Thread: Bright Young Thing ::: {Prince of Smut & Ariamella}

RE Bright Young Thing Prince Ariamella Philip laughed, raising his eyebrows at the the federal agent before shifting his eyes quickly, his voice dropping to a murmer. I remember the wet days, pre-Prohibition. Just between you and me, I preferred the days with alcholol... Which is why I kept some in reserve. He winked, leading Brian through open spaces and finally through a door and into a large room that had curtained, wide windows and an array of seating. The decor was, not surprisingly, full of showy pieces that were almost gaudy to the eye, but they served as just another reminder of how wealthy the Westin family was. Philip took a seat in an arm chair that was adjacent to a fireplace and gestured for Brian to sit at the arm chair across from him. A small table served as a partition between the two men, and Philip continued speaking. But this doesn't hurt anybody, ey? Remember that we are not the criminals using it for monetary gain. We're not Capone and his good-for-nothing thugs. I'll have some wine brought up by Howard, as he's the only one of my staff who knows I have it. A quick succession of knocks on the door alerted the men to an entering presence. Scarlett appeared with a fresh bottle of cider, setting it down on the table between them, as well as two glasses. Is there anything else I can get for you, father? she asked, smiling sweetly at Brian despite talking to her father. Philip waved his hand without bothering to look up. No, that's quite alright. Go on, darling. It was an ovbious dismissal, and the redhead nodded, taking her leave and closing the set of doors behind her. The judge turned his face then, looking at the closed door. She is an angel, my Scarlett. A part of me is ashamed to hide my little liquor secret from her, but I'm the only immediate family she's got left. I have to set an example for my daughter... His pensive tone fell away as he looked back at Brian. She was raised in all private institutions ever since she could enter grade school. Remarkably bright, although it's a shame she doesn't seem to show it all the time. And I don't know what it is about that girl, but she can persuade people to jump off a cliff if she wanted to. I think she just got lucky with her traits, hm? The man spoke fondly of his daughter, obvious that he loved her. But another tone was present in his speech, sounding almost like a salesman pitching a product to a potential buyer. What do you think of Scarlett? he finally asked Brian, looking him directly in his eyes. I like you, Brian, and I want the best for my daughter...Consider this as me telling you that I think you're the best choice for my daughter. He gave a slight smile, shaking his head. I know she spends time with those wild friends of hers, and I don't think I'd like her being pulled into all that. They may be of high status, but many of them fail in having high class, which is something you have. Another knock on the door sounded, the door opening and Howard coming into view. Your wine, sir, he said, placing a bottle of Zinfandel wine next to the untouched cider. It was of late harvest, sweeter than the usual Zinfandels, and it was perfect as an after-dinner drink. The butler uncorked the bottle and poured each man half a glass of the dark red liquid before giving a half bow and stepping out. With the door closed once again, Philip gestured for Brian to try the wine, waving his hand briefly toward the glasses. This wasn't right. Her father inviting Brian to the drawing room alone wasn't right. Scarlett crossed her arms as she watched both men leave, silently wondering why her father didn't invite her this time. Usually she sat there and politely nodded her head while her father and whatever important man talked politics. While the subject matter was boring, getting glimpses at Brian was rather interesting, and she suddenly found herself bothered by not being able to stare at his tall frame and captivating eyes. She stood then, grasping two glasses and an unopened bottle of cider, bringing them to the drawing room as her father had asked. Once dismissed, she closed the door and stood outside, pressing an ear to the door. Snooping wasn't her favorite thing to do, but she was curious about what her father had to say that couldn't be said in front of her ears. A male voice broke the air, instantly recognizable as her father's. ... A part of me is ashamed to hide my little liquor secret from her, but I'm the only immediate family she's got left. I have to set an example for my daughter... Scarlett almost snorted at his words. Almost, but not quite. More than it being an unladylike thing to do, it would alert both men to her eavesdropping, and that wouldn't do. No, it wouldn't do at all. Instead she rolled her eyes, thinking it sort of funny that her father hadn't expected her to find the hidden alcohol. She didn't take from his stash as it would surely give away her dirty habits, but she periodically went down to the cellar just to see what was stored there. Then she would order the very same drink when she and Penelope went out, so it benefited her all the same. Her breathing stilled as Philip mentioned the family situation, but it pleased her when her father never elaborated on the issue. What surprised her was the focus of conversation, hearing her own name come out once or twice along with personality traits that her father observed over the years. She smiled at the mention of luck her father would really never know exactly how persuasive she could get and why . It was her own little secret, unknown to everyone but Penelope. A certain line drew her back to her father's voice, and she heard ...I like you, Brian, and I want the best for my daughter...Consider this as me telling you that I think you're the best choice for my daughter... Light confusion pressed upon her mind as she caught other words, wild friends and high class among them. It dawned on her then that he had brought Brian to play matchmaker the thought made her bring a hand to her lips and bite a bit of skin to keep herself from laughing. It wasn't that Brian was a good choice, but the last two times her father attempted such things, they ended poorly. One was only interested in sex, and the other was so afraid to touch her that he got clammy every time she brushed up against him. Despite the hilarity, Scarlett couldn't help but feel a little bit upset at the ordeal. It was her life, and she didn't want anyone dictating what kind of man she had to marry or when she had to marry him. She was only 22 and had plenty of life ahead of her. As Brian pointed out, she needed to live life to the fullest before settling down, and that included so much more than just going out at night to pretend being a woman of lower class. She wanted to see the world! And having her settle down so fast wasn't going to allow her to do that. The girl threw herself across the hall into a small library of sorts as the butler came and went with the wine, keeping note of the name 'Zinfandel' to order it during one of her club outings. Making sure he was out of sight, she returned to her sneaking, eagerly paying attention to what Brian had to say about her. Did he like her? Obviously he liked what her body had to offer, and she smiled at the thought, pleased upon remembering his reaction to her teasing at the dinner table.