The Party

Kanda caught up to Trisha as they descended the stairs.

“What’s first? Do you want to meet the hot supermodel, do you want to check out the mansion, or maybe you’d like some one-on-one time with me?” He smirked at her.

Trisha snorted. “I’m here to help Ryan, I don’t know you and I don’t intend to.”

Kanda put a hand over his heart. “So cold.”

Trisha shrugged. “Why get to know you for one night?” She hissed the words so no one else would hear her.

Kanda grinned. “It can be far longer than one night, Trisha. Don’t worry about that.”

He scanned the room as they got to the last stair and nodded to himself. “This way, I saw him go for the kitchen.”

“Him?” Trisha demanded as she followed after him.

Kanda answered by glancing behind him and grinning at her. “This way,” he repeated.

Trisha lost sight of her white-haired companion and was confronted with a hard chest clothed in black. “Excuse me,” she mumbled as she pushed to go by.

“My lady, I believe it is you I have come to seek.”

Trisha paused and took a step backward so she could get a better view of this stranger. Old-fashioned was the only way she could even begin to think of him.

Everything about him screamed that he lived in the wrong decade, even the style of his buttons was off.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t want to talk to my husband?” she questioned. 

His lips twitched a fraction of an inch. “No, my Lady, it is you who I seek.”

He inclined his head and gestured with his glove covered hand. “This way if you will. I would very much appreciate your company for but a few brief moments.”

Trisha swallowed. She really didn’t want to talk to this guy alone but hadn’t this been what she had signed herself up for?

She nodded to herself and let herself be led away from the safety of the house and out into a huge patio that was apparently abandoned for the time.

Two others were already seated as she got there. A woman dressed in a severe black gown that was buttoned all the way to her neck with the same ivory white buttons, and another man that looked identical to the one she was accompanying.

“Are you the Mistress?” The woman demanded. Her voice had no softness.

“I am.” Trisha resisted the urge to sit in the free seat.

The woman turned to the first man.

“I want you to keep an eye on the entrance. I will not have us disturbed by anyone, including the Master of the house. Do I make myself clear, Dominic?”

He nodded and before Trisha could comment he was just gone into the black of the night.

Her heart started to pound, she had felt uneasy around Nakuni before. But what she was feeling around this group was becoming far worse. “Did you need me for something?”

“We’ve come to meet you if you truly are the Mistress.” Her voice had a questioning tone to it as she studied Trisha closer.

Trisha nodded. She didn’t want to say the wrong thing and ruin the game so quickly. “I am.” She found her fingers spinning the ring on her finger.

“When were you married, and why were any of us not invited? It’s the protocol that we are invited to the weddings.”

“Weddings?” Trisha demanded then cursed herself for the tongue slip. What had she been thinking?

The woman’s lips took their time curling up in a cruel smile.

“Yes, weddings, your husband hasn’t told you that he’s been wed before? Numerous times?”

Trisha’s eyes darted from side to side. She wasn’t sure how to answer that.

Which would be the safest way to ensure that Ryan didn’t get in trouble? It would have been far easier if she had asked for Nakuni or even Kanda’s help. “Um.” She whispered.

“Meow,” whined a black kitten close to her feet.

Trisha took the opportunity to reach down and hug the animal. It purred and cuddled against her in response its jewel green eyes sparkling.

“Meow.”

“A feline.” The woman shuddered.

“Mistress, you’re going to need to take that beast elsewhere. We’re not fond of felines, they’re nasty vermin, if you do not we will have no qualms with disposing of it for you. However, I do advise you against escaping into that house. I’m well aware that you might see this as an escape.” 

The kitten didn’t seem to care at all about the words and rubbed all over Trisha’s face purring as if its life depended on it. Trisha hugged the animal close as the man beside the woman moved closer. She wasn’t about to let them hurt such a precious creature.

She wasn’t sure how Ryan would react to an animal at his party, but desperate times and all. “It’s okay little one,” she whispered as she patted its little forehead with her index finger.

“I’ll be in later, try to stay out of everyone’s way, okay?” She opened the door and bent down putting the animal on the ground.

The kitten looked up at her and mewed in response before rubbing against her legs for a moment and dashing off away from her.

“You should return now that you’ve taken care of that,” Dominic announced. His pupils were so dark they appeared black to her, especially in the night sky.

“Madam Westworth is waiting.”

Trisha sighed. She had hoped to be able to escape back into the party but these people were too sharp for that.

She could only pray that someone would notice her missing soon and actually find her. She really didn’t know how much longer she could keep these strangers occupied.

Forcing a smile Trisha walked back over to the smirking woman and took a seat.

“I thank you for getting rid of that animal from around me. I detest felines most of all.”

Trisha spun her ring around again her leg starting to bounce as she worried her bottom lip. “Why?” she blurted. 

Westworth’s eyes widened as if Trisha had just cursed at her.

“Did you just question me, Mistress?” She demanded. She leaned over the table her lips lifting to reveal strangely white teeth.

“I’m sorry,” Trisha whispered her chin hitting her chest as she lowered her head. “I didn’t mean to offend you, I was just curious why you don’t like cats.”

“Felines are filthy,” the older woman sniffed.

“And they can never ever be trusted. You might be young, Mistress but mark my words there will come a day you’ll rue letting that animal into your home.” 

“Is this where Mrs. Rosewood is hiding?” Queried a sultry voice. “I wanted very much to meet her, the woman who bagged Ryan Rosewood. She’s a legend.”

The stranger brushed back his long flowing dark blue hair as he gave a perfect smile.

“I do not recall giving anyone else permission to come out here.” Ms. Westworth snarled and sighed.

“Mistress, we shall chat again. I have much to ask you and you haven’t even started to satisfy my curiosities yet. I do hope you do not wander too far. Canines are almost as bad as cats.”

She shuddered and with a nod to the other men she stalked off back into the party.

Trisha breathed a sigh of relief as the doors shut behind them. “Thank you, I didn’t get your name, but you rescued me.”

He flashed another perfect smile his white teeth shining. “You’re welcome, my name’s Logan by the way. Logan Star.” He smirked at her and waited for a response.

Trisha held out her hand. “Sorry I haven’t heard of you, my name is Trisha Rosewood. I’m Ryan’s wife.”

Logan’s jaw had dropped and he stared at her. “Seriously? You’ve never heard of me?” He ran a hand through his locks again as he just stared.

“Logan Star,” he repeated his name slowly in case she hadn’t heard it the first time. As she shook her head again at him with an apologetic smile he echoed the action.

“You really don’t know me? Don’t you ever look at billboards or anything?”

Frustrated, Logan grabbed the hem of his fancy shirt and pulled it up revealing his flawless abs. “Do these at least ring a bell? Or should I get in my underwear too?” He demanded.

Trisha had meant to put her hands over her eyes and not look, but that was far too hard to do.

Instead, she stared hard at him. This wasn’t an ordinary guy whoever he was. “I still don’t know you,” her voice came out in little more than a whisper.

“What in the hell is going on out here?” Demanded a voice.

As one Logan and Trisha turned to witness Kanda staring at the two of them.