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Whiskey

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Chapter 30: Whiskey (Rowan's POV)

I halted my pacing for the third time and stood at the bottom of the stairs, still waiting for Evie to get her little ass down here. If she was done getting ready, that is. 

We had the launch party for Mercury Books tonight and it would look ridiculous if we were late ourselves, being the hosts. If she took more than two minutes longer, we would, in fact, be very late. 

Groaning softly, I glanced at my watch once more before heading upstairs and towards her room, not bothering to knock and just letting myself in instead. 

She was just standing in front of her closet and staring ahead, still wearing a black silk robe. 

I stopped in the doorway, staring at her. "What the fuck are you doing?" I asked very slowly. 

"I," she sighed, "am picking out a pair of heels." 

"You're not even dressed yet," I said through gritted teeth, letting myself in and walking towards her. "You're wearing a robe and you have rollers in your hair, Evie." 

She faced me. "But my makeup is all done. It won't take that long," she shook her head and then had the audacity to wave a dismissive hand at me. I grabbed her hand and pulled her towards me swiftly. She stumbled and lost her balance, crashing into me, placing a hand on my chest so she could catch herself as a short gasp escaped her. 

"Get out of my way," I told her before pushing her aside gently and then standing in front of the closet. 

She huffed and folded her arms across her chest, watching me. 

"Where are your shoes?" I questioned. 

"In the very back. Would you like to crawl in there, Mr. Rowan?" 

"I just might have to," I said, throwing her a glare. I walked in and squatted down, resting my elbow on my knee. "Which ones?" 

"You become more chivalrous of a husband as the days go on, Mr. Rowan," she grinned at me. "The red ones." 

I stared between the two. "Which ones?" I asked again, growing more annoyed by the minute. 

She laughed, "The ones on the left." 

I reached forward, grabbing the pair of blood-red heels, stopping as I noticed a box shoved into the very corner, even hidden under a few clothes. 

"You can just leave the heels and go if you want. I won't take too long and piss you off any more than I already have. Five minutes, that's all I need," she said before taking her dress that was splayed out on the bed and rushing into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. 

I placed the heels by her bed first and then stood there, staring at the corner of the box that peeked out. 

Should I? Should I not? Snoop, that is. 

With one glance at the bathroom door, I made sure she wasn't coming out, and then grabbed the box, slid it out, and sat on the bed, dropping it in front of me. I cursed softly under my breath, realizing there was a tiny lock on it, the kind of lock a little girl gets attached to her diaries. Before I could search around for a key though, the door opened and she strolled back out while fixing her dress. 

She stopped in front of me, her eyes immediately drifting to the box, then widening. "Rowan!" She rushed forward and snatched up the box, shoving it back into the closet and closing both doors. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" 

"Going through your stuff," I answered calmly. 

"You don't do that to people," she said slowly through a clenched jaw. 

"If whatever's in that box is such a secret, then you're lucky I didn't find the key," I said while standing up and sliding my hands into my pockets. 

She tipped her chin up to meet my eyes. "You would never find that key," she replied proudly. 

"Why not?" 

She paused for a beat. "Because you're the only person in this world who isn't supposed to." 

I stared at her as she smiled and then moved away, sitting at the foot of the bed and grabbing her heels. "What is that supposed to mean?" I pressed further. 

She huffed, "When I hid that key, I was hiding it," she grunted softly, pulling her heels on and then fixing the straps before standing up and facing me. "From you," she finished with a sigh as she smoothed out her gown. 

"From me?" 

"Who else do I live with?" she smirked at me. 

"From me?" I asked again. "Why?" 

She shrugged and never answered the question. My eyes followed wherever she went while she put on some perfume before grabbing her phone. Taking her in from head to toe, I made a little note of everything she wore tonight. 

From what I can see, of course. Other things are hidden, whether that be fortunate or... otherwise. 

She had her hair in a loose bun at the back of her head but gentle curls fell out in places and framed her face perfectly tonight. She had tiny matching rubies in her ears that shone under the light. Her dress... was a deep blood red satin slip gown that went all the way down to the floor, was held up by two thin straps over her shoulders, and somehow, the dress fit her perfectly. It sunk into her waist in a flawless way, hung to her hips elegantly, and the dress flowed down her legs gracefully. She looked... dare I say, beautiful. 

She spun around to face me and released a breath. "Let's go." 

"We're late," I reminded her, tearing my eyes away from her. 

"Only fashionably," she smiled back at me as we left her room and headed downstairs and out. 

As we got in the elevator, I felt her gaze on me and turned to face her. "Something bothering you, Ms. Spencer?" 

Her eyes dropped down to my clothes. 

I followed her gaze but saw nothing out of place. I analyzed the black suit I wore with the black button-up underneath. 

"Why do you wear ties if you don't wear them right?" 

"Excuse me? I know how to tie a tie perfectly well." 

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at me with an unimpressed look. "No, you don't. Nate told me you've both always had trouble with ties and bow ties. Oh and shoelaces, but that's just you," she teased. 

"He just had to tell you that, didn't he?" I muttered in annoyance while she stepped forward and reached for my tie, loosening it and then straightening it out.

"You don't have to wear ties if you don't like them." 

"I do like them," I argued.

"Then learn to tie them the right way." 

"I did," I huffed. 

She chuckled, looking up at me. "Then learn how to ask for help. I can tie them for you. If you'd like." 

My eyes narrowed. "Every day?" 

She nodded. 

"That's a waste of both of our time." 

"It takes one minute," she shrugged. 

It takes me a good ten with the number of times I try. 

I sighed, "Since you want to do this so badly, all right." 

She snorted, facing ahead as the elevator opened. And then we left, heading straight to the hotel. 

At least thirty minutes of mine were wasted in simply greeting all the guests while apologizing for being a little late. Not to mention, I had to introduce Evie as my wife to every person in this room, especially those who didn't know who she was. After that, I spent some time talking business. I expected Evie to wander off and find someone better than me to keep her company but she didn't. She stuck to my side, greeted all my guests like her own, and played the perfect hostess. 

I guess she's getting good at this after all. 

"Rowan!" 

Evie looked around searching for who called me but I didn't have to look to know that voice. 

I spotted him the moment I turned around and sighed. 

"Oh," Evie groaned lightly before slipping her arm into mine. I turned to look at her just as she faced me. "Ignore him," she suggested. 

"He's a guest," I countered. 

"He's a waste of space. Plus, he's not standing with anybody important. Only shareholders," she shrugged, glancing his way again. "You don't have to talk to him just because he says so. You don't have to do anything he tells you to. You don't owe him anything." 

I took in a breath and prayed she didn't notice how shaky it was. "I need a drink." I pulled my arm out of hers and quickly moved towards the bar, asking for a whiskey. 

"You're having whiskey?" I looked over as Nate strolled over, stopping beside me at the bar. "This can't be good." 

"I need it if I want to get through tonight." 

"Why?" he chuckled. 

"Too many people," I grumbled. 

"Is that what's bothering you? Or is it our father?" 

I glanced at him, my gaze hard. 

"Your drink, sir," the bartender said, sliding a glass forward for me. 

I took it and drank the whole thing down, feeling the liquor as it burned down my throat and immediately caused a buzzing in my mind and blood. Alcohol and I do not mix well because my whole life, I stayed away from it, being so weary after everything that happened, everything I witnessed too. 

"Rowan, just... watch what you do tonight," Nate mumbled, keeping his voice low. "No scenes tonight, it's not a place for you to be drinking like this." 

"I'll be fine, Nate. Don't worry about me. Plus, I..." I faced the room after gesturing to the bartender to pour me another. Scanning the crowd for her, my eyes danced around the room until I found her, a soft sigh escaping me. "I have my amazing wife to take care of me, don't I? Don't you trust her, Nate?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes. 

"I do, Rowan. I trust her with you, I trust her to take care of you. It's you that I don't trust to take care of yourself," he said before shaking his head and walking away. 

I grabbed the glass and groaned softly, downing the whole thing in one go again. "Another glass," I released a breath, resting my arms on the counter. 

I have a long night ahead of me. A few strong glasses of whiskey are exactly what I need.

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Chapter 30

drunk moments coming up

next chapter: abused

I have to give a trigger warning, there will be some mentions of parental abuse 

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