Page 24 of The Pakhan's Forced Bride
What does it matter at the end of the day? I’m only here as some kind of revenge plot against my brother. Ardalion will send me packing as soon as his plan is fulfilled. Until then, I’m just some kind of toy to him. A temporary amusement.
I can’t believe I was stupid enough to think it was anything else.
Parking on a busy main street in LA, a few blocks from the restaurant, I climb out of the car and take several deep breaths. This place is incredible. Let me focus on that instead of other things. I’m out. I’m exploring, and nothing else matters.
The street is busy with people moving to and fro. Shopping, drinking coffee, laughing, and enjoying the beautiful day.
As I walk along the sidewalks and browse inside the windows of storefronts, my mood lightens. Not enough to ignore that anger, but I am having fun, so for now it doesn’t matter.
In one of the stores, I find a gorgeous black dress, short and tight, and while it might upset a number of the blind dates I went on, I love it for me. I purchased it along with a glittering gold chain. Ardalion might be annoyed to find out that I borrowed his credit card, but he shouldn’t have left his wallet on the kitchen counter—and he shouldn’t have kidnapped me.
All the way to the restaurant, I take my time, enjoying the boutique stores, smiling at people, stopping to watch a man drinking coffee with his beautiful border collie sitting happily at his side, staring up at him as though he is her entire world. I love this. I feel free. Being out of that mansion is exactly what I needed.
But my stomach is starting to protest from hunger, and the restaurant is just around the corner. I hurry on, eager to get there and enjoy the food.
It’s on the pier, right at the edge of the ocean. I can smell the sea and hear a warm bubble of voices coming from the entrance.
When I step inside, a young girl with a bright smile welcomes me in and takes me to a table on the outside deck in the bright sunshine. It’s perfect. I wish I could share this moment with someone, but at the same time, I feel bold being here alone. From here, I can see everyone and everything that’s going on around me. To my left, there is a stretch of beach and people playing in the shallow water. Deeper out, past thebreakers, there is a line of surfers waiting to catch the next good wave. The ocean is glittering blue to match the sky, and there isn’t even a breath of wind.
The perfect day.
Yet, I’m still annoyed.
“Welcome to the Moonlight Pier Restaurant. Can I get you something to drink?” Another pretty girl asks me, this one in a blue and gray waitress uniform.
“I’d love a rock shandy, please.”
“Is it your first time here? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before,” she smiles.
“I’m from Las Vegas. I’ve never been to LA before,” I grin.
“Welcome. You’re going to love it. You chose the best place for your trip.”
“Thanks,” I nod, agreeing with her. It’s not like I can explain to her that it isn’t a vacation and that I was kidnapped and forced to marry a crime boss. I giggle at the thought of how she’d react. She’d probably think I was mad. She tilts her head to the side, trying to figure out what I’m laughing at.
Eventually, she gives up and steps away from the table.
“I’ll have that rock shandy with you in a minute. Take your time to look at the menu, but if you want any recommendations, the crab and sirloin platter is a popular favorite. It’s the dish that featured in a recent article about this place.” She sounds proud.
“I read that article. I’ll take your suggestion and go with the platter.”
That was an easy choice. I remember how good it looked in the photo they had in the magazine.
The waitress hurries away, and I sit watching the world around me, loving every moment of it, until—
“Have you ordered? Sorry, I took so long to get here.” Ardalion grins at me as he sits down at my table.
What the hell?
“How did you know I was here?” I huff, annoyed by his face because all I can think about is stupid Lydia, the one and only.
“I know everything, little bunny.” He waves his hand in the air to call the waitress, and she comes skipping back to the table.
“I’ll have whatever she’s having,” he says.
“Rock shandy and the crab and sirloin platter?” the waitress double-checks as her eyes roam over Ardalion.
“Sounds like exactly what I want, yes, thanks.” His voice is smooth and charming. It makes me want to gag. I can’t believe I fell for that charm.
