Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 67510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“Yes. That was my father’s motto for a long time.”
“Your dad is a legend. He’d never fuck over your stepmom. Family means everything to him.”
“Your family cares about you.”
“My family cares about appearances. Going home to me means I’m in a suit the entire time because that’s how the Aires men are made.”
My heart broke for him. “Your mom… she doesn’t know?”
“I’m not sure. It’s not something we discuss when the family gets together for holidays, summers, funerals… things like that.”
“Is that why you’ve always thrown yourself into acting? You work as much as I do.”
“Idle hands are never good for anyone.”
“Well, what about your dad? Does he know that you do?”
“Do you think it’d make a difference if he did?”
“I’d hope so.”
“Here’s one thing you need to know about my father, Bailey. He doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself and his legacy.”
“I guess that’s why you rebelled?”
“Nah.” That was all it took for him to lean in and claim my mouth once again, and I knew it was his way of changing the subject.
But that didn’t stop my desire to know more about him.
Even if it’d continue to break my heart for him.
This was the perfect moment to show him how much he meant to me. I turned around, placing my back to his chest, and grabbed my cell phone. He wrapped his arms around my neck while looking up at the camera with his signature smile that made me weak in the knees.
I snapped a quick picture of us and instantly uploaded it onto my social media with the caption…
Hard launch.
chapter twenty-four
Aires
“Hello.” I answered my mother’s call, leaning against the balcony railing in the house we’d been staying at.
We only had two weeks left for the movie to wrap up, so Bailey and I tried to spend every second we could together when we weren’t on set. We didn’t have to hide our relationship and were making up for lost time. I guess you could say we’d been playing house this whole time, and it would soon end.
It was easy to pretend this wouldn’t affect us when we weren’t in the States and away from everything right now since we were on a remote location shooting. Soon, reality would set in and make its voice heard, but I wasn’t looking forward to it.
Especially when it came to her team. They weren’t going to let this go, and it was only a matter of time before they declared war. They were just letting Bailey think she had control for a minute since she threatened to fire them when it came to her co-starring with me. They knew she wasn’t easily manipulated by them in reference to me, and I firmly believed they were waiting too.
We were all playing chess, and she basically checkmated them with her social media post of us, which broke the internet. In less than twenty-four hours, she got a hundred million likes on her picture of us. The second we touched ground in the States after the movie wrapped, we were both aware it would be pure and utter mayhem.
Right now, it was easier to just live in the bubble we created.
“Darling,” Mom greeted in a familiar tone of wanting something from me. “How are you?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m good. How are you?”
“Not so great. I have some bad news to share with you.”
“What’s going on?”
“Your grandfather passed away last night, and your father is beside himself.”
My eyes widened. I wasn’t entirely sure how to react or feel about it. “My condolences, Mom.”
“It would mean so much to your father if you could attend the funeral, Nicholas.”
“I’m in Australia filming a movie. I don’t thin—”
“Aires, what will the press think if his oldest son isn’t here for him in his time of need?”
“It’d be such a travesty.”
“Nicholas Aires III, don’t you dare take that tone with me. I’m sure the director will understand. We’ll send the plane for you. It won’t be a problem. Plus, your grandfather’s lawyer will be reading his will, and it will be better if you’re in attendance for that.”
She wasn’t going to give up until I gave in. It was always her MO. “When and where is it?”
“In our summer home in England, darling. Where else would it be? You know how much your grandfather loved that estate. It was his favorite.”
I used to love that property too, but now it contained bad memories, and I didn’t care for visiting it much. Unless I was forced to in situations like these. It’d been a while since we all gathered for a funeral.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Great. I’ll call the pilot. See you soon, darling.” She hung up, and I shook my head, throwing my cell phone onto the lounger beside me.
“Aires,” Bailey announced, walking into the bedroom only wearing my hoodie.