Royal Pain in the Ass (55 page)

“
How did I ruin his life?
”

“
You broke that boy.
 
There was once a time where I believed I could look past your tattoos and radical ideas,
”

“
Radical ideas?
 
Like what?
”

“Don
’
t interrupt, it
’
s not becoming of a lady, oh never mind, look who I
’
m talking to.
”

“
Excuse me?
”
I started, feeling the rage boiling.

“
I am going to ask you to refrain from such comments.
”
Xavier growled.
  “
We are all civilized adults, let us act like it.
”

“
Xavier, you and I are civilized, Juliet, on the other hand, is far from that.
”

“
Juliet, is far more civilized than you or your son.
”
Xavier growled.
 

“
Senator, your son has ruined his own life.
  He
’
s the one who chose to spiral down with drugs.
  He
’
s the one who chose to lead a piss poor excuse of a wannabe C
list band.
  He
’
s the one who tried to beat me to death.
 
Your son made these bad decisions, not me.
  It
’
s not my fault he is the way he is.
”

“
I will not tolerate you slandering my son
’
s name.
”

“I
’
m not slandering if I
’
m telling the truth.
”

“
Juliet, how much have you had to drink tonight?
”
Chase smirked.

“Not a drop,”

“
I find that hard to believe.
”

I turned to stare Senator Evans in the eye.
  “I
’
m so glad your name is Richard.
”

“
Why is that?
”

“
Because I can call you Dick in public.
”
I snapped and spun on my heel to storm off.
 
I got maybe ten steps when someone grabbed my upper arm and began dragging me off.

“
Who do you think you are?
”
Senator Evans sneered in my ear.
 
He dragged me off to a side room and slammed the door shut, locked it, and turned to me.
  “
What are you playing at?
”

“
What are you doing?
”

“
I want to know who you think you are.
 
You are embarrassing yourself and your future husband.
”

“
I will never marry your son.
”

“
You really think you can do better?
”

“
Yes, actually, I do.
”

“You
’
re an idiot.
”

“I
’
m an idiot?
 
For leaving him?
”

“Yes,”

“
Why would I stay?
 
He cheated on me and didn
’
t treat me the way I deserve to be treated.
”

“
Cheating really?
 
Is that such a big deal?
”

“
It is to me.
”

“
That
’
s part of being with an official man, actually.
  I
’
ve held countless affairs, Georgia knows of them and she
’
s still by my side.
”

“
That
’
s her choice, but I refuse to be with someone who thinks they can just use me.
”

I heard a pounding on the door.
  “
Senator, questions are being asked.
”

“I
’
ll be out in a moment,
”
Senator Evans shouted.
 
He turned back to me and he backed me into a corner.
  “
You go out there, and I don
’
t care what you say, but you will fix this and you will marry that boy.
”

“
This isn
’
t the dark ages, Senator.
 
I get to choose who I marry.
 
If I do get married, it will not be to Chase, but to someone who I love and who treats me the way I deserve to be treated.
 
You need to back up.
”

Senator Evans leaned down, inches from my face.
  “
Are you really challenging me, girl?
”

“
You going to hit me like your son?
”

I saw the fury cross his face and I think he seriously considered it.
 
I was in deep shit if he lost his temper.
 
I had seen the senator angry before, and I
’
d seen the damage he could do to his own, I had to hope he didn
’
t completely lose his temper.

“
Look, Senator, there are two ways this can go.
”

“
I agree, you go with the plan or I can make your life very miserable.
”

“
Juliet!
 
Are you in there?
 
Are you alright?
 
Juliet!
”
I heard a pounding on the door and Xavier
’
s voice.

“I
’
m in here Xavier!
”
I shouted back.
  “No, Senator.  I
’m sorry, I don’
t know what Chase told you, but I have no intention of ever getting back with him.
 
You can cover it up however you like, but I will not be bullied into a relationship, let alone a marriage, oh and if you try to cover it up by slandering me or my family
’
s name, I will correct you.
” 
I brushed past him and strode to the door.
  “
Unlock this door I start screaming.
”

“You little bitch.”

“
Been called worse.
 
Now open this damn door.
”

“
Not until you agree.
”

“Xavier!”
I shouted through the door.
  “
I think you need to call the police.
”

“You little bitch.”
I felt the sharp sting and the next thing I knew I was on the floor.
 
I was still dazed when I was lifted by the front of my dress.
  “
You are going to regret this.
” 
I was dropped to the floor, still dazed and dizzy when I heard his footsteps walking away.
 
A minute or so later, someone
’
s hand was in mine.

“
Juliet?
”

“Xavier?”

“
No, baby, it
’
s Chase.”

I snatched my hand back.
  “Don
’t touch me.
 
You or your family.
”
I tried to focus and managed.
 
I was surrounded by people.
  “
Where is Xavier?
”

“
We had him thrown out.
”

“
Why the hell would you do that, Chase?
”
I growled sitting up.

“
For trying to lock you in a room with him.
”

I stared at Chase and wanted nothing more than to hit him.
  “
Where the fuck is he?
”

“
It doesn
’
t matter, baby, I
’
m here.
”

“
Chase, we aren
’
t together, we never will be again.
 
Stay the hell away from me and out of my life.
”

I pulled out my phone and called him
. 

“I
’
m by the car.
”
Xavier answered before I could ask.

“
Cool, can you drive?
”

“Yes,”

“
Bring the car around.
”

“
I had a feeling. I
’
m right outside.
”

 
I spun on my heel and glared up at Senator Evans.
  “
With all due respect, senator, I
’
ve had enough of this degradation.
 
I will not allow you to lie any longer or make a mockery of me or my friends.
  I
’
d say it
’
s been a pleasure, but it hasn
’
t. 
Good evening.
”

“
I didn
’
t say you could leave.
”

“
I didn
’
t ask.”

I stormed out of the hall past all of the gaping faces and cameras right up to Xavier.
  “
You were right.
”
I whispered to him and kissed him.
 
Xavier seemed shocked, but wrapped his arms around me.

He pulled away and stared down at me for a long moment, the strangest look on his face.
 
I smiled up at him.
 
I turned around at the crowd who was watching.
  “
Senator Evans, have fun with this, because I
’
m totally pressing assault charges!
”
I saluted him and got in my car and Xavier and I drove off.

“
Juliet.
”

“Yes?”

“
He hit you?
”

“Yup. 
Smacked my happy little ass across the fucking room.
”
I growled.
 
Talking hurt, I knew my jaw was at least bruised.

“
I will kill him,
”

“
Senator Evans by the way, not Chase.
”

“
I don’
t care,
to hell with the lot of them.
 
You were serious, weren
’
t you?
 
About assault charges?
”

“Yup.”

“
So we
’
re going there now?
”

“Yup.”

Xavier sighed.
  “
Good.
” 
We sat in a strange silence for a long moment.
  “
Juliet,
”

“Yes.”

“
Have you had anything to drink tonight?
”

“No. 
Why?
”

“
Why did you kiss me?
”

“
What?
”

“You
’
ve never kissed me when you weren
’
t drinking or on hospital drugs.
”

I thought about it for a long moment.
  “
Really?
”

“Yes.”

“Oh my god, I
’
m a terrible person.
  I
’
m so sorry
,
Xavier.”

“
I was just curious why.
”

“
It just felt like a good idea.
  It
’
s what I really wanted to do in that moment so I did it.
”
I shrugged.
  “
Should I not have?
”