Page 33 of Filthy Commitments
I pretended civility. “Of course, Sebastien.” I didn’t want to dance with him. I didn’t want to leave Jett’s side, but I had to.Fucking social etiquette dictated that!
And as soon as I was led away by her brother, Madison swooped in on Jett like a hawk on prey. He got up and took her long, bony-ass hand and followed us out onto the dance floor.
I couldn’t take my eyes off them. I was a jealous mess. Jett’s hand rested on the small of her back, their other hands clasped. He did leave space between them, but as the song went on, the bitch managed to move in a bit at a time until their bodies were flush against each other’s
Sebastien pulled me close. “You’re a great dancer, Asia.”
“Jett taught me. That’s why I’m any good at all.”
“Oh, I bet you were always good. I doubt he’d take all the credit for you.” He spun me around, and we ended up next to Jett and Madison who were talking in whispers to one another.
It was like torture, watching them!
“I bet he’d take all the credit. He’s taught me everything.”
Turning me the other direction, Sebastien took me away from them just as the song ended. “How about another dance, Asia?”
Jett looked around the room then his eyes landed on me. He smiled and let Madison’s hand go as he came toward me. “No thank you, Sebastien.”
I met Jett in the middle of the room. “I hated that.” He pulled me into his arms. “I don’t give a flying fuck about tradition. I’m changing that shit with us. My wife dances only with me.”
A deep sigh came out of me. “And my husband only dances with me.”
We danced the rest of the night away, just like the story we made up about the first night we met. Things were moving along, maybe not how we expected them to, but like all things, what we had was moving forward.
Maybe the pace was too fast, but it seemed we were helpless to slow it down.
Jett
It was our last night at my parent’s vacation home. The party was over, and so was the first reason for having a fake wife. Things had happened that shouldn’t have. I was given the role of CEO. That meant I had to stay in New York. My beach house in Malibu would become only a vacation home. My life, as I had known it, was over. Along the way, I’d fallen in love with my sub. A thing that was stupid on my part.
Asia was young, beautiful, and had a bright future ahead of her. And she was as naïve as they came. The next morning, we were saying our goodbyes and heading back to Harrison. There were three more functions I needed her for, then we’d see what would happen between us. My mother had tears in her eyes when we drove away. She made us promise to call her as soon as Asia’s parents could make it to a dinner party. She was dying to meet them.
I was dying to end the lies with them. But I didn’t know how. I had until the end of August to continue my vacation. On September 1st, I was supposed to report to our headquarters in New York City to begin the transfer of power over the company from my father to son. Was I ready for that?No, fucking way!
But I had yet to figure out exactly how to get out of it. About the only thing I’d come up with was if Asia and I broke up. Then I could say I was too shattered to deal with that responsibility. If I stayed with Asia, it meant I’d have to take over for Dad. Was I ready for any of that? I didn’t think so.
“Would you put the top down, Jett?” Asia ran her fingertips over my cheek. “Fresh air would be nice.”
Pulling to the side of the road, I dropped the top then started going again. “My mother told me she’s changed her mind about us waiting to have kids. She thinks we have something real and extraordinary. She’d like to see grandchildren by Christmas next year.”
Asia laughed and threw her hands into the air, letting the wind rush past them. “Oh, the craziness of life, Jett!” She turned her pretty face and leaned her head on the headrest. “We could just actually go to Vegas, get married for real, and do just that, Jett.”
Glancing at her, I thought she had to be joking. But her expression was serious. “Asia, marriage is a serious thing to me.”
She sighed and turned her head to look up at the afternoon sky. “I know. I was just saying, it could be done. Then we’d never have to tell your family how we lied to them. They’re very nice people, Jett. They treated me like family. It was so, so… wonderful.” She looked away from me.
I ran my hand over her shoulder. “People shouldn’t actually get married just to cover up their lies.”
“You’re right.” She looked at me again. “Can I be honest?”
“Yes.” I put both hands on the wheel as I tried to brace myself for her honesty. I wasn’t sure what she was about to say but knew I was probably going to have an issue with it.
“I never expected to like them. I thought they’d be typical rich snooty people. But they weren’t. They were down to earth, and I really grew to care about them all. Even the pesky twins, Jett. If this ends, what we have, it’ll leave a hole the size of the Grand Canyon in my heart and soul.”
And there it was!I would hurt her immensely if I ended things.
“Wow, no pressure there, Asia,” my tone was sharp. I hadn’t meant it to be. But there it was, sharp and bitter.
