One of the worst experiences anyone can go through is pretending to be interested in something you don't care about…or pretending you're attracted to someone when your heart feels nothing.
Fake smiles.
Fake laughs.
Fake interest.
Fake life.
Ivana hated all of it.
Trying to impress people had never been part of her history. Her actions always spoke for her if she liked something, you would know; if she didn't, you would still know. But now, married to a popular figure, she had to bury the wild, sharp edges of her real self and pretend to be soft, sweet, and graceful.
That was the price of being born into a powerful family.
Bored and frustrated, she watched her husband mingle with ambassadors and directors while she sat alone at a table, exhausted from the fake smiles she'd given to CEOs, chairmen, their wives, her parents….everyone. She depended on her tequila to give her a moment of peace after all the pretending.
Her parents.
She still hated them.
They threw her into marriage without asking her permission, the same way they had planned her life since birth. That was why she never had a business of her own. The one time she tried to rebel, it ended horribly.
She loved styling and designing. She wanted to be a fashionista. She had been close, so close to achieving it. Lily's Fashion World was meant to be her breakthrough. But one word from her father, and everything was destroyed.
Her dream crushed into dust.
Her company gone.
Her fame gone.
Her fans gone.
Her staff scattered.
Her savings wiped out because of the debts her parents tied to her.
And now, An arranged marriage.
They irritated her to her core.
She took another shot of tequila, drowning in her thoughts, until someone snapped her back to reality.
"Yo, bitch!" Edna screamed.
Ivana turned and forced a tight smile.
"So what's good?"
Edna dragged a chair closer and sat like she owned the entire place, grinning.
"What?" Ivana asked, rolling her eyes.
"I should be asking you that. You're the one who's newly married, not me." Edna teased, laughing at Ivana's flushed cheeks.
"And you think it's fun to be newly married?" Ivana muttered, stamping her foot.
"Yeah....or", Edna leaned close, whispering softly just for her, "Is Mr. Kacy Lillard not fun in bed?"
Ivana's ears instantly turned red. Edna grinned even wider.
And as she looked at her best friend, Edna couldn't help admiring her.
Ivana was too beautiful for her own good,soft curves, tiny waist, flawless glowing skin, a face that could spin any man into madness.
Men went crazy for her everywhere partly because she looked like temptation itself, partly because she had an aura that made her untouchable.
And in the end, she caught the biggest fish, the young bachelor everyone wanted.
Mr. Kacy Lillard.
If that wasn't luck, what was?
"Oh don't start," Ivana muttered, turning her face away, cheeks burning.
"Then why are you blushing, Iva?"
"You and Madam Ina will never stop calling me that, right?" she groaned.
"Never, babes. And I was the first to call you that," Edna said, rolling her eyes.
"You started it in kindergarten. Grow up, bitch." Ivana teased.
They both burst into loud laughter, quickly lowering their voices when half the crowd turned to stare.
"So… when am I seeing my kids?" Edna asked.
"Uh…" Ivana twisted a strand of hair, confused.
"Don't tell me I won't meet my pretty cupcakes?" Edna winked, making Ivana stare in disbelief.
"Your pretty cupc...?"
"Yeah. Your future children," Edna clarified.
"Oh… and who told you it'll be twins? Are you a shaman?" Ivana taunted.
"I'm practicing shamanism," Edna winked.
Another unladylike laugh exploded from both of them. A couple nearby frowned at them, and Edna yelled loudly:
"What nuisance? Don't tell me you don't want to have kids or you don't fuck to have kids!"
Ivana slapped a hand over her mouth immediately. The couple hissed and turned away.
"You're crazy, Edy," Ivana muttered.
"Yeah, so crazy."
"Grow up, Edy. Stop with your teasing."
"Okay, okay, I get it." Edna smirked. "So did Kacy bang you hard yesterday?"
"Edy!" Ivana squeaked, face turning scarlet.
"Sorry. But I'm curious."
"If you're that curious, ask him."
"Oh, I'm so doing that."
Edna stood up.
She walked three meters away while Ivana's lips parted in horror.
Jeez. She's not doing what I'm thinking right?
Edna turned around with a wicked smile.
"Oh, I'm doing exactly what you're thinking."
"Please, just sit," Ivana begged, almost panicking.
Edna kept walking, flipping her hair dramatically.
"Please". Ivana tried again.
Edna finally stopped, turned back with a smile, and said,
"I thought you'd never say please, silly girl."
Then she winked, walking back to their seat.
"Okay."
She sat down smiling awkwardly at Ivana.
"What?" Ivana asked, eyeing her friend suspiciously.
"Tell me everything about your honeymoon, especially the juicy part."
Edna grinned from ear to ear, laughing at her bestie's flustered red face.
"No, no, no, no, we are not doing this!"
Ivana covered her burning face. Her cheeks were so red exactly how her husband always described them....like a rose. The memory of what he whispered to her in the car made her blush even harder.
"Oh, we are so doing this. Look at that red face, were you thinking about your man?"
Edna teased, shaking her head dramatically before suppressing her laughter when people began turning toward them.
"Damn, reduce your voice, bitch. We're at a party. And my answer is no."
Edna scoffed. "Yes, bitch."
"I'm serious, no."
"Tell me or…", She paused, smiling wickedly. "Should I ask Kacy if he fucked you hard? Or are you going to tell me what happened on your honeymoon?"
She glanced around, searching for Kacy as if truly ready to go ask him that moment.
"Edna…" Ivana gasped when her bestie actually started rising from her seat, and quickly pushed her back down, silently begging her to behave.
Edna laughed, leaning in to whisper, "And you know he will gladly tell me. Anything that makes you wet, needy, flustered, pink, or red for him, he'll team up instantly. That man is crazy over you."
Ivana knew her bestie was right. Kacy wouldn't hesitate. And just imagining Edna asking him made her entire face burn.
"Pick, babe. You tell me or I'll ask your darling husband."
Edna cleaned her nails casually, maintaining fierce eye contact until Ivana finally broke it with a shaky breath.
"Fine. I'll tell you. You'll kill me with your eyes."
Ivana surrendered at last.
"WHOA, I win".
Edna began dancing a tiny victory dance while Ivana scoffed, yawning.
Ivana told her everything that happened during their honeymoon, while Edna made cringy, dramatic noises and teased her nonstop. Ivana mentally promised herself never to tell Edna the part where she broke one of Kacy's rules but nothing ever escaped Edna's ears, so she just had to tell her.
"So, since you got everything, get out of my life, bitch."
"I won't, bitch."
"What else?"
"You didn't tell him."
"Tell him what…" Ivana said, pretending innocence.
"You know exactly what I mean."
Edna hissed, annoyed at her friend's sarcasm.
"I can't. We haven't reached that stage of sharing secrets."
"You can't or you're scared?"
"Maybe both."
"Iva don't you dare lie to me."
Edna's glare could cut glass.
"Okay, fine. I'm scared."
"But you know he would help secure a place for your fashion work. This is Kacy Lillard we're talking about."
"I know".
"So what's stopping you from asking?"
Edna frowned deeply.
"I don't know".
Ivana squeezed her hands together, bowing her head in frustration.
"I'm always here when you need me, Iva. Don't be scared."
Edna patted her head softly.
Ivana stared at her best friend, thinking, She's God's gift to me.
Her mind drifted back how they met in kindergarten, how Edna always defended her, how she stayed during Ivana's worst moments.
They met when they were five. Ivana was the quiet, elegant little girl who hated noise. Edna was the loud, dramatic, trouble-making princess of the class. The day Ivana cried because someone snatched her crayons, Edna dragged the boy by his collar, snatched the crayons back, and sat beside Ivana like a tiny bodyguard. From that moment, they were glued to each other.
Through kindergarten, primary school, high school. Even when Ivana rose to fame as a fashionista, Edna remained her shadow and shield.
And during Ivana's downfall, when her company collapsed, her savings disappeared, her name was dragged through mud, Edna stayed. She used her own growing fame as a cosmetic, accessories, and runway model to defend Ivana publicly.
Edna, with her long legs, slim waist, thick thighs, wide hips, and skin that glowed like warm caramel under any light, was the kind of beauty men went insane for.
She was curvy, confident, seductive without trying, A walking brand deal. Models envied her. Men worshipped her. But all she ever cared about was her bestie.
And Ivana knew it.
Her thoughts drifted, and she gently pushed Edna's hand off her hair. Edna only stared, unimpressed.
"But I am. I'm fucking scared, Edy."
Ivana snapped back to reality.
"Why? He knows you can't wear heels. That's why you wear long gowns that touch your toes. Yet he never complained or yelled at you."
"That's because he found out. I didn't tell him."
Ivana shot back, earning a hiss and scoff from Edna.
"And were you scared when he found out?"
Edna smirked, already knowing she had trapped her.
"Yes."
Ivana walked right into it, not seeing the trap.
"And what did he do?"
Edna asked the final question, the one Ivana had no escape from.
"Nothing."
Ivana froze, realizing she had played herself. Edna's wide smile was victorious, and Ivana couldn't help but smile with her. Damn it, her bestie's smile was contagious.
"He did nothing. He just let me be."
"So why are you scared now?"
"Because I'm fucking in love with him."
She whispered it so softly Edna almost didn't hear.
But she did.
Edna's eyes widened, mouth parted, pure excitement flooding her face.
Finally snapping back from shock, Edna screamed,
"REALLY? Wow! So have you told him"?
"Nahhhh… not yet."
"What..."
Ivana quickly cut her off before she screams again, drawing unwanted attention to them.
"I will tell him," she insists.
"And your parents?" Edna adds, watching her best friend closely.
"What about them?" Ivana responds, clearly uninterested.
"Are you guys good now?" Edna presses, her gaze sharp.
"No…never." A tear slips down Ivana's cheek, but she quickly brushes it off.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to," Edna pauses, finally seeing the reaction she wanted. Her best friend's hatred for her parents was still as strong as ever. She simply wanted to test the waters. Staring back at Ivana, Edna read her clearly.
"It's alright, not your fault," Ivana replies, her words slightly slurred, her eyes glazed and unfocused.
"Aish...whoa. You're drunk, babe," Edna says, concerned, gently rubbing her friend's head.
"What…?" Ivana hisses, swatting her hand away. "I'm fine," she insists, unaware of how much the wine has loosened her.
"Because you drank two whole bottles," Edna shouts so Ivana can hear, but it seems only echoes reach her.
Ivana stares at the empty bottles, realization dawning.
"I'll go find a way to get your husband," Edna says firmly. "Wait here. Don't wander around, you're drunk." She runs off, leaving Ivana seated, swaying slightly, her mind drifting.
Her eyes flutter, trying to ignore the shadows approaching, her parents, looming, judgmental. "God, please distract them," she prays silently, pressing her palms together tightly.
She sensed a presence before she even fully woke.
That familiar, intoxicating strawberry mixed chocolate scent hit her nose and wrapped around her senses. It made her feel calm, scared, and strangely relaxed all at once.
She drew in a slow breath and cracked open one eye, winking before opening the other.
Her gaze fell on her hand, trapped beneath a large, veiny hand adorned with nine rings and his wedding band making it ten, wrapped around hers protectively.
A gentle stroke followed, snapping her fully back to the present.
It was her husband.
God….oh Jeez, God. Could anything get worse than this?
The worst part? He was sitting so close, his eyes roaming over her as if he were searching her soul, reading every secret, every thought. It was like she was an open book, and he knew every line.
Her body relaxes when his gaze lands on her face.
"You're drunk, wifey."
His gaze fixed on her tipsy eyes, the emerald orbs fluttering open and closed, making it impossible for him to focus.
Damn, his wife had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen, hands down.
"Oh...I'm not," she stammers, whispering.
Tapping her forehead gently, he asks, "How many bottles of Tequila, little moonlight?"
She swats his hand away, pouting like a child. He chuckles, calling her cute.
"How do you know it's Tequila?" she asks, surprised.
"That's your favorite, baby. So… how many, Ivy?" His smirk grows, amused by her drunk state.
"Oh….just two," she admits, laughing. "Do you need anything, husband?" Giggling, she sways slightly, drawing attention to them again.
He curses silently at the onlookers, giving a sharp glance that quickly returns their focus to their own business.
"Let's get you home, little moonlight," he says, dragging out the words. A red shade spreads across her face. "You're so drunk, Ivy," he adds, eyes fixed on her.
"I'm not going anywhere, baby," she laughs, breaking eye contact with him. This time, no one dares look their way except for anyone wanting to face Kacy's wrath.
Leaning forward, she plants a quick peck on his lips, startling him for a moment.
Composing himself, he smirks. "You shouldn't do that, little moonlight, unless you want to take off your panties right here and now." His voice was low, seductive, the meaning clear.
Kacy."
She gasped. Even drunk, she was still sensitive, still flustered.
Oh God it was only her husband who could do this to her make her ache, moan loudly his name, bend her knees begging for more, take her to the edge of oblivion.
It wasn't just his touch. Even his words, the way he flirted, could make her shiver, set her on fire, leave her trembling with desire.
No matter how drunk she got, she could never be bold.
There was a burning fire inside her that melted every ounce of confidence, leaving only a timid, naughty, nervous wifey in its place.
Every time, whether she wanted it or not, she became completely his shy, aroused, and helplessly in love wife
"Eyes on me, little moonlight." His voice was sharp, commanding, impossible to ignore, leaving no room for hiding.
She whimpered softly, "Um…". Her lips part unconsciously.
Her face flushed, eyes dropping before daring to meet his, body trembling with a mix of fear and desire.
The air between them crackled, heavy and blazing, heat wrapping around them like a storm.
Then he broke the silence.
His gaze lingers on her flushed, shocked face, a chuckle escaping him. "Pat those lips open again, and I'll make you numb, breathless in every way."
She blushes, covering her mouth, gaze dropping to her fingers, reddened from his earlier grip.
Your finger's red," he observes.
"Yh, they are," she huffs, annoyed.
"Why aren't they pink like your lips?" he teases, laughing.
"Huh…" She stares, speechless
"Too bad it isn't pink, it would have match your blushed face, your lips, your pink nipple and pink pussy". His smirk widens at the pink creeping across her cheeks.
"It's not pink," she protests, hiding her face in her hands.
"It's a mix of red and pink," he corrects gently, twirling a strand of her hair slowly until it rests at the top of her back.
Lifting her chin, he murmurs, "I mean your face."
"Yes… I'll agree with that," she bites her lips, the blush deepening.
Without warning, he lifts her effortlessly. She gasps, resting her head against his chest as they leave the hall. The media will have a field day, but for now nothing else matters except the heat between them.