Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Kenny

I was more than prepared for her outburst. But instead, I got her pity.

“OMG, Kenny, are you alright?” Copper shot out of her seat and held me up by the shoulders. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

“The sauce…” I blinked. She shook her head. “Don’t you worry about it! It’s only food. You’re more important.”

I heard my father’s voice. He sounded pissed. “Boy, what’s wrong with you?!” Dad shouted. “Are your eyes for show? Did you fall asleep while standing up? Huh?!”

“I-I… It was an accident. I swear. I’m sorry Miss Harmony.”

“Please, call me Copper.”

At the same time, Dad’s wife held Copper from the side. “Come with me. Let’s get you changed.” She nodded and allowed herself to be led away from the table. I looked back at everyone. As a bulter removed the bowl from my hand, I gulped.

Mom’s glare pierced my flesh like icicles. But, since frowning would give her wrinkles, she sat up and took a deep breath. “Son,” she spoke through clenched teeth. “Apologize to Mr. Harmony, and take a seat.”

“Ohhhhh,” Maria’s little high-pitched voice piped up. “Ken Ken is in trouble~”

I sighed. My baby cousin is annoying, but not wrong.

Copper

Caroline helped me clean the sauce out of my hair. She set a yellow, shapeless dress that I had tried on, on the bed. My makeup had to be removed, but that’s okay. Caroline reapplied eyeliner on my upper eyelid, as well as mascara, and a light touch of clear, shimmering eyeshadow. Neither of us could return my hair to how it used to be, so we settled on an over-the-shoulder braid.

“Thank you again for lending me your clothes,” I said to Caroline. She turned her head as we walked back, expression on her face telling me that she didn’t expect my gratitude.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Caroline waved me off. “But can you promise me something, Miss Harmony?”

I raised my eyebrows, hand going up to play with the tail of my braid. “Copper is fine. And to the best of my abilities, yes.”

“Copper, alright. Then you can call me Caroline.” She smiled. I smiled back. The corridor we were travelling on had windows that showed the front lawn. Although it was dark, the lights from the surrounding area, gates and likewise made sure every bit of grass was visible. “Kenny, please treat him right.”

I waited for her to continue.

“He’s more complicated than you think. A little odd and childish sometimes, but a good soul. We aren’t close, not at all. But he was the only one who didn’t look down on me when I joined the family. So please, go easy on him.”

“Well, nothing is certain. He still has to approve of me first before getting married.” I shrugged.

“That kid? He will.”

Before I could ask what she meant, I spotted something.

“Uh, you can go ahead, Caroline. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Alright. Don’t be long! Everyone is waiting.”

Caroline smiled as she left and I waited until she turned the corner to where the stairs were before stepping onto the balcony.

White curtains brushed my cheek. I laid my hands on the stone top of the glass railing. Far off into the distance, between hills, sparked the lights of the city. While inside was hot and unsettling, being out here felt like I could finally take a cool, deep breath.

And curse the daylights out of Kenny Greenland.

Seriously, what is wrong with him?! I spent the entire afternoon dying my hair back to its natural colour, and so much time today getting my hair and makeup done, trying on dresses, trying to find heels that wouldn’t leave my feet sore after walking in them for a long time. And he just…

Tossed a bowl of tomato sauce on me.

That’s what it was. A toss. Not an accident or him “tripping”. That troll did it on purpose to get a rise out of me.

Because, of course, I am a plate of spaghetti. Wow, I never knew that. Just to be sure, maybe I should go and ask him to drop some giant meatballs on my head, too. You can never be too certain!

To think he’s the one whose image of the perfect girl I’d have to adhere to? Gosh.

When I first saw him, I thought, “Wow, what a handsome guy. So poised and quiet.” I felt shy and couldn’t look him in the face. Now, I could live with him keeping his mouth sewn up.

I sighed. At least out here, I could make all the faces I wanted without having to worry about my image. Like a fish face. Or a duck face.

“Do you mind if I join you?”

I froze and spun my head to see who it was. Then I relaxed. On the outside. Inside, I was still fuming. It was him.

“I can’t tell you where you can’t go in your own house, right?” A sickeningly sweet smile graced my lips. “Did you come to use the bathroom?”

“No, I came here for you,” he replied.

My eyes squinted as he stood beside me, trying to locate some hint of dishonesty coming from him. “Caroline told me you were here.”

“Oh, I see.”

We stood in silence. For a moment it was calm. I wondered if he decided to apologize for his attitude during dinner. If that’s what it was, I was prepared to accept it wholeheartedly.

Kenny cleared his throat and I gazed at him. He looked at me. Those eyes, they were prettier in the dark, as weird as that sounded.

“Who are you?” He asked. My eyelids blinked several times in confusion.

“Huh?”

“Your real identity. You can tell me. How much is he paying you?”

“Excuse me?” I turned fully with my hands resting on my hips. He had an arrogant smirk on his full lips that I wanted to punch.

Kenny leaned back against the railing. “Sylvester. No matter how much he’s paying you, I can top that. How does 20 million sound? All you have to do is go downstairs and admit to it. Cold, hard cash. That should be easy to do for 20 million dollars, right?”

I laughed. A slow, low, and hard-ass laugh. Grabbing Kenny’s right arm, I pulled him closer to me. He and I were only a short distance apart. No longer smirking, he stared down at me. I could tell he was waiting to see what I would do. That glint in his soft eyes appeared so mischievous as if Kenny truly believed he was in no real danger.

As for me, I presented myself to him with a glowing, glossed smile. Our noses close enough to make contact. My gaze never leaving his.

“Aw, is that what you’re worried about, darling?” I said. “At first I thought ‘oh, maybe he just hates me or thinks I’m ugly’. I mean, what other reason would there be for pretending to trip and ruining such an expensive dress?”

He opened his mouth to speak but I continued before he could.

“We don’t love each other, but there’s no reason to act suspicious of me. Kenny, I agreed to the marriage because I figured it would please my grandfather. And 20 million dollars? Really? There’s no amount that would pay better than to see the joyous expression on my grandfather’s face. Honestly, I’m offended you thought i could be bought.”

“Will 30 million do then?” There it was again, that annoying smirk on his face. However, I wouldn’t let him throw me off.

I invaded his space until I had him against the wall.

Kenny’s eyebrows shut up with interest. “Be careful what you’re doing there, Copper.”

In response, I slammed my hand onto the wall next to his head. The way his eyes widened made me wish I could take a picture.

“Kenny, honey,” my head tilted, smile still plastered on my mouth. “If only you knew how pretty you look when you’re like this.”

He frowned, I can’t imagine why. A compliment is a compliment even if it’s coming from a girl ten inches shorter than you.

His gaze shifted to my lips. Then he licked his. Maybe I read him wrong. That look in his gaze felt like he was boring into my body.

I let him go, disguising my disturbed state as impatience. “Everyone is probably wondering where we are. Walk me downstairs, would you honey?”