Page 18 of My Horrible Arranged Marriage (Bancroft Billionaire Brothers #20)

ISAAC

T he night had started as a bit of a joke, but somewhere between the garish linens and the absurd specialty cocktails, I found myself enjoying the evening as much as the rest of the crowd.

Mina’s laughter was also contagious. I couldn’t help but be swept up in her rebellious spirit.

The more I got to know her, the more I realized we had a lot in common.

I had been hesitant about this secret arrangement with her father, but the man might have been right on the money, pairing us together.

Guilt tore at my insides, though, knowing I was keeping a secret from her. It would have been a lot easier if she wasn’t utterly charming. Then I could have treated the whole thing like a business deal and not feel like I was abusing her growing trust in me.

Sampson had lied to her, sneaking around behind her back with her supposed best friend. She was still raw from that betrayal. And I was forced to look into her beautiful eyes and tell her there were no secrets.

Things couldn’t continue this way. I needed to tell her. But how? When? Definitely not during the party. Later then. A problem for tomorrow.

I shoved those guilty feelings deep down into my chest and grabbed another drink from the bar.

The purple concoction sloshed slightly in my glass as I turned to survey the room.

The band had moved on to a particularly rowdy number, complete with stomping and clapping.

A group of older women in sequined dresses were attempting to keep up with the rhythm.

Hell yeah, ladies.

Mina was across the room, talking animatedly to a man in a suit that looked just a little uncomfortable. She caught my eye and flashed me a smile that made my chest tighten. I raised my glass in her direction, and she rolled her eyes playfully before turning back to playing hostess.

I wandered over to a group of men who were standing near the bar, their expressions caught somewhere between confusion and amusement. One of them—a guy with slicked-back hair and a tie that clashed horribly with the tablecloths—nodded at me as I approached.

“Bancroft.” He nodded.

I couldn’t remember his name. “Good to see you.”

“Interesting theme,” he said with obvious disdain.

“Isn’t it?” I replied and took a sip of my drink. He obviously had no idea I was in on the planning. “I think it’s fun.”

The man chuckled, though it sounded more like a nervous cough. “It’s certainly… memorable.”

“I think that’s the goal,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. “You’ll be talking about this party for years.”

He nodded slowly, clearly unsure how to respond. I left and made my way over to the dance floor, where Mina had just finished twirling Tori around in what could only be described as an interpretive sea shanty dance. They were both laughing so hard they could barely stand.

“Mind if I cut in?” I asked, holding out my hand to Mina.

She grinned and took it, letting me pull her into another lively dance.

We swayed and spun to our own rhythm. The other guests watched us, some laughing, others shaking their heads in disbelief.

But I didn’t care. For once, I wasn’t thinking about my father’s expectations or Hectar Duvall’s deal or any of the other bullshit that usually weighed me down.

I was just happy to be sharing this amazing moment with a woman who filled my soul with joy.

As the song ended, Mina leaned into me, her breath warm against my ear. “You’re not half bad at this.”

“Not half bad?” I repeated, feigning offense. “I’m a natural.”

She laughed, pulling back to look at me. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and for a moment, I forgot where we were. All I could see was her.

“Come on,” she said, tugging on my hand. “Let’s go see if anyone’s tried the meat jelly yet.”

I groaned but let her lead me toward the buffet table, where an array of bizarre dishes had been laid out. The meat jelly was front and center, its gelatinous surface shimmering under the lights like something out of a horror movie.

“Who thought this was a good idea?” I muttered, poking at it with a fork.

“Probably the French,” she said. “Considering it doesn’t look like it’s been touched, I don’t think anyone has braved it.”

“I don’t blame them.”

We both opted for a few of the other offerings, including caviar that actually went with the theme.

While we stood off to the side watching the party, I found myself smiling.

I wished my dad was here. He would be pissed and horrified with my party planning skills.

He was the one that pushed me into this.

A server came around with a tray of drinks. He stopped in front of us. “Your drinks,” he said dryly. “For the contest.”

I grinned and took two of the cocktails. “Thank you.”

“Voting starts in thirty minutes,” he said and walked away.

“This is mine,” Mina said eagerly.

We had come up with two specialty cocktails and were holding a vote later to determine the best one.

“Mina’s Melons,” I said with a laugh. “I have to say, I’m a fan.”

She laughed and swatted my arm playfully. As we chatted, a couple carrying two of the cocktails like they were carrying liquid plutonium came to stand beside us.

“What’s in this?” the woman asked her husband.

“It’s called ‘Mina’s Melons,’” I replied, keeping a straight face. “A delightful blend of watermelon liquor and mint.”

The man raised an eyebrow. “A bit strong, isn’t it?”

I chuckled. “It’s a play on the ingredients and Mina’s sweet personality.”

They exchanged skeptical glances before walking away.

“You’re welcome for the free drinks,” I whispered so only Mina could hear me.

Mina elbowed me. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Guilty as charged,” I said, raising my glass in a mock toast. “It’s good.”

“I can’t wait to try yours,” she said. “What name did you settle on?”

“Rum Around and Find Out.”

She burst out laughing. “That’s not fair! Yours sounds cool, and mine sounds like a bad joke. A strong bad joke.”

I leaned in, lowering my voice. “That’s because I’m a gentleman.”

She rolled her eyes, still laughing. “You’re impossible.”

Mina winced. “I think the sabotage is complete.”

“Mission accomplished, then. I wonder how your dad’s taking it. He just seemed confused earlier.”

Mina glanced around the room, her eyes scanning the chaos with a mix of pride and amusement. “He’s probably in his study, drafting a strongly worded email to the caterer he thinks I hired.”

“This is the most fun I’ve had at a party in years. And I’ve been to some wild ones.”

She raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a sly smile. “Oh, I’m sure you have.”

“So, what’s next?” I asked.

Mina laughed, the sound light and carefree. “I was thinking we could do a toast. Something ridiculous to really seal the deal on this disaster.”

“I like the way you think,” I said.

I grabbed her hand and led her to the front of the room. I held up a hand to stop the lead singer of the band. He stepped to the side and let me have the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen! If I could have your attention for just a moment! On behalf of our lovely hostess, Mina Duvall, I’d like to propose a toast! To breaking the rules and having fun while doing it!”

A smattering of applause and laughter broke out, though some guests still looked unsure whether they were supposed to be amused or offended. Mina clinked her glass against mine, her eyes sparkling.

“The servers are going to be bringing around another round of cocktails. Then it’s time to vote. May the best cocktail win!”

I stepped away and found Mina laughing again. “You’re crazy,” she said.

“Maybe.”

The servers began circulating with trays of my cocktail. The deep amber liquid caught the light as they moved through the crowd. Guests hesitantly picked up the glasses, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

Mina leaned into me, her shoulder brushing mine as she whispered, “This is it. The moment of truth.”

The light touch on my shoulder sent a shiver through me. It had been a long time since a woman had made me feel that way with just her closeness.

I grinned, feeling proud and nervous. “Let’s see if they can handle it.”

The first sip seemed to hit people like a punch. Eyes widened, brows shot up, and a few even coughed. But then, slowly, the reactions shifted. Nods of approval with murmurs of surprise.

“What’s in this?” one man asked, holding up his glass like he’d just discovered gold.

“Trade secret,” I said with a wink, though I was pretty sure the bartender had already spilled the beans to half the room.

Mina took a sip of hers, her eyes narrowing as she considered the flavor. “Hmm. It’s strong.”

“That’s the point,” I said. “It’s not for the faint of heart.”

She smirked, taking another sip. “I like it. It’s bold. Just like you.”

“Careful,” I teased. “You might start liking me too much.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it. Instead, she turned to watch the crowd, her expression softening.

People were laughing now, some even dancing again despite the band’s questionable choice of music.

A few more of my cocktails and there would be a lot more dancing. The people were loosening up.

Twenty minutes later, we started the voting.

Mina and I stood at the makeshift voting station.

The ballots were simple slips of paper with two options: “Mina’s Melons” or “Rum Around and Find Out.” The air buzzed with anticipation as people handed in their votes, some giggling, others debating loudly about which cocktail had won them over.

I knew it was another ridiculous part of this party which just made it all the better.

I leaned against the table, watching Mina as she sorted through the ballots with a focused expression. Her hair was slightly disheveled from dancing, and her cheeks were flushed from the heat of the room. She looked radiant and happy.

“Focus, Bancroft,” she said without looking up, a smirk playing on her lips. “We’ve got a winner to announce.”

“Right,” I said, shaking myself out of it. “Let’s do this.”

We started counting, separating the votes into two piles. Mina’s pile grew steadily, but mine wasn’t far behind. The room seemed to hold its breath as we tallied the final numbers.

“Okay,” Mina said, straightening up with a grin. “It’s official. By a margin of three votes ‘Rum Around and Find Out’ takes the crown!”

The crowd erupted into cheers and groans, some clapping while others booed playfully. I couldn’t help but laugh, feeling a surge of pride. Mina turned to me, her eyes sparkling.

“Looks like you’re the cocktail king,” she said, holding up her glass in mock salute.

Just then, her father approached, his expression a mix of confusion and suspicion.

“Mina, Isaac,” he said, gesturing for us to follow him.

We followed him out to the patio where it was quiet and empty. “Do you have anything to say about this spectacle?”

Mina feigned innocence. “What do you mean?”

He gestured to the ballroom. “The decor, the music, the drinks. It’s all rather unorthodox, don’t you think?”

Before she could respond, Sampson walked onto the patio, his presence causing a ripple of unease. I didn’t immediately know the man, but her reaction gave it away.

Mina’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe I would’ve tried harder if the guest list wasn’t so low class.”

Hectar’s jaw tightened when he saw Sampson. “I can’t give you an inch without you taking a mile.”

After he walked away, Mina crossed her arms, her mood soured. “He just doesn’t get it.”

I took her hand gently. “Come on. I have an idea to lift your spirits.”

She looked at me, curiosity piqued. “What do you have in mind?”

I led her past Sampson, who was looking at the two of us with thinly veiled disgust. I led her back through the party and out the other doors toward the foyer. The sounds of the band faded behind us. “Trust me,” I said, a mischievous grin on my face.