RAINI LAVERNE
“What the fuck was that?” Giselle Galloway thundered as she whirled round to face me the second the billionaire stormed through the revolving glass doors of the fashion house, snapping me out of my reverie.
I struggled to catch my breath, feeling the crimson heat creep up my cheeks as I felt the eyes of everyone in the store on me.
Had I really won the billionaire’s soul search? The thought made my tongue floor about dryly in my mouth.
“My resignation Giselle, effective immediately,” I grumbled, happy to realize I had managed to keep the tremor from showing in my voice as the people gathered around huffed dramatically.
I wasn’t sure quitting was the best idea, but I couldn’t have just stood there and done jackshit when the Disney princess just fired my sister right in front of me.
We were Lavernes, and my mother had always taught us to stick up for each other!
“Raini! What are you-” Trinity Fay gasped, pinching me on my arm before I shrugged her off, a sliver of courage heating my spine.
There was a tense moment of silence in the lot as people exchanged whispers before I saw the tight muscles of the faux boss's face stiffen as she moved the botox into a grimaced sneer.
“You think I give a fuck what you do? Security!” Giselle guffawed, barking harsh laughs as she waved the barrel-chested men over, and I felt a chill run through my spine as she strode up to me, snatching my name tag from my chest as she had Rivers with a tight-lipped smile.
“You are an insufferable, miserable gold-digging wench Raini, and you would always be! Ha! No wonder you've got balls of steel now huh? Managed to snag the billionaire -” She spat caustically, baring lipstick-stained teeth at me so that I reared back, careful to keep my neck well away from wringing distance before my sister butted in.
“Enough Giselle! I won't let you talk to my sister like that! Come on Rai, we're outta here!” River growled sternly, snatching up my hand and marching me toward the exit as the ring of Giselle’s shrill voice followed us like shit stuck on the bum.
“Two peas in a fucking pod aren't you? Mark my words Raini Laverne, I will RUIN you!” She bellowed as I turned to catch one last glimpse of the pinched kiwi fruit of her face squeezed together in fury before we burst into the road and I inhaled a large breath.
“Thanks, Rai, you didn't have to,” River sighed after a stretch of silence as we trotted down the garbage-strewn lot toward our cozy little shack at the end of the street.
I shook my head at her, waving the complaints away and avoiding her eyes as she began to grin, poking me gingerly in my ribs.
“Sooo-”
“So nothing River, don't even think about it!” I chided more forcefully than I had meant to, forcing a pout from the ruddy-faced girl.
I hadn’t forgiven her yet for registering me in the contest and to think that I won when i hadn’t even expected to join at all!
Something swept past the ends of my consciousness, sending a cold trail of goosebumps to break open on my skin as the image of the man in the store rose unbidden in my mind.
Why did he have to be so goddamned beautiful? With high-structured cheekbones that could have rivaled that of a Greek god, and those sensuous lips! The way his dust-grey eyes raked over me like he wanted nothing more than to bend me over the counter and take me then and there.
“Saints Raini, get your mind out of the gutters!” I scolded in my head, more disturbed to find that I would have absolutely not minded being bent over.
There was just something about his mysterious air that screamed Run For The Freaking Hills but somehow made people do the exact opposite. I couldn't put my finger on it, and I didn't like that.
“We're home mother!” River yelled beside me as I snapped out of my musings to find that we had somehow managed to trot past my mother, into the house.
I listened with interested grunts as River told the Armenian woman everything that had managed to happen in the space of a day and they gathered around me.
”Raini,” My mother whispered, affecting that airy tone of hers that forked painfully at my otherwise concrete heartstrings as the callused palm of her hand warmed my shoulder.
I fought the urge to shake her off, knowing already that she would be on River’s side.
“Don’t Ma, I'm not going to sell myself to a stranger just because he’s got change to spare,” I cursed bitterly, unable to sort out my feelings fast enough.
“For fuck’s sake Rai! He's a freaking billionaire! And it's not like we're SELLING you off to some drug slave factory goddammit, have some fucking spine!” River spat caustic ally and I whirled to face her pinched face, feeling my fingers ball to fists beside me.
“Care to run that by me again Nanny McPhee?” I ground through clenched teeth, taking a step toward her and watching with satisfaction as she stumbled backward and my mother stepped in between us, playing with her hands.
“A-a package came for you today Raini, an opal-encrusted box with your name on it,” She whispered, batting her eyes playfully as I pursed my lips, craning my neck around her bodice until I saw the present and my breath hooked in my chest.
”What is this?” I whispered, managing to get a gasp through the lump that had grown in my throat as my eyes bulged in their sockets.
”Why don't you see for yourself?” My mother breathed, and i could have sworn I’d seen the mist of tears glistening in her eyes as i moved toward the small arch of the dinning hall, my heart knocking loudly against the cage of my ribs.
The large, table-sized box lying half-open on the small wood of our dinner table held the most beautiful gown I had seen in my life.
“For Mrs. Raini Cross,” I breathed, tracing the shiny note on top with my fingers and wrinkling my nose in embarrassment as River hollered loudly in my ear, the sharp pin of her jaw digging into my shoulder as she read the note with me.
RAINI LAVERNEI had tripped on the puffy umbrella-looking bodice of the red-jeweled gown when I finally settled in beside the striking man.“Hi,” I brayed, gritting my teeth and blowing off the choppy bangs of the hair my sister had butchered in her effort to make me look less like a grumpy nana and more like Cinderella.It had not worked, and now I was stuck looking like one of the botched science experiments from one of our nightly horror flicks.The dark-haired man only nodded, snatching up the menu with more grace than I could have imagined possible, and the impression of the long, ringed fingers he had curled around the purple plaque curled on the meat of my breasts rose unbidden in my mind.What the hell was wrong with me? Ugh! I shook my head imperceptibly, choosing to focus on the run of Italian words on the plaque instead of the non-too-gentle sway of the boat we were cruising on.I’d never had any foreign cuisine in my life, past the watery mimosas my mother made every now
RAINI LAVERNEI am fucking moving to the house of Zavier Cross, it is absurd how my life went from being remotely boring to moving to a mansion across town where I would probably get decapitated; I am not even joking.I choose to blame River, I still feel like strangling her to death or sucking her life out with a straw while she sleeps, but I think the latter will be more pleasurable to watch, my mum would probably be mortified and murder me afterward but that would be a worthy trade."I still feel this is the worst idea in the history of worst ideas ever," Trinity Fay muttered bitterly as she angrily shoved my clothes into my back, I am reconsidering inviting her to help me pack but how do I kindly tell her to go home without breaking her heart more than it already is."Don't listen to her," River interjected before I could reply to her, she wasn't helping me pack my clothes, just trying out my different shades of lipstick in front of my vanity mirror."She should listen to me becau
ZAVIER CROSSIt’s been fourteen hours, five minutes, and ten seconds since Trinity Fay and River have left me alone with Zavier Cross, but who is counting, I can't help but feel nervous as I pace around my enormous room. I glare around and wonder how I would survive the next 30 days living with this total stranger. A lot of thoughts rage in my mind, and my pessimistic attitude believes it will turn out really bad.As I pace around, the door opens and a young lady about my age enters the room. She introduces herself as Karla and tells me that Zavier has put her in charge of everything I would need. “ I will be the one who will cater for your every need, be here at your every beck and call even when you don’t need me, in other words, I will be the ultimate pain in your ass,”I can't help but chuckle. Karla has a wonderful sense of humor, and I soon warm up to her.We have a wonderful conversation, and I can't believe how funny and engaging she is. We joke and tease each other, and I st
POVII do not like being humiliated in front of anyone,especially because of some spineless celebrity wanna-be like Raini Laverne. "I need you to do something for me," I wasn't asking because I knew when I wanted something, I get it."I am sure you know whatever you want, I will give it to you, no question asked," Jason said, he was a muscular tall man with broad shoulders."I know that I do,"I walked majestically, close to where he stood, gazing at me and began touching his shirt, " I know you are one of the guards of Zavier Cross,"He let out a chuckle, "You women and how you are so infatuated by Zavier,"He dare called what I feel for Zavier an infatuation, I would have slapped Lucifer out of him, if not that I needed him."Well call it what you want, I know you are aware of his new TV wife,""Yes, Raini, she is hot,"This guy is really getting on my nerves but I won't bite."I want you to tell me everything she does when she is in the house, what is her relationship with Zavie
ZAVIER CROSSI walked into Raini's room and found her in a much better mood than I had left her in. It seemed like she had hit it off with Karla, which was a relief to me. I told her that we would be having dinner together and that she should get ready. I noticed her looking at me intently as if she was sizing me up. I could understand why, I mean, I was a stranger to her, a billionaire TV sensation that she had won in a contest."Hello, Raini," I say, giving her a smile.She looks up at me, a mix of apprehension and curiosity in her eyes. "Hi, Zavier. What's up?""I just wanted to let you know that we'll be having dinner together tonight," I say. "I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other a little better."Raini looks like she's about to protest, but then she seems to change her mind. "Okay, sure. What time?""Let's say seven o'clock," I say. "And feel free to wear whatever you're comfortable in. We're not exactly formal around here."Raini nods, looki
I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of something rustling outside my window. My senses were on high alert, and my heart was racing as I tried to identify the source of the noise. That's when I saw it- a shadowy figure lurking just outside the glass.Instinct took over, and I felt the transformation begin. My muscles contracted and expanded, and I felt my bones shifting and reshaping. My skin itched and burned as my fur sprouted, and my jaw elongated as my teeth sharpened.Within seconds, I had shifted completely into my black alpha wolf form. I felt my heightened senses kick in, my sense of smell and hearing becoming more acute. My vision changed as well, and everything took on a blue hue.I padded silently over to the window, my claws clicking softly on the floor. The shadowy figure outside was still there, but I could now see it more clearly. It was a person, standing just beyond the reach of the porch light.I growled low in my throat, warning the intruder to leave. B
Raini LaverneI woke up to a message from Trinity Fay saying she wanted to come to visit me. I was excited at the prospect of seeing her, it had been too long. But as soon as she arrived, I could tell she was still unsure about all of this."Girl, are you sure about this? Living in a mansion with some rich dude? I mean, what do you even know about him?" Trinity Fay asked, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.I rolled my eyes, "Oh come on, Trinity Fay. He's not just some rich dude. He has some good sides which I am getting to know in a way. Plus, he's been nothing but great to me since I got here."Trinity Fay scoffed, "Well, just be careful. You know how these rich men can be. They're always trying to control everything."I shook my head, "You're such a pessimist, Trinity Fay. Can't you just be a happy soul for once?"Trinity Fay smiled, "I am happy for you, girl. I just don't want you to get hurt, that's all. So, how has it been living with Mr. Mystery Man?"I chuckled, "It's been great,
ZAVIER CROSSI woke up feeling energized and excited for the interview today. This job means everything to me, and I won't leave any stone unturned. I head to the bathroom to freshen up, and I splash some cold water on my face. I look at myself in the mirror, and I can't help but smile at my reflection.I grab my hairbrush and tidy up my hair, making sure that it's neat and presentable. After that, I grab my suit and shirt from the closet. It's a black and white striped suit with a white shirt that has a black tie. I picked this outfit out yesterday, and I was glad it looked perfect on me. I ironed it last night to make sure there are no creases, and it looks crisp and clean.I put on my suit jacket, and it fits me perfectly, accentuating my broad shoulders. I check my watch, and I still have some time before I leave. I take one last look in the mirror and smile at the confident-looking man staring back at me.I grab my shoes, which are shiny black leather with a matching belt, and pu