warnings: 18+ ONLY. DNI if you are a minor. Language, more world building, toxic relationship, mentions of past sex, jealousy.
summary|if your marriage to ransom drysdale was a lit match, he’s the kerosene.
Richard lifts the beer to his lips as Ransom slips the driver back into his golf bag, settling his aviators over his face.
“No wife today?”
“She’s busy.”
That isn’t quite the truth. He’s assuming you’ll keep yourself busy, whenever you decide to wake up. Not that he thought you would, not from the particularly frantic sex amid the undercurrent of jealousy that had you repeating over and over that you belong to him and no one else. With a quick glare at his father, the thought of Jake washes over him. The personal trainer won’t be back for another few days.
Two can play this game, even if the stakes are falling into bed to see who can make the other break first. He certainly doesn’t want to have this discussion with his father, who pretends he isn’t texting his own mistress on the side. Ransom will push the envelope to get a rise out of you but never to the point of what his father has put his own mother through. Despite her saying she didn’t care, only Ransom was there when she broke down in her study, shattering the wedding photo on her desk. The divorce was quick but not entirely painless, enough for Ransom to know that he didn’t care to put you through that pain.
He’d push you to understand that your little games and your jealousy would never work on him. It had already started, Ransom’s paranoia that drove him to look up Jake Jensen and who he was. It’s easy to destroy someone’s career with a simple word of mouth but Ransom knows that the golden retriever of a personal trainer has no idea what you’re trying to do and for that, his snide remarks are enough to keep him on alert.
As for you, Ransom surveys the course before he slides into the seat next to his father, a pretty brunette staring at him before she gives a flirty smile. He’s aware of who she is. Regina is no stranger to the country club, born with a silver spoon in her mouth just like Ransom. She’d been gone for a few years, off with some rich boyfriend in various European cities that she well documented on her social media. Richard had once upon a time tried to set them up but there is little to no personality that appeals to him.
Which makes her a perfect volley in Ransom’s eyes as he lowers his sunglasses and returns the smile before the golf cart goes by.
-
A self-care day should mean not stressing out about Ransom but you find yourself staring off into the distance as the timer goes off, alerting your esthetician to remove the mask she applied. Normally you’re much more immersed in the process, feeling her hands work her magic as she asks you questions about your day. She knows you better than you’ve been knowing yourself, keeping quiet as she talks about her upcoming vacation, slipping in a little hint that she’s going with a man, no doubt the same guy she’s been crushing on for months. The little encouragement you give her and the tips of where she should go when she goes to Paris is enough to have her continue to talk and you to listen.
You’ve done your research on the woman who dared to proposition your husband, hiding the sly smirk as the esthetician slathers a cream on your face. No one had been more excited than Linda to hear the news of how she’d propositioned Ransom and how quickly she picked up the phone to call a few friends. A little bit of research on her end meant a six month ban after she’d snuck in a few friends without adding them onto the guest list. You and Linda had feigned a look of sadness when she hung up the phone.
“Tilt your head up,” your esthetician advises as you follow her directions. “How are you and Ransom?”
Your core still aches from how he didn’t let up the night prior. More than enough to make you clench your thighs at the remembrance of it, trying to think of what to say about the man who drives you insane.
“We’re good. Taking a trip to Italy at the end of the month.”
“Italy,” she purrs with an approving nod. “That sounds beautiful. If I know Ransom the way that I do, I’m sure he’s going to have you put up in some fancy villa overlooking the sea.”
“You know it. He can’t do anything small.”
“That’s the Drysdale and Thrombey in him, you know? Both families like to go all out. I still can’t believe your wedding had a ten-piece band. Don’t even get me started on the food. I’m going to remember that for the rest of my life. Can’t even imagine how he’ll outdo himself with Italy.”
You can hear your name being called before the door opens, Ransom still in his polo shirt and golf pants, hair slightly tousled as he peers at your face.
“Don’t mind me,” he says after a moment, giving a nod to your esthetician. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”
“How was golfing?” you ask, ignoring the way his biceps look in the shirt. You shouldn’t be thinking of trying to one up him from the night prior, especially since you’re in the middle of a skin care routine.
“Fine,” he responds. “Ran into an old friend. She’s back in town.”
Your esthetician covers your eyes with two cotton rounds, soothing to the touch as you keep yourself calm. You know he’s saying it to get a rise out of you. It’s a logical response, once that you’ve been waiting for since Jake had come into the house.
“Old friend? That’s nice,” you answer, keeping your voice light. “Is she here for good?”
“Sounds like it. She and I are going to catch up in a week or so.”
“Good,” you murmur with a tight smile.
When he disappears, you’re silent, the cream wiped away from your face as your esthetician is silent for a moment.
“You know I usually keep quiet but…”
“Awkward?” you inquire. “It isn’t the first time someone’s tried to hit on Ransom and it won’t be the last.”
“Oh, you know her?”
You shrug as she removes the cotton pads.
“I don’t have to. They’re all the same.”
-
Ransom’s hand is in yours as you walk around the gardens, eyes focusing on the brunette that seems to show up every time you round a corner. She’s never alone, moving in little circles of people. Your head is held high, knowing exactly who she is. Ransom had already introduced her to you as ‘an old friend’ but the way she looks at him is anything but. This time, he won’t let you out of his sight, well aware of the men who are staring at you and the dress with the high thigh slit.
“She is going to follow you all night?” you ask him through clenched teeth. “It’s a little embarrassing.”
“Worried?” Ransom responds, lifting his head to stare at her across the way. “I thought you got that out of your system.”
“Got what out of my system.”
“That green-eyed monster that has such a hold on you,” Ransom quips, his lips at your neck as he stares straight ahead at her. “I hold it together just fine, knowing those dirty grandpas fantasize about bending you over the balcony. They wouldn’t be able to handle you even if they had a chance.”
“I’m not jealous.”
It comes out far less confident than you want it to, tilting your head to the side to give him better access as he nips your earlobe, a shiver going down your back. She’s out of sight when he finally lets up, kissing you deeply before he lets you go.
“Stay away from the sugar daddies,” Ransom instructs. “I’ll be right back.”
A glass of champagne is placed into your hand by Linda, who surveys the scene with disdain, pushing her glasses up on her nose. In one of her signature pantsuits, she strikes a domineering pose and it hits you that Richard is nowhere to be found.
“You’re handling this birthday party much better than I am,” Linda says dryly. “I’ve been to funerals livelier than this.”
“It isn’t so bad. I haven’t been inside that much so maybe that’s why.”
“You aren’t missing much. Great Nana is barely awake herself for her own party but you know my father,” Linda says with a nod before downing her entire glass of champagne. “He loves a good party. I wish the guest list was better but this was all Walt’s doing.”
You can’t fault for her being a little irritated. Most of the people milling around have money, enough to push Walt’s desire to move the publishing house into the realm of distribution into the media world, something Harlan is directly against. As Linda continues on, you spy Ransom and the brunette near the fountain, effectively muting her as you focus on how close they are standing as she places her hand on his arm and leans into him.
Old friends my ass, you think, Ransom laughing at something she said before his eyes meet yours, a hint of a smile on his lips before he goes back to the conversation.
“Are you?” Linda asks, breaking you out of your stupor.
“Am I what?”
“Were you even listening to me? I asked if you wanted to help me plan my father’s birthday party.”
“I’d love to,” you tell her, turning to face her as you nod. “I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well. I’ll be back.”
-
Ransom searches for you, the slight adrenaline of knowing you saw him giving him the extra air of knowing that he got to you making his steps quicken. His phone call sends him straight to your voicemail, a twinge of irritation hitting him as he heads toward the valet. His car is still there and still no sight of you. He’s aware that you’re probably throwing a tantrum, hearing footsteps behind him as he realizes it’s Regina.
“Leaving so soon?” she asks, her voice airy and innocent, as if she hadn’t been up in his face, telling him how much she had wanted him before he got married.
“Looking for my wife,” he responds, pulling out his phone once more. It goes directly to voicemail once more and he huffs in frustration.
“Maybe she needed some alone time. She looked pretty upset I was talking to you.”
“Do you know her?” Ransom shoots back, his eyes narrowing. He can’t place it but this feels different. You wouldn’t just leave one of his grandfather’s parties, let alone one for Great Nana.
“You’re too late, Ransom,” Walt calls out from the steps. “She’s gone.”
“Where did she go?”
“Didn’t ask. Looked a little upset. Couldn’t be that you were flirting again, could it? Doesn’t it get old, embarrassing your wife like that?”
“Eat shit, Walt,” Ransom fires back, heading down the steps to the valet who immediately calls for the car.
“No,” Walt says with a grin. “Looks like you’re the one who’ll be doing that.”
-
You see the voicemails, each one more acidic than the last. He’s pissed that you left without him but the upper hand feels so much sweeter, knowing that he’ll head home and you won’t be there. The little boutique hotel is cute, the balcony giving you a perfect view of the bay. You’ll stay here tonight to teach him a lesson.
A knock at the door gets your attention, kicking off your heels before you open it. The man standing there gives you a sheepish smile. It’s the same one who checked you in, holding the silver platter in his hand.
“Colin?” you ask, raising an eyebrow as he laughs.
“Yeah, I, uh, well,” he stammers for a moment. “Figured I’d bring up your dinner myself.”
Opening the door wider, you let him inside as he places it onto the table. He reminds you so much of Ransom, with less restraint and more tattoos, as you spy the one peeking out from his shirt.
“Let me know if you need anything else.”
“I will,” you answer, silence falling between you before he gives you an appreciative glance.
“Have a good night.”
You give him a smile, watching him blush slightly.
Summary|Ransom Drysdale may be Boston’s most eligible Alpha but he has his eyes set on you. With his inheritance hanging in the balance, he won’t take no for an answer, whether you like him or not.
“You can’t be serious, Dad,” Linda hisses, leaning forward in her chair. “You’re okay with this?! She markedhim!”
Harlan leans back in his chair, a slow and easy smile appearing on his lips as he nods. It’s obvious that Linda is furious, her hands carefully smoothing out her pantsuit while she tries to maintain her composure.
“It was only a matter of time, just like I told you. And yes, I’m completely serious. He has my blessing. I wanted him to find a proper Omega. It appears to me that he has.”
“I wanted him to have fun. This isn’t fun, Dad. This is a commitment. Come on. Do you really think Ransom can be in a relationship? He mated her, sure. That’s a given. But she has a hold on him now too. I had plans -”
“Of course you did,” Harlan agrees, narrowing his eyes at her. “You wouldn’t be my daughter if you didn’t. Our special guest is for Ransom, isn’t she?”
“She’s an Omega,” Linda sniffs, tilting up her chin pointedly. “Comes from a strong family. Very submissive.”
“That isn’t what he wants.”
“He’s an Alpha. Of course that’s what he wants.”
“Ransom already has an Omega. Linda, I’m warning you. This isn’t going to turn out the way you think it will. I will not have Ransom’s Omega upset over this surprise, nor will I let her be embarrassed. She’s gone through enough that I will disclose to you at a later time. But rest assured that this plan of yours will not succeed.”
