Chapter 5 A Sin

The Vanguard gala was extravagant. The ballroom filled with elites dressed in expensive suits and gowns. Aurick was dressed in his usual black suit, my mother beside him as they spoke with the guest.

I felt like I was putting on a costume. A black flowing gown different from the emerald silk dress I had worn for the shoot. This one was simple and enough to feel more like me.

“You’re hiding in the corners again, Yvonne. It’s a bad look for Vanguard.”

I didn’t have to turn around to know that it was Barth. He sounded bored but I could feel the weight of his gaze on the bare skin of my shoulders.

“To be clear, I am not a Vanguard,” I said, turning to face him. “And I am not hiding. I’m observing. There’s a difference.”

“Is there?” He stepped closer, a glass of champagne in hand. He looked down at me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Because from where I’m standing, you look like you’re waiting for someone to rescue you. Too bad the only person here who knows your real name is the one who wants you gone.”

“I don’t need rescuing Barth,” I let out a light chuckle. “Especially not from you.”

“Good.” 

He took a slow sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving mine. “Tonight, my father is about to announce his new vision for the university and that includes his new, perfect family. Try not to look like you’re planning a heist while he’s talking.”

Before I could respond, a hand slid through Barth’s arm. It was Tan. She looked stunning in a dress that was more sequins than fabric, her smile sharp but not reaching her eyes.

“Barth darling, the Dean is looking for you,” she cooed, casting a glance my way. “And who is… oh, the little step sister. Are you enjoying the snacks, sweetie? I hear the catering is better than what you are used to in Brooklyn.”

I pursed my lips, feeling my anger rising in my chest but before I could speak, Barth did.

“Go find your mother, Yvonne and stay out of trouble,” he said coolly, walking away, his hand resting causally on Tan’s waist.

A pang of jealousy rose up in my gut and I shook my head. I shouldn’t care, I hated him.

The gala continued. The atmosphere suffocated me, expensive perfume and self important speeches. I slipped out onto the darkened terrace, needing to breathe in fresh air that didn’t smell like the rich.

I leaned against the stone balustrade, closing my eyes trying to channel the girl I had been two weeks ago, the girl who didn’t care about Vanguard or impressing the public.

“You’re a difficult person to ignore.”

I snapped my eyes open. Barth was standing by the glass doors, his tie loosened. He looked dishevealed, his hair pushed back as if he had been running his hands constantly through it.

“Then stop trying,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

“I can’t,” he muttered as he walked towards me, stopping just inches away. He looked exhausted. The music from the ballroom was a faint sound in the background.

“I’ve tried everything, Bree. I’ve tried hating you. I’ve tried mocking you, I even tried spending the night with Tan just so to get the thought of what you might taste like out of my head.”

My mind raced. “And did it work?”

“No,” he breathed out, his hand trembled slightly as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Every time she touched me, I wished it was you. Every time she spoke, I wanted your voice. It’s a sickness, Bree.”

My heart skipped a beat on hearing how he pronounced my middle name. “We are supposed to be siblings, Barth. This… doesn’t make any sense.”

“But I don’t care. I don’t care about the gala, the university and right now, I don’t even care about my father.” 

He grabbed my waist pulling me into him as we stared into each other’s eyes. 

“Tell me to stop. Tell me you hate me and you never want to see me again and I will walk away.”

I inhaled deeply, searching his eyes and I saw the same conflict, the same war that was raging inside me. I should have said it, pushed him away and ended it right there but instead I obliged.

I reached up and curled my fingers into the lapels of his shirt. “I do hate you,” I whispered.

“Good,” he growled, his face dropping towards mine. “Because I hate you too.”

He didn’t waste another second and slammed his mouth against mine. Fireworks exploded. 

It wasn’t a soft kiss. It was desperate, heartwarming, a starving release of all the tension we had been building since the moment I stepped out of that car.

It was wrong.

I was betraying my mom and everything I stood for.

This was a sin.

But as Barth’s fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer, I knew that there was no going back.