Chapter 86: WEDDING BELLS OF MALLORCA

TRISTAN

I woke up this morning to an empty space on both sides, and realized that Laura had left in the middle of the night.

Ever since then, even while I washed in the shower, I looked forward to seeing her again. Maybe touching her again. Maybe sneaking a moment to ourselves in the middle of the shoot?

I just wanted her. More of her. I thought having her one more time would satiate the desire that burned inside me. But it only served as fuel, spiraling the desire to a place of hazardous danger.

It wasn’t until I stepped out in a fresh T-shirt and tailored pants that Peter told me about the dinner I had missed.

Fuck. I didn’t regret missing it, anyway. I had something far better and succulent, something that drove my senses wild.

“What’s the programme for today?”

Peter had read from the tablet in his hand. “There’s a jean shoot today. Ms. Hayes is out already.”

At the mention of Laura, my cock had twitched around in remembrance of how deep it was buried inside her last night.

I could still taste her on my tongue and deep in my throat. I could taste her on my skin. I could smell her on me. I smelt her on my sheets before I left my hotel room.

She was everywhere, rooted deep in my senses.

It became worse when I went out there and saw her, practically glowing as she smiled at something her assistant said.

Fuck. This was going to be the kind of problem I enjoyed handling.

The same way I enjoyed handling her.

“Mr. Pierce, are you listening?” Peter’s voice pierced through my thoughts, and I reluctantly tore my gaze away from Laura.

“What did you say?”

“You have a couple of missed calls from your fiancee, and Mr. Steele.”

My jaw hardened. “What is it about?”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t reach you last night.” Right. That’s because I’d been too busy fucking the woman of my dreams.

I was about to say I’d give them a call back at a convenient time, but decided against it.

“Apparently, a rumor’s been flying about since yesterday.”

My brows pulled into a frown. “I have no business with rumours, Peter.”

“But this one concerns you. They’re saying you’re getting married today.”

My jaw dropped in shock. “What?”

He was about to emphasize when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and back at me.

“Who is it?”

“Ms. Steele.”

Fucking hell. Could she give me a moment to breathe?

“Take it,” I said with a small nod.

Then he took the call. “Ms. Steele.”

I watched his face, every reaction, every line, until he was done with the call. And I could just tell what to expect. “What does she want?”

Peter looked confused as hell, and it ticked me off so bad, because I wasn’t sure what to expect.

“Peter, are you going to talk to me?”

“Actually, she said you should get on a plane back to New York, that your wedding is…today?”

I stared at him for a long moment, confused as well. Until it clicked.

The bitch had gone ahead to fix a date for our wedding. Was that it? Would she do something that absurd?

“Fucking hell,” I cursed under my breath, snatching up my phone and dialing her number.

She picked up on the third ring, and her flaky voice filled the speaker. “Tristan, darling.”

“I need to know what the fuck is going on,” I gritted.

“What do you mean?” she piped with that fake innocence in her tone. “We’re getting married. Today.”

“And when did I discuss such with you?”

“Well, you did say you were washing your hands off every sort of preparation. You left everything to me, so this is me taking responsibility!”

I heaved a deep sigh and ran my fingers over my hair. “Madison, are you insane?”

“Maybe I am, and that would be your fault. You make me insane, Tristan. You better get off the phone and fly back home. Daddy’s gonna start throwing tantrums soon. We’re getting married in Mallorca. The trip with your little miss model is over.”

The line bleeped dead in my ear before I even got the opportunity to rant. She was fucking infuriating. A wedding in Mallorca? All of a sudden?

It was ridiculous. It was unbelievable—even though it had danced in my face all this time.

What about the night I shared with Laura? What about the many nights we were yet to share? What would happen to this passion that burned between us?

What would she think if she heard I was getting married just after fucking her? Surely…she would feel betrayed again. She would feel used.

And that was the last thing I wanted Laura to feel now.

This wedding could not happen now. In fact… maybe it shouldn’t happen again.

“Get the jet ready. I’m heading back to New York.”

Peter looked taken aback. “What about the shoot? Do we just wrap up?”

I turned on my heels and started up the stairs. “They’ll carry on without me. You’ll stay here and make sure things run smoothly.”

I hurried back to my room and quickly put my stuff together in a duffel bag.

Fuck. I should have seen Laura before leaving, but for some reason…I felt like I could not face her now.

I needed to right a few wrongs before anything, because one thing was certain now that I’d had a taste of her again.

I couldn’t let go of this woman. It would be my biggest regret, and I feared I’d end up beating myself over it for a long time.

So I went to the airfield without telling her and flew back to New York.

Surely, she’d be able to forgive if she finds out I went back to save her from a severe heartbreak.

My penthouse was unrecognizable when I arrived.

The usually serene space was a beehive, buzzing with people of different colors and sizes. People I’d never seen before, a few I’d come across once or twice. Maybe three times.

As I tried to squeeze past them in my own house, I wondered why they were packed here…if this was a hallucination of some sorts.

Madison was stumbling out of the kitchen in high heels and a little too much make-up, carrying a tray of drinks.

“Madison! Hey!” I called, trying to get heard over the din.

She heard me, and shot me one of her mischievous smiles. “Darling! You’re home!” She handed the trays to one of the uniformed staff nearby and hurtled herself over to me.

“I was wondering when you’d get home,” she said as she slipped her arms around my neck, grinning. “Our guests are here.”

Eyes blazing hot, I peeled up her arms and shoved her back. “Can you tell me what the hell is going on here?”