Read the previous chapter “Astor Gala” before this. I changed the second half of it when reuploading.
Also, Rein & Rowan literally had equal votes so I went with Reign Astor. And I changed the spelling too. Hope you guys like it!
———
Adeline’s Pov
We make our way to where Adam supposedly is but just then I spot Cyrus with a girl on his arm with their backs to us.
I knew Sasha was coming and I really wanted to meet her but it felt weird going up to them myself since we haven't even talked once. I would’ve preferred if Cyrus took me to introduce to her rather than me intruding on their private moment.
Just when I dropped the idea and was about to ignore them, I saw Kaito and Ewan were standing there too. It can't be that awkward if I have those two there as well.
“Do you think we should go meet Sasha?” I ask Altas who made a face at my words.
“If you want to. I'm not really a fan of her.”
“But she isn't bad, right?” I just wanted to be sure.
He thought for a second. “She has a lot of attitude.”
That doesn't particularly makes it clear if she is bad or not because as much as I know him, Altas would consider anyone rude who talks back to him.
“Let's give it a shot. I gotta know my sister-in-law.”
Altas wasn't happy with the suggestion but did what I wanted and with the slowest stride —like he was delaying it for as long as possible— we managed to reach them.
“Cyrus.” I called and four pairs of eyes moved to us.
“Adeline.” With his free arm he tugged me forward so I wasn't standing behind them.
Sasha looked at me not blinking but her gaze wasn't harsh. Kaito and Ewan remained silent watching the scene. They're standing at just the right amount of distance and I can already guess it's because Ewan doesn't like PDA. But the other couple here are glued to each other. Cyrus has his arm around her waist while Sasha's opposite hand rests a little under his chest.
Both are wearing black. Cyrus has a tux on like the rest of my brothers while Sasha's wearing a mini dress —that hugs her in all the right places with a square neck that beautifully sits on her chest— which perfectly suits her curvy body.
“You must be Adeline.” She says. Her voice isn't sweet neither were her expressions but I don't know if that's intentional. “I'm Sasha. Your brother’s fiance.”
She forwards her hand and I take it. Unlike what I would've thought since she's the princess of her Mafia, her hands wasn't soft. It was hard like she trained a lot which may be true considering the muscles on her arm.
“Nice to meet you.” I didn't know what else to say.
If it's this uncomfortable right now, it would've been even more awkward if we had talked for the first time on call when Cyrus came back from his trip.
We had decided to facetime her the next morning but it didn't go as planned since my brothers found out about my pregnancy that day.
“Nice to meet you too, Adeline.” She replies formally.
I don't know if she's purposely keeping her distance from me or if she doesn't like socializing.
Next to me Cyrus chuckles all of a sudden and I look at him trying his best to not burst out laughing.
“Sasha, relax. I was kidding. You can talk to her, she doesn't hate you.” He tells her letting out a small laugh, trying his best to not attract attention.
“You little bitch!” Sasha slams her fist in his side, making him massage the area. She turns to me, sighing. “Gosh! This stupid brother of yours told me you hate people and socializing so I should keep it to a few sentences.”
It was now my turn to hit my dear brother. “Why'd you make it awkward for us?”
“Can you two stop hitting me?” He chuckles, still amused by the situation.
“And here I thought she was being an ass to my sister.” Ewan commented.
Sasha rolled her eyes and came towards me. “You know I told Cyrus to bring you to London so we could meet but this ass,” She hits my brother again to emphasize her point. “Didn't. I would’ve come to meet you myself but I had school, I still do but it's compulsory that I be here.”
I sigh with relief as I finally start to feel at ease again. I'm glad my brother’s fiance doesn't hate me. And I'm even more happy that she was excited to meet me.
“He could’ve atleast let me talk to you on the phone and when that didn't happen either, I thought he didn't want to introduce you to me and when I asked him today, he said you don't like me because the twins convinced you I'm a bitch.” She laughed.
“Well, I don't have good brothers so anything's a possibility. From some manipulating my opinion to other telling people I don't like them.” I fake glare at Altas then Cyrus.
“I agree. You really don't have good brothers.”
“Hey!” Altas says offended. “Don’t count me in. I'm not that bad.”
“Right, you're the worst.”
“Whatever.” He grumbled taking a drink from the tray.
“So…You like it here? In Texas.” She asks. The conversation feels easier now.
“Obviously I do. I never imagined I'd be living in a mansion.” I joke.
“It's very assuring to know that the only thing our sister likes here is the house.” Ewan says as Kaito finally cuts the call he’s been on since the time I came here.
“Sorry, the new intern was having a hard time locating the stuff.” He tells his boyfriend then turns to me. “Woah, kiddo. You look really cute.”
As usual my cheeks heat up at the words. I love compliments and I wanted them now more than ever since I had put so much effort in looking good.
“I agree. You look like a little girl version of Julian.” Sasha comments.
I don't know if I want to look like a guy but I know she meant it as a compliment so I thank both of them.
———
Adam's Pοv
It's been twenty minutes since Adeline texted me they're coming here but they still haven't. I won't be surprised if they got lost because this hall is fucking huge but my twin has been here many times, he better know how to locate himself.
I decide to get another drink before she gets back but halt when I see the heir coming my way. I planned on ignoring him but the smug fucker doesn't care how much I hate him.
If anyone thinks we're narcissists, they haven't met Reign Astor yet.
He carries himself with such an attitude as if he owns the whole damn world. He thinks everyone is the dirt under his shoes and doesn't deserve his respect.
The son of great Ethan Astor is the definition of a brat. And his father has done everything to spoil him limitlessly.
He's always gotten what he wants no matter how stupid or dangerous it could be.
He smirks and stops right in front of me. "Adam. Thought you weren't coming."
He knows I can't openly disrespect him since he's the future leader of our Mafia so he loves to rub the fact in my face.
He never lets go of any opportunity to say something which triggers our ego.
I've mentioned it a few times in our family meetings that we should betray the Astors and take over the Mafia but they have too many loyal powers behind them.
Astors have been ruling over North America for six decades and they have a strong hold in each and every country that's under their control.
Even in United States. Dad was only given the authority of it because he was capable of it, he earned that position by showing how ruthless and trustworthy he was.
"Why wouldn't I? The famous Astor Gala, wouldn't miss it for anything." I reply.
If I could, I would be anywhere else in the world. Attending the Gala is obligatory for all the men of the Mafia.
Since fourteen is the initiation age, it's considered equivalent to being an adult and every male over that is supposed to be present.
Females however are not obligated to be present unless they're the wives, in that case they accompany them.
However daughters are usually only brought here to show them off and get a good match.
Some joke and call the Gala a ‘cupid’.
Others call it ‘yearly auditing’ since rewards and punishments are served for every action of each country the whole year.
"You could miss it for a million things. Starting with improving your aim at the kill. Or help your twin suck less at basketball. Or you could make me your famous knitted gloves. Do you want me to list out more?"
I hate that he knows exactly the things that flares me up.
Since he turned fourteen and got induced last year he's been training with us occasionally. And each time he makes it a competition because that gets him off.
His wins against us fuels his ego and gives him more reasons to be up at our asses.
If that wasn't enough he's taken Altas' position as the point guard on the team in just a year of starting high school.
And the last and certainly the most horrible piece of information he knows about me is that I can knit. And he uses that to remind me how much of a grandma I am in his eyes.
If I could I would love to land a few punches on his pretty boy face that he's so proud of.
"I'd rather not hear your attempts at small talk." I chuckle to make it seem like a lighthearted conversation but we both know it isn't.
He raise an eyebrow at me shaking his head with a knowing grin. He replaced his previous glass with a new one, emptying it in one go.
"Why don't you have a drink to loosen up? You look like you're gonna kill a few people before leaving." He suggested handing me a glass of champagne off the tray.
"Isn't that the best approach? You can't go wrong with a kill." I took the offered drink.
"The killer and the kill needs an identity before I tell you what could go wrong in each case."
Before I could reply I saw his eyes shift behind me. Reign isn't the type of person who'd let his focus off anyone as long as he's invested in the conversation.
He simply doesn't bother giving anyone his attention as long as he doesn't want to.
And he never gets bored arguing with me so the other possibility could only be that he's found something more interesting than his ego-satisfying useless argument with me.
I turn around and nearly froze following his line of sight. He's looking directly at Adeline. My sister.
I don't even wanna think of the reason behind it because it's already horrible.
Addy on the other hand is completely oblivious to his gaze as she points towards Ewan as Altas laughs at whatever she said to him about our brother.
When they reach us they finally turn towards me and Altas stiffens seeing the asshole standing right in front of us.
If he had noticed him earlier he'd undoubtedly taken her somewhere else.
"Reign." Altas nods to him.
Adeline's texting someone —most possibly Josh because that's who she texts all the bloody day— and doesn't look up.
"I must say you have great timing, Altas. Your brother and I were just discussing your basketball skills." Reign smirk at him before he stretches his lips into a polite smile and tips his chin towards Adeline. "And who might this be?”
She finally looks up and gives him a small smile. "Adeline Storm."
His face drops in an instant and I love the sight every bit. He's never looked puzzled and I love the crack in his expressions.
But the next second he brings back his signature smile —one that he uses on the girls in our school. I'd love to wipe it off his face with my fists.
"That's a relief. Thought you were either one of their girlfriend."
Her face scrunches up in disgust. "No! They're my brothers."
I like the sound of it. This is the first time she's called me her brother and a part of me wants to do a happy dance for it.
"How come I've never seen you, Adeline?" He asks in such a voice that's intended for her to believe he's a gentleman.
"She used to live with our mother." I answer for her.
We've decided to let everyone know that Adeline used to live with our mother so no one thinks she's an illegitimate child.
"Interesting. As far as I knew she was dead."
"She is now.”
I don't elaborate and he doesn't bother asking further. I know he isn't interested in the topic and would rather keep it for some other day when he's in a mood to annoy us.
"How do you like the party?" He asks her, his eyes not leaving her.
When she doesn't respond for seconds I peel my glare from Reign and turn to her. She's fixed her eyes at the dessert counter and doesn't give a single fuck if he's talking to her.
He turns his head to see what she's so fascinating about and the moment he sees that she's looking at food, he smirks again which I hate even more than his smiles.
"How about we go grab a bite, Adeline?" I hate the way he says her name.
That got her attention and she looked back at him. "But the party just started. We can't eat before they start serving." She doesn't know it's his party.
"They serve when I tell them to. And I can't let a beautiful girl starve."
She giggles, finding it funny. "It's fine, I'll wait."
She only had a sandwich before leaving and since she threw up before getting here, she must be pretty hungry right now. And she's eating for two more people so it's not the best idea to wait.
"It's ok. You can eat if you're hungry." I tell her softly.
She looks at me silently asking if I'm sure and I nod in response. "Okay.... I could use a snack..."
"Perfect. Let's go have something then." Reign smoothly forwards his hand and she takes it without thinking.
Her eyes are now back at the food so I know she didn't intend to grab his hand and he used her distraction to his advantage.
He isn't a kindhearted person who would ever consider anyone's needs so this act of getting her food is only to get in her good books.
But I won't let him succeed in his attempt. I won't let him use her.
My sister isn't one of his flings. She isn't one of those wannabes or golddiggers who'd die for his attention.
"I don't like how he's behaving around her." Altas says as we follow them to the other side of the hall.
"Me neither. I think dad should know about this."
"He must be in the meeting with Ethan and other leaders. See if Cyrus or Rhyett's free, get one of them. I want her away from him but we can't make it too obvious.”
I nod to him and leave to get one of our elder brothers. They can handle the situation better in case Reign takes it as a sign of disrespect and decides to make a huge deal out of it.
I thought it'll be a good evening and I could see Adeline enjoy her first Gala but the heir had to cause trouble.