The Temporary Boyfriend

Chapter 16: Expensive gift

Mark’s hand moved to the back of her neck. He tangled his fingers in her hair and pulled her closer.

​In her past life, Lyvana would have thought this was romantic. Now, she felt sick. When he forced his tongue into her mouth, she almost gagged. She held her breath, praying for someone to walk in.

​The sound of footsteps approaching forced Mark to pull away. Although his grip on her neck lingered for a second too long, before his hand dropped.

Mark cleared his throat, adjusting his blazer with a casual flick of his shoulders.

"I am sorry to interrupt," the maid whispered, looking at the floor. "I was instructed to inform you that the table is set."

"Thank you, Maria," Lyvana said quickly.

​Mark turned to her and brushed a hair from her face. Lyvana wanted to scream, but she stayed still.

"You need to behave," he said quietly. Then he stepped back. "Now, tell me. Why are you avoiding me? And where exactly did you disappear to last night?"

"I’m not avoiding you, Mark."

"Aren’t you?" He tilted his head. "Let’s look at the facts, Liv. You change your wardrobe and suddenly you won’t let me touch you. And then there’s this attitude of yours." ƒreewebɳovel.com

"What? What attitude?" Lyvana asked.

"This sudden odd behavior," he whispered, leaning in close again. "It doesn’t suit you. You’re acting like a woman with secrets, and we both know you shouldn’t be keeping anything from me. We just got engaged for fuck’s sake."

"I was meeting with a few designers for Aurora," Lyvana said calmly.

Mark let out a short laugh. "I told you not to worry your pretty little head about the company."

"Aurora is still my company," she said evenly. "I only wanted to be informed."

Mark leaned closer. "Being informed is one thing. Acting behind my back is another."

Before Lyvana could respond, footsteps echoed down the hall. It was Damon, her father.

"There you are," he said smiling politely at Mark. "Dinner’s been waiting."

....

"I was reading the polls this morning, Mark," Damon said. "The seat is wide open. It’s begging for someone like you. A man with a clean record and a strong, traditional family behind him."

Isobel nodded eagerly. "The people want someone they can trust. Someone steady. Just imagine it — Senator and Mrs. Vaughn. It sounds perfect."

Lyvana’s fork scraped against her plate with a loud screech, making the others turn to look at her.

"Um, sorry," she murmured.

In her previous life, she remembered how she had reached out to squeeze his hand, beaming with pride at the thought of his success.

But this life was different.

Senators were chosen by the people, and Mark knew exactly how to charm a crowd. Still, she knew the truth behind his ambition. The money he planned to use — the so-called campaign funds — came from her mother’s company.

The company she had signed over to him. And the one he immediately sold without a second thought.

"You’d have our full support, of course," Lady Glowen promised. "Whatever the campaign needs. Connections, funds, you only have to ask."

Lyvana’s grip on her wine glass tightened until her knuckles turned white.

The tension was broken by Maria, who entered the room carrying a large box wrapped in lemon-colored silk. There was no name on the tag, only a wax seal with a sharp, elegant letter B.

Lyvana’s heart skipped when she saw it.

Blaireaux. A world-class designer brand.

"This just arrived for Miss Lyvana," Maria said.

"I didn’t order anything," Lyvana said, looking confused.

Her grandmother leaned forward, her interest piqued by the sheer quality of the packaging.

​"Well, don’t keep us in suspense, dear," her grandmother urged. "Open it."

​Lyvana cut the ribbon and opened the black box. Her mother gasped.

Inside was a stunning gown covered in silver swirls and expensive beads. It had a fitted top and a long skirt with a high slit on the left side. It was daring and beautiful. It looked like it cost a small fortune.

At the bottom of the box, hidden under the tissue paper, was a slim, brand-new black smartphone.

​Mark’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the expensive looking gown.

"Who sent that to you, Lyvana?"

"I... I’m not sure," Lyvana said. She pulled the tissue paper back over the phone to hide it, and put the gown back neatly. "Maybe it’s some kind of marketing gift from Blaireaux."

"A marketing gift?" Mark scoffed. "Blaireaux doesn’t market. And certainly not to a small fashion house. They’re a world-class brand."

"There’s no note," Damon added, checking the box. "Nothing at all. That’s strange."

Lyvana shrugged. "Then maybe it was a mistake."

But as her eyes drifted back to the dress, and the hidden phone, she knew Julian had sent it.

What she didn’t understand was how he knew she would be here tonight.

Isobel looked up from her phone, her face pale.

"This gown costs a quarter of a million," she said. "It’s a one-of-a-kind piece which was unveiled barely three hours ago."

The room went silent.

Lyvana felt her stomach drop.

Mark’s face turned pale before flushing red with anger.

"Marketing strategies and mistakes don’t cost two hundred and fifty thousand dollars," he said. "Someone sent this to you as a personal gift, Lyvana."

"Lyvana, darling," Lady Glowen said gently. "You should return it. If this truly was a mistake, it needs to be corrected at once."

"If it’s a mistake, we’ll call the brand tomorrow and have it picked up," Mark added.

"I... I’ll look into it tomorrow," Lyvana said closing the box.

When she got home that evening, she placed the box carefully in her closet. Emily was already asleep in her room. The house was quiet.

After she freshened up, the phone rang.

A private number flashed on the screen.

Lyvana hesitated for a moment, her thumb hovering over the answer button.

Finally, she swiped to pick it up.

"Hello?" she said cautiously.

"I hope you received my gift."