Chapter 2

With my helmet in hand, I pushed open the door to the Phantom VIP room; the place was buzzing with energy.

"I bet two hundred bucks she'll be crying her eyes out, begging to get back together," Shawn said.

"Shawn, you're the man." Everyone hyped him up.

I walked in and slammed the helmet down on the table.

The room went dead silent.

Shawn had his arm around a girl in a schoolgirl uniform, and when he saw me, he grinned and said, "Well, well, look who actually showed up."

I didn't bother responding and scanned the room.

There were about seven or eight guys, four or five girls, and the table was stacked with bottles.

"Here's your helmet," I said, pointing at the table. "Don't leave it at my place. It's filthy."

Shawn's face darkened. He asked, "Annie, what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what I said," I replied, turning to leave.

"Hold up," he barked. "You think you can just show up and bail whenever you feel like it?"

I turned back. "What now?"

Shawn shoved the girl aside and got right in my face. "Quit acting like you're better than us."

He leaned in close to my ear, asking, "Now that we're done, nobody wants you, huh? Getting lonely already?"

I laughed and said, "Shawn, what makes you so sure of yourself?"

He scoffed, stepped back, and pulled the girl in the schoolgirl uniform closer.

He said, "See this? Now that's what a real woman looks like, young and clean."

Shawn gave the girl a look, and she slammed into the table on purpose, sending booze splashing all over her own bag.

"Ah. My bag," she said.

Shawn stared me down, saying, "Apologize."

I raised an eyebrow, asking, "Why should I?"

"You knocked it over," he said. "No apology, no leaving."

Everyone in the room turned to watch, just waiting for the show.

I grabbed the unopened bottle of champagne from the table and strode over to the girl.

"Oops, sorry," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Then I popped the cork and poured it straight over her head.

"Oops, my hand slipped," I said.

The whole room went dead silent.

The girl shrieked and jumped up. She said, "Are you out of your mind?"

Shawn lost it, lunging at me. He shouted, "Annie, are you fucking asking for it?"

I didn't move. His hand was stopped mid-air by someone.

"Shawn," Andrew said behind me. "Touch my fiancée, and you'd better be ready for the consequences."

Shawn froze, asking, "Andrew?"

Andrew shook off his hand, walked over, and slipped his arm around my waist.

"Let me introduce you properly. Annie, my fiancée," he said.

The whole room went wild.

Someone said, "Holy shit."

Another asked, "Shawn, what is this?"

Shawn's face went white as a sheet. He asked, "Andrew, you're kidding, right?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Andrew said coldly. "Tomorrow, I'm taking her home to meet my parents."

He glanced around the room, saying, "If anyone breathes a word about tonight, don't blame me for what happens next."

With that, he took my hand and led me out.

Behind us, Shawn yelled, "Annie. Are you fucking after my brother now?"

Andrew stopped in his tracks.

I grabbed his arm and said, "Let me handle this."

I turned and walked right up to Shawn, standing in front of him.

"Shawn," I stared him down, saying, "Are you stupid or what? Your brother's the one who wanted me, get it?"

Shawn's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He said, "No way."

"Believe whatever you want," I shot back, turning away. "Oh, and tomorrow when you meet Andrew's folks, don't forget to pay me respect."

As I walked out of the VIP room, Andrew was waiting for me at the door.

"Did that feel good?" he asked, a teasing grin on his face.

I nodded and replied, "Yeah, it was alright."

He smiled. "Come on, let me take you home."

In the car, I leaned against the window and suddenly asked, "Why are you standing up for me?"

"Standing up for you?" Andrew shot me a look. "I'm not just helping you. I mean it."

"You mean it?" I laughed. "We've only met twice, you know."

"That's plenty," he said. "I've waited thirty years for a girl like you."

When we got downstairs, Andrew handed me a black card and said, "For my fiancée's daily expenses."

I shook my head and said, "I don't need it. I can support myself."

He raised an eyebrow. "You're that confident?"

"Yeah," I smiled. "More than enough for myself."

Andrew stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly asked, "Who are you, really?"

I blinked. "Your fiancée, remember?"

He smiled. "Alright, I'll come pick you up tomorrow."

"Okay," I replied.

I turned and headed upstairs, and my phone rang.

It was an unknown number.

"Annie," Shawn yelled. "You're just after my brother for his money, aren't you?

"Just wait till tomorrow when you meet his parents; you're in for it."

I laughed and asked, "Shawn, does your mom know how much of an embarrassment you are?"

"You," Shawn said, too angry to finish.

"See you tomorrow," I said, then hung up.

Another call came in.

I picked up and asked, "Are you done yet?"

"Ms. Rowe," a woman's voice said. "This is Lily Quinn."

I frowned and asked, "Who?"

"Shawn's girlfriend," she said, and made sure to stress. "See you at the Coopers' tomorrow."