Chapter 1 TRUTH OR DARE

{STEPHANIE}

I stared at the three idiots in front of me, giggling like kids, and wondered how on earth I got myself into such a situation. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be sitting in one of the imperial leather sofas that beautified the VIPs lounge. I shouldn't be drinking scotch which cost more than double my usual monthly paycheck. And I shouldn't be wearing that stupid, goddamn glittering pink veil on my head, looking like a fucking Barbie bride. "Your turn to spin, Becky," Trish gestured at my half-sister with her drink, spilling drops of the crystal clear golden liquid. "God save me," I murmured, tilting the glass, filling my mouth with the fizzy drink. With a devilish grin tugging on the corners of her lips, Becky placed the bottle on the table and spun it. I exhaled slowly and leaned into my seat. I still couldn't believe my dad made me come here and pretend to be happy for her, and pretend to be grateful that she chose me to be one of the members of her bridal train. As if it didn't matter that she was getting married to my ex-boyfriend, a man I had dreamt my whole adult life of marrying and having kids with. The bottle stopped slowly, pointing at Rhea. The girl cackled and bounced in her seat, causing her blonde hair to jump. "Truth!" she squealed. Becky adjusted in her seat, a smirk playing on her lips as her hazel eyes locked on her bestie's. "Did you or did you not sleep with the captain of the college basketball team during our sophomore year?" Surely, I had not even the slightest idea who that guy was, but apparently, Rhea knew him and perhaps knew him all too well. She clasped her hand over her mouth. "You did, you little slut!" Alexa, another of my sister's pompous friends snorted. "I didn't," she defended. "We didn't sleep..." I rolled my eyes and got on my feet. Becky's eyes suddenly flew to my direction. "Where are you going?" she demanded. "Get your tiny ass back in that chair." Her friends snickered. I shot her a hard glare, half considering throwing my drink in her sweet disgusting face. Ladies room," I replied. "I want to use the ladies room." She dismissively waved her hand. "You have five minutes." My violent urges rose but I suppressed them and said through clenched teeth, "Thank you." I didn't waste any more time, knowing my cheeky younger sister would just increase the level of her bitchiness. I stepped out of the booth and walked through the narrow dimly lit corridor illuminated by blue-green lights. I maneuvered through about a dozen drunken revellers, reeking of alcohol and a distinct tinge of expensive perfume. When I reached the door, I breathed a deep sigh of relief, relieved to find that no one was in. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, grateful for a moment of peace, a moment away from Becky and her pompous friends. The ladies room was far from soundproof but it was better here away from the loud thumping of the bass outside. Outside, the music was so loud I could feel the bass in my bones. I stepped towards the sink and turned the faucet on with a creak, cupping my palms to take some water. Then I splashed it on my face, not caring if it ruined my make up. I didn't want to come here anyway. But I had to. Dad made sure I came to show my support for my sister. "You can do this, Stephanie," I told myself quietly. "It's just a stupid bachelorette party." I peered at the mirror, examining myself. Luckily, the strands of my hair were still in place despite that stupid, pink flashy veil. And, thanks to my friend, Jade, who had helped with my make up, out of her expensive makeup kit, my lashes were longer than usual and accentuated my pretty, large, round, green eyes, making them seem almost twice as large. I took out a tiny box and applied a little tint of red to my lips. I didn't look bad. Despite that I was wearing a thrashy red gown I had bought nearly three years ago, I can still say, and quite correctly, that I looked more attractive than my spoilt younger sister and her chic friends looked in their sparkling pink dresses with see through tops, flashy, bling bling jewelry and heavy make up. The gown was still fine. I had only worn it four or five times. I wasn't so lady-like and chic and girly. I loved to wear denim pants and leather jackets and cowgirl boots – nothing fancy. Jade often teased me that I dressed like some archaic country girl. Presently, I closed my eyes and heaved another sigh. "Stephanie McMahon," I muttered to myself. "You need to calm the fuck down." I just had to play my role till about three a.m. when the girls would have drunk themselves to stupor, drive them back to their houses and then bounce. Mission accomplished! I would never have taken my father's offer if I had not been so desperate. I needed as much money as possible to buy another batch of my mom's ludicrously expensive medication, the current one running out at such a dangerous speed. And I also had to pay for her surgery. Her sickness had taken its toll on me. The insurance money had finished first. Then a few months later, I had to sell our apartment and move up to the room above my workshop. I had thought that would be all and was prepared to give myself back to my job to raise the money to return us back to our usual life. But I was shocked. Fate had other unpleasant surprises in place for me. My mom had a stroke one night in her bed and then slipped into a coma. That was when I put a call through to the rich asshole who called himself my father and requested for help. And in return for his help, he told me I had to give up my lover to my crazy half-sister who had always wanted him to herself. I was in quicksand. Barely thinking straight because of the quagmire I was in, I agreed to his sham proposal. I breathed deeply again as I took in my reflection on the mirror. Then I stood straight and rolled out of the restroom, my head high as I headed for the fancy booth. I slid into my seat with a ghost of a smile. "It took you longer than five minutes," Becky said crossly, her arms crossed over her sparkling chest. "I needed to fix my makeup," I said with a nonchalant shrug. "Whatever," she rolled her eyes and took the bottle. Then she spun. I watched uninterestedly as the bottle spun on the table. Then I suddenly felt a strange twist in my stomach as the bottle slowed and its neck rolled towards me and... Stopped. It stopped on me. "Shit," I cursed under my breath. Rhea and Trish sniggered while Becky clasped her hands together, her lips forming a devilish grin. "Truth or Dare?" she purred. I thought. I was certain that if I chose dare, then she would ask me something that would spite my mom. Becky and her mom, Rousey, always found ways to humiliate my mom. And I didn't like it. I wouldn't let them insult my mom. They could mock me all they wanted but I was not going to "Dare," I strained through my teeth. Becky laughed and her friends howled. "Be fast. Just tell me what to do," I said. "Tell her to lick the toilet seat," Rhea suggested and I shot her my coldest glare. Becky was not listening to them. Her lips spread into a cold smirk as she looked around the room. "I want you to..." she hummed slowly. "Kiss the hottest guy in this club." A chill ran down my spine. I was dressed like a party girl but I knew I wasn't one. I had never even as much as initiated a flirt and now I was supposed to walk over and kiss someone I didn't know from Adam?! "Go on," Becky urged. "There's plenty to choose from." "I'd pick the guy over there," Rhea said, pointing at the brawny guy with tattoos in red and green ink riddling his over muscular arms. "Not my type," I said uninterestedly. "How about the ones at the bar?" Trish suggested, flicking a glance at two men I followed her glance. Damn. The guy in the black tuxedo was fine, cute. But the blonde haired woman beside him "Guess we have a winner!" Becky squealed, noticing me stare so longingly at the man in the tuxedo. I held my breath. I was aware that the club we were in was filled with stinking rich assholes – pompous assholes. What if this guy turned out to be one of them? What if he demanded an apology for tainting his precious lips? Or even worse, if he took the kiss as a sexual assault and filed a lawsuit? "What are you waiting for?" Rhea nudged me. "Go and kiss him!" I clenched my teeth, wishing I could just tell them to go fuck themselves. But I had to play nice and pretend I was having a swell time. I straightened and my eyes locked on the target as I walked to the bar. He was so good looking. I drew a shaky breath as he suddenly turned to his friend, a smirk playing on his lips. I was only three steps away from the bar and about five away from him. My heart was hammering already in my chest. "Don't be a coward, Steph," I muttered to myself. "It's just a kiss." I took another step forward and tapped his shoulder. He was even taller than he looked. A lump formed in my throat as he turned towards me, his face curious. "Yes?" I didn't answer. I just grabbed his tie, forcing him to lower his head about an inch or two. Then I stood on my toes and pressed my lips against his. His gentle perfume filled my nostrils. The real aura of a... Engulfed in his aura, I brushed the seam of my lips slowly against his. I barely noticed his hands snaking its way around my waist, pulling me closer to himself so my breast crushed into his chest. A smug smirk stained his lips as he pulled a little way back. "Naughty, aren't we?" he asked. I stopped breathing. That stillness between us lasted a fleeting moment before his lips suddenly collided with mine.