PARANORMAL ROMANCE: Shapeshifter Romance: The Vampire's Stolen Bride (BBW Fantasy Alpha Male Romance Books) (New Adult Vampire Fun Mature Young Adult Billionaire Steamy Love and Romance Novella) (43 page)

Chapter 2

They were one of the first to arrive at the party, though that was to be expected as Chase was the CEO. Unfortunately, it was also expected for his shareholders to be there early, too.

              “Chase! My dear boy,” Sebastian laughed, grabbing Chase’s hand for a shake. “I’ve only just arrived and I’m already impressed. Love the buffet – you’ve outdone yourself.”

              “Yes, well,” Chase freed himself and quickly clasped his hands behind his back. “This is not only a giant merger for the firm, but a celebration of our sixtieth anniversary.”

              “Ah, a man of tradition,” Sebastian poked his chest. “Your father was, too. It’s why you took over, instead of some other greedy schlub.”

              “Instead of the shareholders calling for a vote, yes,” Chase agreed stiffly.

              “Whatever you call it, it’s good,” Sebastian nodded. “You’ve more than proved that yourself as the right choice. Oh, excuse me,” he brushed by, his eyes set on a group of women that’d just walked in.

              “Sebastian Harris,” Chase shook his head. “Always a gossip.”

              Joy snorted. “Always a drunk, you mean.”

              As they walked around the room, various other shareholders came up to either congratulate or give their two cents, which Chase masterfully avoided or shut down altogether. Joy stayed on his arm and stared at the latter the same condescending look that they’d been giving her all her life, and only smiled prettily when they made to leave.

              “Stop that,” Chase whispered. “They’re going to bite my head off on Monday if you keep it up.”

              “Oh, they already hate me,” she rolled her eyes. While her family name was one of the oldest in the city, her family’s wealth had nothing on any of the players in Chase Jones’ world. And everyone but Chase liked to remind her of it.

              They wandered around the party for an hour, Chase mingling and Joy judging. By six, the place seemed to be swelling with people, and Chase had started to glance at his notecards.

              “Ready?” Joy asked, walking with him toward the podium.

              “As I’ll ever be,” he sighed.

              “Hey, you’ve got this,” she whispered, kissing his cheek. “What’s it about, anyway?”

              “Besides the merger?” Chase asked. “Teamwork.”

              “Oh, good one,” Joy patted his arm. “If you can’t remember what you wrote, just wing it.”

              Chase left her a few feet away from where the shareholders were gathered, and she took the time to grab a flute of champagne from the buffet. As she sipped it, her arms crossed, she watched Chase interact with the shareholders with narrowed eyes. None of those men could be trusted, not after the dozens of attempts that they’d made to overthrow Chase in his first year as acting CEO. Now it was round two, and so far Chase had been able to keep them at bay much better than the year before.

              “Ladies and gentleman!” Sebastian announced, stepping up to the podium. “If we could have a moment of your time, we’d like to thank each and every one of you for coming out tonight. Chase Jones, our CEO, has a few words for you.”

              Joy watched the huff of air Chase let out just before squaring his broad shoulders and marching up the three steps to the podium. She didn’t miss the way that he splayed out his notecards, or how his green eyes began flickering between them and the crowd.

              “Hello,” he said, his deep voice a rumble into the microphone. “And thank you for joining us in celebration this evening.” He moved to raise a hand, his fingers inches from his hair when he suddenly stopped and dropped it to straighten his tie instead. Joy had to hold in a laugh. “This merger has been a long time coming, and it’s one that we will all benefit from—”

              “Especially the loyal friends and families of Jones & Sons,” Ronald Carter, a blonde brute of a shareholder, suddenly appeared behind Chase. Patting him on the back, Ronald stepped around him and spoke directly into the mic. “This is a momentous occasion, and one that we should use to springboard our goals for the following year. Now is the time for Jones & Sons to rise up, and reach its true potential!”

              Joy watched as Chase was all but booted off the stage, his original speech forgotten behind the boisterous shouts of Ronald. He slowly made his way back to Joy, the crowd patting him on the back as he walked.

              “So much for teamwork,” he sighed, loosening his tie.

              “You ready for a real party yet?” Joy asked gently, taking his arm. Chase glanced up at the podium, then looked away with a sigh.

              “God, yes,” he said.

              Joy’s idea of a good time wasn’t anything crazy, surprisingly. At twenty-five, she was tired of nightclubs with timid eighteen year olds, but she wasn’t boring enough to prefer quiet bars over loud music. Which left Social, an odd hybrid of quiet couches and loud dancefloors on the edge of the city.

              They took the limo there, and Chase had it pull up just outside of the doors to ensure their entrance inside. Social did love money, after all.

              “Ron’s a dick,” Joy said, using it like a mantra as she threw back shot after shot.

              “Ron
ald
,” Chase corrected her.

              “He should eat a dick,” Joy said, the alcohol making her brain a little muddled. “Can’t believe he did that, stealing your stage.”

              “Why? You predicted it,” Chase muttered, signaling the bartender for another round of Jameson.

              “I thought that they’d try to steal all the credit, not steal your spotlight,” Joy rolled her eyes.

              “Yeah, well,” Chase picked up his shot of whiskey. “Guess they had something better to talk about than teamwork.”

              “You’re an idiot if you think that’s true,” Joy snorted. Throwing back another shot, she scowled, and slid off the barstool. “I’ll be right back,” she assured him, pointing to the restroom.

              “Do you need me to—”

              “No, no, I’m good. You stay here and save my seat,” she winked. Chase just shook his head softly and turned back to the bar, calling for another shot.

              The crowd of people dancing between Joy and the bathroom was intense. She must’ve elbowed a dozen men and pushed past just as many women before she finally made it. Sighing, she stepped into the soundproofed room and left the heavy bass behind.

             
Bang!

Joy nearly tripped over herself as the door to a bathroom stall flew open beside her, and a man and woman fell laughing out of it.

“No, no,” the man insisted. “The size of cats, I’m telling you!”

“No wonder you left!” the woman snickered, seizing his arm to keep herself from falling face-first into the tiled floor.

Joy rolled her eyes and tried to step around them, but the man grabbed her arm as she tried to pass. “Whoa there,” he laughed, “No ‘hello’ for me?”

“If I had to say hi to every drunk—” She paused, staring at the redhead’s face. “Jake?” she breathed.

“You know her?” the other woman drawled, blinking up at the man next to her.

“We dated,” he smirked. “Till she got fat,” he added, releasing Joy’s arm.

Joy stayed where she was, her heartbeat loud in her ears. Standing before her was a man that she’d thought she’d never have to see again: Jack King, heir to the King hotels. They’d dated for year – last year, actually, before he had called it off right before leaving to New York for an internship with one of his dad’s friends. She could still remember what he’d said to her that day.

“You understand,” he’d told her heartlessly, patting her on the shoulder when she’d started to cry. “I can’t be seen with a cow on my arm – it wouldn’t do for the image I’m trying to create. Not to mention, long distance would be an awful amount of work.” He had flown out the next morning, and Joy hadn’t heard from him since.

Until now.

“What’re you doing back here?” she asked icily, her hands balling into fists at her sides. “Couldn’t handle the big apple?” she seethed.

“Oh, the big apple loved me,” he grinned. “I just took too many bites until there was nothing left to eat, and, well, here I am.”

“Back in, sorry, what was it that you liked to call it? ‘Bumfuck Egypt?’ I wonder why you’d ever decide to come back,” she said coolly.

“I’m not here for long,” he admitted. “Just long enough to catch up. How are you, by the way?” he asked, his eyes flashing. “Found a nice big bull to keep you company?”

Joy glared, crossing her arms. “And what business is that of yours?”

“I’ll take that as a no, then,” he laughed. “Can’t say I’m surprised,” he muttered to the girl on his arm.

“I’m engaged,” she lied quickly, the words a harsh burn on her tongue.

“Oh?” Jake asked, glancing at her left hand. “Don’t see a ring.”

“Because I’m stupid enough to bring a thousand dollar ring to a nightclub,” she bluffed sarcastically.

“Only a thousand? You married cheap,” he said.

“He’s richer than you,” she shrugged.

“Yeah? Who?” Jake dared.

Only one name came to mind.

“Chase Jones,” she said.

“Jones…” Jake said slowly, as if tasting the name. “I remember him. You two were always thick as thieves – should’ve known that you were fucking him.”

“I never cheated on you, if that’s what you’re implying,” Joy sneered.

“Jake,” the woman tugged at his shirt. “Take me dancing.”

“Sure thing,” he winked, taking an extra moment to stare down her dress at her breasts. Joy took advantage of the distraction and stepped into a stall, quick to lock the door. She waited until she heard Jake’s laughter disappear outside the restroom before she let herself tear up.

Fucking asshole.

Chapter 3

By the time Joy made it back through the crowd to see Chase at the bar, someone else had already found him.

“Ah, there she is!” Jake laughed loudly, pointing to Joy as she emerged from the sea of people. “Joy, do come join us!”

Joy froze on the spot. She looked between Jake’s cruel sneer and Chase’s blank face, wondering if she should just turn tail and run. She was surprised when Chase stood up and walked towards her, gently taking one of her hands in his to bring it up to his face and kiss her knuckles.

“I see you ran into your ex, dear,” he said, staring her in the eye.

“Uh, yeah,” she said slowly, glancing between him and Jake. When Chase just threaded his fingers through hers and tugged her back to the bar with him, she kept her mouth shut, though her eyes were questioning.

“You’re in her seat,” he told Jake calmly, towering over the redhead by a good foot.

“Of course, of course,” Jake smirked, sliding off of the bar stool like the snake that he was.

“Here,” Chase ushered Joy closer, grabbing her hips to lift her up onto the chair. Joy barely kept herself from yelping – she’d always known that Chase worked out, but she would’ve never guessed that he could actually lift her.

“Now, as I was saying,” Jake said, standing beside them with one hip out while Chase retook his own seat. “It’ll be on the ninth, at midnight—”

“What will be?” Joy asked as casually as possible, accepting the cup of wine that Chase ordered for her. 

“Your ex is throwing a party,” Chase said gruffly, staring at Jake with a bored look in his eyes. “He wants to invite you.”

“Both of you,” Jake corrected.

“The ninth,” Joy said, looking at Chase. “That’s in two days.”

“Well, I am only here for the week,” Jake laughed.

Chase reached out a hand to cover Joy’s. “Do you want to go?” he asked.

“Of course she does,” Jake assured him. “I imagine that she doesn’t get invited to many parties,” he added.

Chase stood up at his words, his green eyes narrowed. But before he could do anything, Joy spoke up. “We’d love to go,” she said carelessly, staring at nothing. “It’s a Saturday, right? Chase won’t have work the next day.”

“Nor will you have school,” Chase agreed.

“Mhm,” she nodded.

“School?” Jake scoffed. “You’re still in college?”

“You’ll remember that I graduated the same year as you,” she said snidely.

“She’s about to finish her Masters,” Chase added.

              “So, it’s settled then,” Jake looked at the both of them. “Midnight at my parent’s mansion, on the ninth. See you two there,” he waved, already walking away.

              Joy looked up at Chase. “Uh, so—”

              “I called the limo,” he said, straightening his jacket. “Let’s go.”

              “I didn’t know what to say!” Joy blurted. “It was the first thing that came to mind!”

              “But
engaged
? Really?” Chase asked. “Word is going to get around, Joy. I already can’t get a date now. What am I going to do when the women give me a wide berth because they really think that I’m taken?”

              They were in the back of the limo, sharing the last bottle of wine with five empty ones clinking around at their feet.

              “Then why didn’t you just blow my cover?” she asked angrily. “You could’ve told him that I was off my rocker.”

              “Guy comes up to me,” Chase said, spilling some wine. “Says, ‘Hey, you’ll never believe what I just heard.’ Tells me the whole thing while he watches my face, waiting for me to tell him that he’s right – that you
lied.
” Taking a gulp of his drink, he added, “You think I don’t remember that asshole, Joy? Prick would’ve rubbed it in your face and ran to everyone that he could of if I had told him the truth.”

              “Well, gee,” Joy said angrily. “Thank you so much for protecting my dignity.”

              “Fine, you know what? Fine,” he growled. “Next time I see him, I’ll tell him. Blow it wide open for you.”

              “Oh, thank fucking god,” Joy yelled. “I’m
so
sorry that my lie completely fucked up your life.”

              “I just want to know,” he said, “Why you used me. You could’ve said Alex, Zachary, Peter—”

              “Because you’re my best friend, dumbass,” she scoffed. “Besides, I knew that you’d make him the most jealous.”

              “Jealous?” Chase repeated.

              “Yeah,
jealous
,” she said. “You’re rich, you fit into a tux in ways that he never could, and you’re, like, desirable bachelor numero uno. I mean, fuck, you own your own company.”

              Chase seemed to sit up a little straighter at her words. “I don’t think—”

              “Don’t even think about it, cause it’s true,” she said. “I used your name because you’re the best. Capeesh?” she leaned forward, slurring the word.

              “So,” Chase said after a moment. “What are we going to do about his party?”

              “Blow him off,” Joy huffed. “We’ve got better things to do.”

              “You’re telling me,” Chase asked, “That you don’t want to rub it in his face?”

              “Rub what in his face? My fake fiancé?” she frowned.

              Chase shrugged, falling back against the leather seat. “We’d only have to keep it up for a week, at most.”

              “And then what?” Joy asked irritably. “We call it off in a public announcement?”

              “We quietly break it off,” Chase said. “People do it all the time. No one will overthink it if you stop wearing my ring.”

              “Your ring?” Joy repeated. “What ring? I made it up, remember?”

              Chase didn’t say anything, he simply put down his empty glass and started wrestling with his right hand. He yanked off his family’s golden ring with a grunt, holding it out to Joy with a thrust of his arm. She recognized it as the one that his father had given to him on his deathbed, the one that’d been passed down the Jones’ line for generations.

              “Chase,” she began, but he cut her off.

              “Take it,” he said. “You won’t find a better ring anywhere.”

              Joy accepted it with shaking hands, the warmed piece of precious metal shining in the artificial light.

              “Wait,” Chase stopped her, plucking the ring back to lean forward and grab her left wrist. Looking up at her as he did it, he slid the ring onto her fourth finger.

              “Well,” Joy said, eyeing the large ring as Chase leaned back into his seat. “That was oddly intimate.”

              “Happy engagement,” Chase shrugged happily, a stupid, drunken smile on his face.