Chapter 5 ARIA

I stand beside Gray awkwardly as he introduces me to his business partners. They all coo at how beautiful and much of a catch I am like I'm some kind of equipment and not a person. I'm very angry as I try to control myself in the presence of everybody there. There are approximately 200 or more people at the party and so far all I've done is say hi and hello when spoken to.

I hear a soft purr from beside me, I look just in time to notice a woman work herself into the middle of I and Gray. She's beautifully dressed in a very tiny red dress, she looks almost naked with all the openings the gown has. She ignores me as she nudges me with her shoulder to create more room for herself beside Gray.

I look at him expecting some kind of reprimand to the woman but all he does is look away from me as she circles her arm around him. I'm redder than her outfit as I look stupid standing there embarrassed and insulted. My heart pounds in my chest as I look for an escape route

I turn away ready to walk away and as far from the scene as I can get when I hear a shriek. I turn back to see the girl drenched in a red paste that's slowly running down her face. Layla stands there apologizing while looking not so apologetic as the girl stands there shocked. She's screaming in a few seconds and not at Layla but in pain

"Oh my God it burns! Heeeeeeelp heeeeeeelp...."

She's clawing at her face as Layla mouths the words

'Hot Sauce'

To me and everybody else that can see her. Bursts of laughter erupt from Kayla's friends cheering her and soon everybody is taking pictures and laughing. The girl runs off screaming with a waiter hot on her heels with a bowl of water. I turn to see Gray's reaction but he's nowhere to be found, this sends a twisting feeling in my gut. Something I do not understand.

As I watch the events unfold before me, my heart pounds in my chest. The room is filled with tension as Gray reappears before his sister pulling the mascara streaked teary, red faced woman with him, his voice booming with rage. His face contorts with anger, and his words are as sharp as daggers.

"Everybody out!!"

There are murmurs and whispers as everybody stands in place not moving

"GET OUT RIGHT NOW!"

People scurry away in a hurry, trying to leave before the other as they feel Grey is about to deal with the little bitch.

Once everywhere is cleared Grey turns to his sister

"Apologize this instant!"

I can't believe what is happening. He'd just been happy enough ignoring my humiliation, and now he's angry the slut got what she deserved? I speak up, at my limit already.

"And why should she apologize? You stood there while your slut embarrassed me in front of the people you claimed you wanted to introduce me to. What do you think they were thinking about as they watched another woman touch you?! I can't care less on who touches you but you will not embarrass me this way again"

I can see the irritation in his eyes, mixed with a burning fury. The woman stands by his side, her face flushed with embarrassment and pain

I feel torn between my anger and the pity I feel for the woman in pain. I want to step in and knock her teeth out, but I also know that she must be in a lot of pain but again her actions have consequences.

I watch her as she stands there, her head hung low, discomfort etched on her face. Layla suddenly bursts out laughing, I can't tell if she's amused or it's sarcastic

"She got what was coming and I will not apologize for what I've done, if anything...brother, do you have a bottle of hot sauce on you?"

Gray's face contorts with rage as he let's go of the woman and storms out. The woman stands there for a few seconds before running out, fear dancing in her eyes. I and Layla fall into another bout of laughter as I feel us connect.

"What happened?"

I turn to see my parents, sweaty, confused and breathing hard

"Where have you guys been?"

My mother looks like she's been crying

KEANE

I growl as I throw a chair at the mirror in my office, it shatters as the chair connects with it sending shards of it everywhere. I can't stop as I connect my fist to the wall continuously in anger. My eyes follow the blood as it comes out of my knuckles and makes it's way down to the floor. I can hear my heart pound in my head as punch after punch the skin of my knuckles break, it's a bloody mess when I stop hitting. The anger is still radiating through me, I will really enjoy breaking her bit by bit till she's nothing but a mess of broken pieces.

Aria White has no idea what's in store for her.

I hear a knock on the door as I sit contemplating what next to do

"Get out"

"S...s..sir, y...your...sister a...and y..your fiancée just l...left with her...f...family"

"Ok now get out"

I hear the scurry of fading footsteps as the help leaves in a panic

ARIA

A mob of reporters stand outside the property welding cameras and phones as they shout out questions of the party. Protected by the car we're in, we ignore them as the driver speeds out of the place.

My parents do not utter a word on our way back as I explain what went on during the party. They do not react as I tell them how disrespectful I was to Gray. They seem numb in their silence. I look to my mother, her usually composed face is weirdly sad. She looks uneasy and in pain as she casts her grey eyes away from my hard stare. My father looks angry and beaten, he looks weirdly broken. Something I never thought I'd see in my father. It annoys me to think Keane Gray caused this. I'll make sure I finish this and end up winning. Keane Gray does not know who he is going up against.

The car stops in front of our home and my mother bursts into tears, I'm horrified as I watch her have her melt down right there in the car, something I've never witnessed. Her makeup remains intact as it's water proof but her eyes look sorrowful. We are dropped off at the entrance of the house, each one of us having bursts of strong emotions running through us.