11

After I had made a good impression on some bigwigs thanks to my love of art, I stood at one of the tables and calmed down a bit from the whole chaos.

While it felt good to talk about a passion, I had to be careful with my words and standing up straight as people's names rattled through my mind.

Here, alone at the table, I had a moment of downtime and watched a couple of couples dance before my gaze fell on Rian, who was standing further away with some men. He seemed more exuberant than before. Maybe he was just so cold in the car because he was a bit nervous himself and didn't want to show it... who knows...

"Good evening," suddenly a gentleman greeted me who looked much older than me, but still incredibly attractive. He had a full dark beard, black hair slicked back and a smart black suit.

"Good evening," I greeted him as well and somehow he seemed familiar to me, probably from the many pictures of Yvonne, but I just couldn't think of his name.

"What's life like next to a man like that?" he suddenly asked me a private question and I remembered Rian's words about not having personal conversations.

I looked down nervously and bit my lower lip uncertainly.

"It's incredibly beautiful," I forced out after a while and unexpectedly felt his hand on my back, making me shiver.

"Don't fall in love, Keeva, don't fall in love," he whispered in my ear in a menacing voice, sending an extremely uncomfortable feeling deep into my stomach. "My son's only priority should be power and influence, not an ordinary gypsy."

I looked at him in bewilderment and inwardly slapped myself for not having recognized him immediately, while all facial features probably slipped away from me at that moment.

Cathal Gallagher...

The most influential man in and around Dublin, but still I didn't want to let him offend me and my family like that here. I was too proud for that, even though my hands were already shaking slightly from the intense way he was looking at me.

"Your son should decide for himself what his priorities are," I said confidently and bravely looked up at him. "And it's called Mrs. Gallagher."

His eyes darkened and it was definitely clear from whom Rian had inherited the talent of appearing emotes and callous, but the eyes differed, because in his sky-blue ones I recognized Odran more...

"As I can see, you've already met," Rian interrupted our hostile exchange of looks and I quickly put on a fake smile, just like Cathal, so as not to unsettle Rian.

"Yes, she's really adorable," his father said with a smile and then leaned a little further to Rian to whisper something in his ear.

Was he kidding me?

"Of course," Rian replied and Cathal briefly turned to me again.

"Have a nice evening, Mrs. Gallagher," he raised his glass and I wanted to smack his fake, dirty grin off his face.

I kept my expression unperturbed and just nodded while Rian looked at me, irritated by my coldness, but I didn't care.

His father disappeared and when we were finally alone again, I stood close to his side to look up at him questioningly.

"What did he whisper in your ear?" I asked, but Rian just frowned, as if it were completely absurd that I even asked.

"Business. I have to come back to the office later," he explained and when I wanted to look away again, he looked at me questioningly. "Why do you ask? Is something wrong?"

Yes! Your arrogant father made fun of my heritage!

"No, everything okay," I replied firmly and at the same time thought about why he should still come to the office at night? Were there such important things that couldn't wait until tomorrow?

Before I could completely lose myself in the whirlpool of all these questions, I carefully reached out with my hand to Rians, whose gaze immediately met mine.

"I want to dance," I whispered, looking into his eyes while our fingers slowly intertwined, making me feel good despite the shitty situation.

He didn't say anything, just let his eyes roam briefly over our hands before he looked back at me and unexpectedly gave me a soft kiss on my cheek.

His lips felt so soft and I felt the heat they left on my skin, but I couldn't enjoy the feeling for a long time because he gently pulled me behind him to the dance floor, where other couples were dancing elegantly besides us.

A quiet, really beautiful song was played and when he came to stand in front of me, I looked up shyly at him and wrapped my arms around his neck while he put his hands on my waist and slowly started to lean towards me and let it swing...

Our eyes locked and I kept thinking about why he was so changeable. It felt like he took three steps back for every step I took towards him. That made me feel more and more that he was unattainable for me...

"You okay?" he asked and I just nodded before snuggling closer to him. I immediately felt his muscles tighten as I laid my head sideways against his chest as if he were about to engage in a fight, but then as he placed his hands more firmly on my hips, pulling me even closer, thought I don't think about it anymore.

I closed my eyes listening to his heart beating and ignoring everything else around us. The voices became quieter, even the music disappeared, only he remained, how he touched me, how he moved with me in a slow rhythm and how calmingly he breathed in and out...

Caught in this beautiful moment, totally mesmerized, I started stroking my fingers down the back of his neck and then, feeling the goosebumps my touch gave him there, I pulled my head from his chest to looking up at him curiously.

He looked at me intently and took a hand from my back to place it tenderly on my cheek, which made my pulse quicken in an instant.

"Stunning," he breathed close to my ear and I just looked at him questioningly, causing him to wear a fleeting grin that immediately enchanted me again. "You look stunning, that's what I wanted to tell you."

My heart skipped with joy and I felt the heat rush into my cheeks as a contented smile spread across my lips.

"Thank you," I said softly and wanted to kiss him at that moment, I wanted nothing more, but when I stood on my tiptoes and was about to satisfy my longing, someone next to us cleared his throat and snatched me away hence that magical moment.

Stupid...

"I would have to kidnap my son for today," his father smiled and Rian immediately broke away from me, leaving a void behind that I couldn't really grasp at first. I got freezing cold without his hands on my body and somehow felt slightly lost now that he wasn't guiding me anymore.

"See you tomorrow," he said shortly and pressed a kiss on my hand to disappear out of the room ahead of his father.

It wasn't a second before the first tears welled up in my eyes and I realized that his father must have done it on purpose. It wasn't until I saw John running in where Rian had disappeared that I moved again and hurried towards him.

"I'll drive her home," he said, and I quickly followed him to the car because I couldn't hold back my tears much longer.

***

I sat alone in the back seat of the car, crying bitterly, looking out into the darkness.

I felt totally stupid. Why was I getting my hopes up for something that wasn't there anyway... Or maybe it was there but he just wouldn't let it and then after such a beautiful dance he leaves me like some piece of dirt.. .

"What a stupid asshole," I pressed my lips angrily while glancing in the rearview mirror, where I met John's gaze, who also seemed kind of sad. He probably felt sorry for the stupid, naive gypsy.

I was beginning to understand even Pirina... I'd love to storm into the office and fiddle around with a gun...

When we finally got to the villa, I hurriedly got out and took a deep breath of the fresh, cool sea air, wiping my tears as I did so. Nobody had to know how much it hurt me. At least not his brothers.

"Good night Mrs-"

"Yeah!" I whispered to John and hurriedly ran into the house, where Senan was sitting at the dining table with Odran. They were playing some card game and I was startled when Nero ran towards me.

"Hey sweetheart," I greeted him with a smile and he excitedly licked my hands when I wanted to pet him. Couldn't Rian just be like that to me?

"Where's Rian?" Senan wanted to know and I just shook my head while Odran also turned to me.

"Business," I mumbled and Odran immediately got up to take his cell phone and run to the stairs, which he used to disappear upstairs.

"What else?" came from Senan, who gave me an encouraging smile, but I just walked past him to the patio door and angrily tore it open.

"Come on, Nero," I called him and then ran down the stairs after him.

I just wanted some rest and I would have liked to have packed my things and gone home.

Of course it was exaggerated of me to feel such emotions after such a short time about such petty things, but that's just how I was and there was nothing I could do about the chaos in my head.

When I got to the beach, I took off my ballet flats, lifted my dress slightly and followed Nero to the water to stand knee-deep in the sea.

I enjoyed this cold, which took over me completely, closed my eyes and listened to the sound of the waves while my mind slowly calmed down again.

"Keva?"

I hesitantly opened my eyes and looked next to me at Senan, who looked at me sympathetically and was also standing barefoot in the water.

"What happened?" he demanded and I didn't know why, but I took a deep breath and really felt the need to open myself up to someone, even if that someone was his brother.

"Rian just left me at this gala after he-"

I undercut myself and bit my lip. It suddenly occurred to me that Cathan was his father too and it certainly wouldn't help to talk bad about him.

"After what?" he asked and I just shook my head while trying to hold back tears.

"Not so important."

There was a brief silence and he, like me, looked out at the Black Sea in silence.

As my feet slowly but surely threatened to freeze, I padded back to the beach, breathing heavily, and just sat down on the sand, exhausted.

Senan followed me and sat close to me where he lit a cigarette and wanted to hand me one, but I politely declined.

"You must have met Cathan," he then said into the silence and I looked at him questioningly as he drew on the cigarette with relish and slowly blew out the smoke.

"What makes you think that?"

He rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his brown hair several times before looking back at me.

"Because he's the only one who could make Rian leave you there alone."

He smiled wryly and drew on the cigarette again.

"As if he's interested in leaving me alone," I breathed with a heavy heart, but he immediately contradicted my thoughts.

"Of course he cares. I've known him most of my life and I can tell he cares about you, but-"

He paused for a moment and looked out to sea again.

"But what?"

"Rian was raised absolutely the way Cathan wanted it. It was clear pretty early on that Odran didn't really have the control and patience to take over the business, so Rian had to go for it and he'd been drummed his whole life that money was the world reigns. Nothing is more important to Cathan than building his empire, and I'm sure it's a thorn in his side that you're here. After all, Rian should never really have a woman by his side as long as our father has our way."

He flicked his cigarette away, then got up off the sand and stretched as I watched him thoughtfully.

With a father so obsessed with power, it was hardly surprising that Rian was so devoted to him.

"Don't worry. If you can get Jake's hand blown off with a harmless dance, then you'll also be able to do something completely different. It's all a matter of time," he smiled encouragingly and wanted to shake my hand, but I refused.

"I'll stay a little longer," I gave him to understand and pulled my knees to my body to rest my head on them.

"Should I take Nero in with me?"

"You're welcome to do it," I whispered, looking up at him again. "And thank you."

He disappeared behind me along the sand and I heard him whistle for Nero before complete silence returned and I gave myself up to my thoughts.

If a sick mother could get a daughter to marry a complete stranger mafia guy, what could a man like Cathan get his son to do?

Probably too much and also not to let me get close to you...

When I was snapped out of my thoughts again by footsteps behind me and I was sure that it was Senan who still had something to say, I turned around curiously and opened my eyes in disbelief.