Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“It appears so, since you’re here,” Daimon said to her as he took my hand and held it on his knee.
“Daimon, when will you stop trying to make poor Addie fit into our world? The girl is obviously uncomfortable here. It’s really not her fault since she never had a proper upbringing. If anything, you’re only making it worse for her and everyone around who don’t know how to deal with her,” she said as she smiled brightly and sat down at our table. Daimon stiffened and was about to say something, but I placed my hand on top of his. Our eyes met and I shook my head and smiled. I didn’t want him to cause a scene, especially not for her.
“Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience,” I quoted Mark Twain. Daimon smiled and shook his head at me.
“What’s that? An Addie tweet,” she laughed.
“No honey, that’s Mark Twain, but you should know that since you had a proper upbringing.” I smiled satisfied that I shut her up for a while.
Dinner was served while Daimon and Rafe engulfed themselves in a conversation about business.
“So, Addie,” Clara finally spoke up and the rest of the table took notice. “What do you do? I mean besides being a waitress at the bar.” She waited, knowing she was trying to humiliate me in front of everyone.
“I work,” I said looking right at her. She wasn’t about to rake me over the coals because she wanted to.
“Didn’t you have a full scholarship to Yale?” she smirked.
“I did.” I smiled back, swallowing the bitterness. Daimon stiffened next to me as he stopped talking to Rafe and watched our little exchange.
“So what happened? I mean you were so smart, how did you end up, well you know, you?” she grinned.
“Either you stop now or I will become angry, Clara, and we all know how I get when I’m fucking angry,” Daimon snarled at her. She huffed as she looked at him. She picked up her fork and began to eat her meal. I excused myself to go to the bathroom. As I stood up a fairly large gentleman knocked into me, making my shawl fall.
“Oh my God!” I heard Clara cry out.
I hung my head, shame and sheer embarrassment ran through me. The word fuck kept repeating through my head. I was going to kneel down and pick up the shawl, when Daimon wrapped his arm gently around my waist and pulled me closer to him. I looked back to see Daimon was still sitting down. He leaned in his head and softly kissed my scar. The feeling of his kiss on my scar made my body shiver from the heat of his lips. He then looked up at me and smiled his sexy little smile.
“Go, I’ll be here waiting,” he reassured me. I bit my lower lip watching him, holding back my tears. “Go already,” he said again still smiling. I tried to kneel down to pick up my shawl, but he wouldn’t let me. “You don’t need it, Addie. You’re beautiful, just as you are,” he said softly. I nodded softly and he released me from his hold.
I carefully made my way through the crowd to a lavish bathroom. Without the shawl, I felt exposed for the entire world to see. It was a stupid piece of fabric, but it was my sole barrier, protecting me from the prying eyes of everyone’s gauging stares.
I had embarrassed him. Daimon and his stupid dress, his stunning little dress that made me feel both wonderful and unworthy. The ugly scar, which marred me, made me feel self-conscious and aware of all the eyes, which lingered on my body, wondering what had happened to me.
I finally mustered up the courage to head back; once at the table I could put the shawl back on and shield myself again. I made my way out, but I stopped short, seeing Daimon with his arms crossed as he leaned up against the wall, waiting for me with my shawl.
“Come here,” he said the moment our eyes met. My feet instinctively carried me to him. “Even if I tell you you’re perfect, you wouldn’t believe me anyways,” he said as he held out the shawl for me to take.
“I'm sorry,” I said quietly as I took the shawl.
“For what?”
“For embarrassing you,” I shrugged.
“Don’t be stupid,” he said bluntly as he took my hand and led me out.
“What’s this gala for anyways?” I asked as he took us to a bar far from Clara and our table. There weren’t any signs or anything to indicate what the night was about.
“I put this gala together to raise money so underprivileged kids could get a computer and a leg up in school. Just because you don’t have the means, doesn’t mean you should be left out of a good education,” he said as he called to the bartender.