CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Waverly was getting dressed to go out for dinner. With Walker...and his parents. She was trying very hard not to be nervous, but she found them both frightening. Walker wasn’t excited about it either, but he was one of them, they had to accept him whether they wanted to or not, he was their child.
It was their traditional yearly before Christmas dinner, he had explained - a necessary evil that he absolutely could not get out of. As hard as she tried to find a silver lining, she could not escape the feeling of impending doom. Although Walker despised having his photo in the paper, his parents were often pictured in the society pages for attending influential events. Studying them, she determined that the apple certainly hadn’t fallen far from the tree, every photo displayed them both with superior expressions. Contorting her face, she stopped brushing on bronzer, trying to do an impression of his mother.
Walker chuckled, he was leaning against the en suite doorway in a charcoal Brioni suit, jacket-less arms crossed.
“Wave, what the hell are you doing? Is that a face exercise?”
Jeez for such a big guy he moved like a ninja.
“I was trying to imitate your mother’s glacial stare if you must know,” she replied haughtily.
Throwing his head back he laughed a true, deep laugh. It didn’t happen often but when it did she felt like she had won the lottery. Looking back at his reflection in the mirror she stuck out her tongue at him.
“Hold that thought until after dinner, Hippie Girl,” he moved toward her into the bathroom.
“Oh no. No.”
Still facing the mirror, she waved her Kabuki brush back and forth at him.
“I know that look. This is not for you. You just take those big, grabby hands of yours and turn right back around Mister.”
Walker smirked ignoring her, sliding his arms around her waist, his entire body resting against her back.
“Damn, you smell good,”
He nuzzled his head into her neck, breathing into her ear.
“I approve of the Mister thing, will you do it again for me when we get back here?”
Waverly stiffened, frowning at him in the mirror.
“Please, please don’t say anything like that in front of your mother tonight okay?”
“You’re nervous. Baby, don’t be nervous.”
Looking up at her reflection in the mirror, his look serious.
“I’ll protect you. Trust me. Bottom line - you matter to me, they don’t. It’s that simple.”
He kissed her softly then his hand slid down into her panties, she promptly removed it then stepped on his toe with her heel - hard.
The food was cold, his mother was colder and his father was iceberg like, cold on the top and below that thicker and wider amounts of cold.
They barely acknowledged her. His mother was particularly chatty, though, rambling on about her latest charity work with Cece VanderCrest, her hired help issues, the nightmare of finding a decorator who truly understood her needs. Really any topic that made the social divide more clear was fair game. Other than agreeing with most of Blanche’s comments is father was fairly silent. “
Poor Walker, the realization that these two cold unfeeling creatures raised Walker felt like a slap in the face to Waverly, no wonder Walker has such an unhealthy view of relationships. The example his parents set was frigid and frightening. Walker had withdrawn, she was watching him abandon her emotionally, right in front of her eyes. And, it hurt. Refusing to sit silently while being patronized by his cold unfeeling witch of a mother or his cold-hearted cyborg of a father, she chose to fight back. With a quick apologetic glance at Walker who was too busy ordering another scotch to even notice, she forged ahead.
“Blanche, I would love to get your decorators name. It can be so dark and dreary in Walker’s bedroom, particularly in the morning. It would be wonderful to have it lightened up enough to actually see what we’re doing. I was thinking of having the walls done in a cream and then floor to ceiling mirrors.
Waverly grinned to herself when his mother nearly choked on her asparagus, Walker looked at her like he had never seen her before.
When his mother brought up a number of acquaintances who had gotten engaged and the increasing necessity of a prenup when marrying outside your class. Waverly asked them if they watched The Kardashians then proceeded to fill them in on the current season. His mother asked his father and Walker if they had heard that the Biltman’s daughter was getting married at Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Waverly excitedly explained the benefits of a Vegas wedding with an Elvis look a like officiant.
It continued on a downhill spiral from there. The highlight of the debacle was the appearance Cece coming over to say hello. Both of Walkers parents were, of course, thrilled to see her, leaping out of their chairs to embrace her, going as far as suggesting she join them for the remainder of the meal. Waverly looked to Walker pleadingly, he, however, was busy ordering himself another drink.
Looking demure and drab, in a boring taupe Chanel suit, Cece was excessively friendly to her, squeezing her hand warmly, complementing Waverly on her hair, even suggesting that they meet for lunch one day. Walker put his drink down long enough to look at her, eyebrows raised, shrugging as if to say I told you so. Waverly tried to kick him under the table only managed to rattle the entire table when she missed hitting a table leg instead. Exasperated, she excused herself for a visit to the ladies room. ignoring the murmurs from his parents about what a lovely girl Cece was,
After a much-needed pep talk from Kate, and reapplying her lip gloss, she was just turning away from the mirror when another woman entered.
Perfect, it was TwinSet.
Cece was very pretty, she could admit that. Shorter than Waverly, even in heels, Waverly suddenly felt large and clumsy, towering over her. Everything about Cece VanderCrest was dainty and feminine, dark shiny hair perfectly cut in a sleek smooth bob, pearls no doubt genuine. The entire presentation of Cece VanderCrest screamed old money. It also screamed that she was the type of woman Walker should be with.
“I was just heading back out,” Waverly said smiling politely, logically she had no cause to be upset with Cece - it was Walker who was the bad guy. Just like her, Cece had been suffered from Walker’s poor judgment.
“I saw you come in and I wanted a moment to speak with you privately.”
Waverly was intrigued yet suspicious, the situation was awkward - at least for her. Cece, however stood before her poised and unruffled. Waverly felt trapped, initially when the ladies room door opened she had assumed it was Walker’s mother, coming in to kill her with an heirloom ring housing a hidden poisonous hypodermic needle. Now she almost wished it was.
“I didn’t want to say anything in front of Walker’s parents to make you uncomfortable. As I’m sure you’re aware, I had nothing to do with the break off of your engagement, nonetheless, I want to apologize,” Waverly offered kindly.
“How sweet. In our world engagements are so often on and off.”
Cece’s delivery was menacing, her smile condescending as if she hid a secret that she wasn’t willing to share.
“I’m glad that you feel that way.” Waverly offered determined to rise above the obvious animosity after all, Walker was hers.
“You couldn’t possibly understand how these things work in our world. Our engagement will be back on soon enough, so don’t get too comfortable.”
“Excuse me?” Waverly choked out, not sure she’d heard right.
The few times that Walker had spoken of Cece, he had made her sound like a weak, simpering, but generally a nice young woman. Walker was an astute business man, with a low tolerance for bullshit, which explained why he was currently drowning himself in Scotch. Did he not really know her or had he just fabricated that image of TwinSet to pacify her? Waverly had genuinely felt bad for Cece, thought that they actually shared the pain Walker’s bad tempered decisions - apparently not. Had Walker been honest with Cece about his feelings. Had Walker bee
n honest with her about what his feelings - something didn’t add up.
“Listen, I’m sure that we...”
The words were barely out before Cece physically advanced on her, hostility rolling off of her in waves.
“Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we? You’re the low-class slut he’s fucking on the side right now, and you probably won’t be the last, either. But honey, you won’t ever be more than that to him, I’m the one he’ll marry, I will be Mrs. Rike.
Anger claws at my throat “Tired, frustrated, and hungry,”
Do you really think that you mean something to him? I know how you met all those years ago. Throwing yourself at him, having cheap sex in an office with a man you didn’t even know. He used you for sex then, and he’s using you for sex now. That’s all it will ever be between you. He always comes back to me in the end.”
Cece dismissed her then, turning to face the mirror and touching up her lip gloss.
Waverly felt like she had been sucker punched. She grabbed her clutch tighter and narrowed her eyes. This was class? Belittling and taunting her in a bathroom. She was angry and confused. She really had made it pretty easy for Walker to just waltz right back into her life and bed. Twice.
“You know what? Enjoy your delusion. It’s a good thing you have all of that money because you obviously need a lot of therapy to unfuck your mind. Walker has no interest in you...because you’re insane,” Waverly spat at her.
Cece was the picture of serenity as she slipped her lip gloss into her dainty Channel handbag. As Waverly brushed past her, Cece called out sweetly, “Have a good night.”
Waverly stormed to the table, Announcing that she was leaving due to a headache, but didn’t want to ruin their evening and that she would take a cab - to her place. Walker put his scotch down long enough to narrow his eyes at her, then rose from his chair offering to escort her out while his parents exchanged knowing glances and tsk-tsking. Ignoring them, she told Waker to stay and enjoy himself, giving him a formal peck on the cheek and scurrying away before he had a chance to stop her.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Just before midnight, Waverly was sitting up in her bed holding her tablet, not even pretending to read. She wasn’t even really upset about her encounter with Cece, surprised, but not upset. Sliding down flat under her blankets and sighing, mean girls were a dime a dozen, every woman knew that there was no escaping them, they always turned up ready to whip up drama wherever they went.
She was surprised at the extent of her duplicity, though, so much effort into pretending to be one person when you were really another - such a waste of time. Flipping onto her stomach and wiggling her feet back and forth, a nervous habit from when she was a child, her head was spun with questions.
Did Walker know what TwinSet was truly like and was in on whatever this was? It seemed he had proven to her that his feelings were genuine, but this wouldn’t be the first time that he had deceived her.
Walker had texted her from the restaurant in his usual abrupt style, only asking if she was okay. Hadn’t he proven in the past months his sincerity? His nightly texts still came, lines from poems quotes, always beautiful and sweet thoughts. The sex was still amazing, frenzied and passionate, so she doubted that he had the physical strength left to have sex with anyone else. She convinced herself to trust him - but with one eye open.
Flipping over onto her back again with a heavy sigh, all of these unanswered questions were going to prevent her from ever falling asleep. When she was with Walker and couldn’t sleep, she would wake him and make him talk to her, talk her back to sleep. His low, growly, voice soothed her. He would tell her funny childhood stories of the nannies or explain the complexities of a business deal that he was working on. Didn’t matter what it was, she always fell into an untroubled sleep. Too bad he wasn’t here now it was clear, unspoken but clear nonetheless that she had needed some space tonight. Admitting defeat she flipped over, grabbing her tablet again.
“Waverly?”
Walker called out softly, he had assumed that she would be asleep but he could see light from the bedroom glowing into the hallway. Her headache might be keeping her awake, but in truth, he didn’t really believe that she had one.
Waverly had bailed on him, she was a runner, he was well aware of that, but this time he was a little of pissed off at her. Dealing with his parents was like war and what the fuck happened to the no man left behind rule? He felt like a goddamn idiot sitting there with them as she just waltzed out. On top of the intentional baiting, she had done. Hell, nobody knew better than him that his parents were horrible people. But, an occasional dinner with them was a necessary evil, one he had thought she was ready for - apparently not. So he drank, a lot, it was his only way to get through it, and he wasn’t actually drunk just very relaxed.
“Waverly” he called again. No answer, maybe she really did have a headache and was asleep. Pushing the door wide he found her laying there with ear buds in, her feet wiggling back and forth under the blanket, something he knew she only did when she couldn’t sleep.
Moving around to his side of the bed he surveyed her as he started to unbutton his shirt. Opening her eyes she shrieked.
“What are you doing here? You scared the life out of me?”
Ignoring her outburst he continued unbuttoning while she removed the earbuds.
“Walker, what are you doing?”
Toeing off his shoes, he glanced at her. The fuck did she think he was doing?
“Getting undressed.”
It was clear she was not happy. What did she have to be angry about, she had been able to escape.
“You’re not staying here tonight,” she informed him.
Definitely angry. After a deep breath he met her angry gaze, eyebrows raised.
“Yes. I am,” Walker stated coolly, the nice drink induced buzz he had worked so hard for was beginning to slip away.
“No, you’re not! I don’t -,” Waverly started her voice raising.
“Look I’m sensing that you’re pissed off at me, but may I remind you that you are the one who waltzed out on me,” he snapped, then continued, “I fucking stayed, maybe I drank like a sailor to get through it, but you bailed...on me.”
Narrowing her eyes at him she puffed a chunk of hair out of her face, then smirked at him.
“Dinner didn’t go well after I left, hmm?”
Sliding her body up until her back rested against the headboard, he got the full view of her breasts spilling out of the tiny, next to nothing cream bra she was wearing, it looked fucking fantastic on her. Almost too small, because her breasts were spilling out. He would bet a lot of his money that she had a very small pair of matching panties on under those blankets. He glared right back at her. Was there something wrong with him that he was angry with her and want to fuck her into next week at the same time.
“No. It was a fucking festival of joy.
Taking a deep breath he managed to tear his eyes away from her tits if she would put them away he might have a chance of holding on to his anger.
“You didn’t have a headache did you?”
Looking away from her to remove his watch and drop it on the nightstand, he paused wanting to see if she would actually lie to him or just give in to her true nature of goodness and light and tell him the truth.
“No,” she replied quietly, crossing her arms.
He dragged his hands up to his face and rubbed wearily and then held them there trying to calculate the safest path through this mood of hers.
“Why did you leave. I know they’re horrible, but it was rude?”
“I was rude? Me? Wait you’re upset with me...after everything they said?”
She snorted.
He paused mid unbuckling of his belt, he thought of himself as an honest man, though he was fairly certain that he would suffer for it now.
“Yes. You. You were rude. They are always rude. You, I expected to stay...with me...to the bitter end.”
Walker continued undre
ssing, stopping when he turned back to the bed. He could see the anger rising in her eyes her hands clenched tightly on her tablet, her head tilted to the side. Thank God the only thing close enough for her to throw was the pillow or the tablet, the tablet was too expensive and the pillow wouldn’t hurt. She looked like she wanted to rip him apart. What exactly was she so angry about?
“I suppose Cece would have stayed?”
When she leaned forward, her breasts leaned forward with her. Anger aside, he was a goddamn lucky man. Her voice was quiet but sharp with sarcasm. What the fuck did Cece have to do with this?
“No fucking way,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head as he moved to the bathroom to brush his teeth.
“What?”
Jesus, what the fuck had happened? She was really looking for a fight. Her level of anger would go to DefCon levels if he answered this question honestly.
“Yes, she would have stayed, and smiled, and been goddamn polite too,” he replied loudly, almost, but not quite shouting.
Her eyes got wide and her face turned red.
He let his eyes wander over her face for a moment, watching to determine her anger level. They had never fought like this before, this was entirely new territory for him. She had gotten angry before, and although he wouldn’t admit it to her, it amused him. But, he rarely lost his temper with her. Something more than his parent’s appalling behavior had to have occurred to have pissed her off to this extent. He was going to find out what had shaken her up so much....
“I’m staying,” he informed her. Her eyebrows shot up.
“I don’t want you here tonight. Maybe Cece has room for you in her enormous, golden mansion and you can sleep on her five million thread count sheets,” she hissed at him.
“Maybe so, but tonight I’m sleeping here,” he corrected her.
She shook her head.
“Then go sleep in my guest room.”
“No. Just calm the fuck down and tell me what happened to make you so angry.”
“Oh, yes, you are.” Waverly glared up at him.
The Dumbf*ck - Part Two of The DumbFuck Series: A Billionaire Bad Boy Humorous New Adult Romance (The DumbF*ck Part Two Book 2) Page 7