narrow and I couldn't tell what he was thinking.
He held out his hand and I shook it. "Nice to meet you, Alexei." I licked my lips nervously.
James' dad chuckled and put his arms around both of our shoulders. "Just think, we'll all be one big happy family. Won't this be great?"
"Just magnificent," Jackson said as he stared at me.
"Oh, hold on. Hold on. I think I see Trevor Jackson over there. Let me go and speak to him. He's investing in one of my companies and I want to make sure that he's got a drink. I'll be right back," James' father said, and he walked away.
"So Alexei," I stared at Jackson. "Guess everyone's not calling you Jackson, huh?"
"I know you're not talking to me about small lies, Rosie." He shook his head. "When were you going to tell me you were engaged?"
"I only just found out myself," I chewed on my lower lip. "I mean, you live with James. Have you ever seen me at the apartment before?"
"No," he shook his head. "I haven't. So you want to tell me what's going on or?"
"Did you know?" I said softly.
"Did I know what?"
"Did you know I was engaged to be married to your cousin?"
"Why would I know?"
"Because you know everything else and ..." It suddenly struck me. "You saw him yesterday as well. You saw him with Patrick. You pretended that you didn't know who he was."
"That I did," he nodded. His dark eyes surveyed me and he shrugged. "Yes, Rosie. I knew."
"So why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted you to tell me. I wanted to see if you trusted me."
"But how am I supposed to trust you? I-"
"Come with me," he said.
"Where are we going? I'm not going to fuck you right now. I-"
"Come with me."
He grabbed my hand and we walked to the back of the hallway. He pulled me into his arm and he kissed me. One deep, long, lingering kiss. And then he pulled back. "I'm fucking pissed off at you. You know that, Rosie?
"What do you mean you're pissed off at me?"
"You could have told me. You could have texted me. You had my number."
"What was I meant to text you and tell you?"
"You know, Rosie. The truth."
"Well, you haven't exactly been truthful and honest with me. You-"
"We need to talk, Rosie. Come."
He led me down the hallway until we came to a room. We started to open it and he paused and he stopped and he looked at me. "There's something you should know, Rosie."
"What?"
"This is a lot bigger than you think it is."
"Okay. And?"
He pressed his finger against my lips, and I stared at him with wide eyes. "Listen," he said softly. "Just listen."
And I listened. There was a sound of moaning and what sounded like grunting. I frowned. "What-"
"Shh," he said. And then I realized someone was crying out in pleasure. There were two people fucking in the room.
"We shouldn't be here. We shouldn't be listening to this," I whispered to him. "We can't do this. We're not voyeurs or-"
"Rosie, listen."
I felt sick standing there listening. The woman was crying out, screaming, "Fuck me harder. Fuck me harder."