Circles the Trilogy (Secrets and Lies) (13 page)

“Okay. But do you really think that you should go through with this after what he’s done? I mean, I know he is your fiancé, but that man out there forced himself on you. He
doesn’t deserve for you to go out there and play nice so his family will good for the cameras. And as far as I’m concerned, neither does your family. These people and their little circles disgust me. You’ve played by their rules all of your life and this is how you’re repaid. I really don’t understand this blind loyalty you have, Sasha, and I don’t think I can hang around and watch you play the doting fiancée to a rapist.” With that she gets up and walks away. I know I haven’t lost her, but she is angry and I can admit to myself that her words are true. But I need to see how this all plays out, it may be the only way that I’ll get the answers I’m seeking.

As I walk out of the office, Mrs. Bryant is waiting with a look of distress on her face. I pull my phone out of my pocket and see that it is a quarter after four.
“I’m so sorry, Ella. Daryn and I were just –”

“Don’t worry about it right now. Let’s just get going. Daryn is already waiting.”

The rest of the afternoon is pretty uneventful, unless you consider me muttering obscenities at Daryn under my breath an event. I smile for the cameras and play the perfectly perfect society princess that I am meant to be. From the outside looking in, we appear as the ideal couple. The only person who notices that something is wrong is my brother and I assure him that I’m fine. I know he doesn’t believe me, but by the end of the night, hopefully he’ll understand.

After a sit down dinner and speeches from both of our fathers, the formal part of the evening is over. Dancing begins and I try my best to avoid dancing with Daryn again after we are forced to dance together during the first song. He doesn’t go for this because after more than an hour of me avoiding him
, he comes over to where my boss, Mr. Larson, and I are dancing and he cuts in.

“Why are you avoiding me, Sasha?” he asks as if he really doesn’t really know why I am avoiding him.

“You have some nerve, you know that?” I lower my voice to a whisper so no one around us will hear. “I didn’t want to have sex with you and you forced me. That’s rape Daryn.”

He twirls me around and dips me before placing a kiss on my lips. “I don’t recall you saying no. Am I mistaken?”

“No.” It’s a whisper, but I know he hears my answer. He’s right. I didn’t say no, but I have no plans to report him to the police or anything like that. As far as I’m concerned, the only people that will know what he’s done are me, him, and Neesa.

“Good. I’m glad we agree then.” He gets closer to my ear and says, “I know you liked it though. I felt how wet you were for me.” I jerk away, but quickly remember where we are. I step back into his arms and laugh as if I’d been joking. “That’s right, Honey. You better get used to g
etting exactly what you deserve,” he says just as the announcement is made that the fireworks show is about to begin. I nearly forgot it was the Fourth of July with all that has been going on.

Daryn grabs my hand and laces our fingers together. He pulls me close with my back facing his front as we watch the spectacular fireworks display. I try to pay attention, but I am lost in my own thoughts.

I cringe at the thought of having to deal with this man for the rest of my life. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s messed up. He’s revealed the one thing that may make my loyalty to my parents waiver and that gives me the courage I need to do something.

No, I’m not angry at them for saving me from a mother who couldn’t take care of me (if any of that is even true), but I am angry that they kept it from me for twenty-eight years. I’m angry that they thought it a good i
dea to tell Daryn and his family, but not me. I’m angry that these people actually thought I’d somehow inherited things from the woman who gave birth to me that can’t possibly be inherited. And I can’t help but think that Saleena knows, which is probably the reason she hates me so much. I bet she wonders why she has to follow the example of some prostitute’s child.

I realize that my life has been a lie and the people around me who claim to love me
have not been paying attention. What they haven’t noticed is that I have no desire to be a part of these circles that rule their lives. And it has nothing to do with my biological mother and how she lived her life. It has everything to do with me and the fact that I don’t need or want this life.

***

A commotion from behind me takes me away from my deep thoughts. Daryn releases me and I turn around to see that photographers and reporters have somehow gotten onto the property. They easily spot Daryn and I. My stomach drops and I have a feeling that this isn’t going to be good. I narrow my eyes trying to see who stands before me since there is a bright light from a news camera in my face.

It’s the
Society page reporter from the paper and I guess she’s traded jobs because she’s holding a microphone in her hand and seems to be asking me questions but I’m in shock and don’t hear any of them. I finally am able to think clearly and hear the question that I think she’s asked at least three times now.

“Ms. Ellis,” she says, “A source close to Quinton Ramsey tells us that you were with him on the day you
supposedly
found out you’d had a miscarriage. Is this true? Was the baby Quinton’s or Daryn’s? Would you care to comment? Were you even pregnant at all or was that just a lie to cover up the fact that you were out cheating on the Judge’s son on the day of his announcement to run for Senate?”

Shit.
Could this day get any worse?

Dear Reader,

I would like to thank you for reading the first installment in the Circles Trilogy,
Circles the Trilogy, Volume I: Secrets & Lies
. This book has been a labor of love for me. I have becaome a part of their lives and I hope you have done the same.

If you want to know more of the story and find out how Sasha, Daryn, and Quinton’s love triangle unfolds, please be on the lookout for the second installment of the Circles Trilogy,
Circles the Trilogy, Volume II: Revelations
coming in  late September, 2013 as well as the second book in my Covington Family & Friends Series.

In the
meantime check out my debut novel available on Amazon.com entitled: Trust In Me, Covington Family & Friends.

Again, I thank you so
much for your purchase and helping this exciting dream of mine come true!

Love Ya & Happy Reading,

Carla Buchanan

http://www.authorcarlabuchanan.com

@AuthorCarlaB on Twitter

http://www.facebook.com/CarlaBuchananAuthor