Chapter 12: Lydia

"What is she doing here?" Dianne shouted, causing the makeup artist and the photographers to stop what they were doing and stare at Dianne and Lydia, waiting to see what would transpire between the two of them.

"Mother!" hissed Sampson. "You are causing a scene and I invited her. As I recall this is MY engagement photoshoot."

"Sampson," Dianne looked at him disapprovingly. "I expected this nonsense from Drake, but never from you. This is a family photoshoot. Think of the press."

Lydia was fidgeting with her hands nervously, she didn’t like the scene that Dianne was causing. She never enjoyed being the center of attention, something that Dianne seemed to enjoy being immensely.

"I.. I can just go wait in the lobby until the photos are done." she said meekly.

"Nonsense," Drake said wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him. "As my romantic partner, you should be included in these photos. The photoshoot is the start of the Wedding and you are my guest to said wedding. I don't see why you shouldn't be pictured." Drake glared vehemently at his mother.

"It just isn't done." Dianne said stamping her foot. " Gregory." Dianne whined turning to her husband. "Do something."

Gregory started to open his mouth to say something, when Madeline, the future bride walked into the room.

" Thank you so much Sampson for including Lydia in the photos. The New York times is having a love story feature and they just begged for a story on Drake and his new beau. I hope you dont mind Drake." Madeline said batting her eyes at her soon to be brother in law, knowing her preferred his privacy.

"For my soon to be sister in law, I'd do anything." Drake bowed dramatically for added effect.

Madeline laughed. "Oh goodie! Then I think we will start with couples photos first and then do sibling shots, parent shots, and finish with a group shot.” Madeline said addressing the photographer, before turning her attention back to Drake, “Why don’t you and Lydia go first."

"With pleasure." Drake said grabbing Lydia's hand and dragging her to the photographer.

Lydia's heart was pounding. This is it, the moment, they’d be exposed, surely the photographer would see how not in sync they were. Trying to steady her nerves, she decided to make small talk as they followed the photographer to the picture destination.

"Is this how its going to be the entire time?" she asked Drake, “Your mother’s dramatics, your father’s anger, your brooding.”

Drake just chuckled. "That isn't even the worst of it princess.”

Lydia’s eyebrows rose, she wanted to say something more, but the photographer, suddenly stopped.

“This location is perfect,” The photographer said turning towards them, “And it’s lovely to meet you, Mr.Whittenberg, I'm Josephine, Josie for short. I'll be your personal photograher today. Please let me know if there is anything... anything at all that you need help with." Josie said, a bit seductively.

Lydia rolled her eyes. Women just throw themselves at Drake and he didn't even seem to notice nor care.

When Lydia realized Drake wasn't going to acknowledge Josie, she decided to intervene. Lydia stretched out her hand and shook Josie's outreached hand.

"Nice to meet you Josie, Im Lydia. Drake's partner. I am so excited for you to photograph US today,” her voice raising an octave at the word us. " If we need any assistance we will gladly reach out, but I am sure I can take care of almost all of Drake's needs." Lydia stated, narrowing her eyes at the end of her sentence.

A spark of irritation crossed over Josie's eyes, but she shook her head and it was gone.

"Of course Lydia, My pleasure." Josephine responded back with a smile. "If you and Drake just want to stand by the fountian over there, I think that'll make a perfect backsplash for the photos."

Drake took Lydia by the hand and led her to the fountain. She stood facing away from the fountain, and he had turned slightly towards her facing the direction of the fountian, leaning in he grabbed her by the face and put his lips against her ears. "Easy there tiger." he whispered.

Lydia's cheeks went pink as she heard the clicking noise of the camera taking photos.

"Perfect." Josephine, shouted out. " I love it. You two are naturals. Just continue on as you are. I don't want these photos to look staged."

"I don't know what you’re talking about," Lydia pouted whispering back to Drake as she pulled herself from his embrace, turning all the way towards him. She once again found Drake's hands settling on her hips.

"Pull her a little closer Drake." Josephine called dropping all formalities, as she zoned in on her job as a photographer,

Drake pulled Lydia closely to him. Their noses almost touching, Lydia found herself instinctively, wrapping her arms around Drake’s neck.

"My family isnt going to scare you away are they?" he asked slightly worried look on his face.

"Never." Lydia said firmly. She never was one to take shit from bullies, and that was exactly what Dianne was, a grade a bitch..err umm bully.

Drake raised his hand towards Lydia's face slightly pulling her chin up. Desire for her showing clearly in his eyes. Lydia bit her lip, all of a sudden feeling nervous.

"Good," Drake whispered.

"Perfect! Perfect." Josephine shouted, breaking them from their trance. "These photos are fire. Every woman country wide will be envious of you Lydia. Let's take a couple pictures of yall facing the camera and then we're good to go."

Lydia and Drake posed facing the camera, and Josephine quickly clicked a few photos before dismissing them.

As Drake and Lydia turned to walk away from Josephine they ran into Madeline.

"The writer, is at the back of the room. She's waiting for you to share your story. Everyone is dying to know where you scooped up Lydia." Madeline beamed, clearly excited about the Magazine coverage.

"Are you sure you want us to interview?" Lydia asked nervously, twirling her hair. "Shouldn’t this spread be about you and Sampson?"

"A story about Sampson and I cannot be told without Drake." Madeline said briskly.

Lydia wondered why Drake was so important in Samspon and Madeline's story, but decided to keep that question to herself.

“Uhh.. what about the group photo and sibling photos?” Lydia asked, secretly panicking on the inside at the thought of an interview.

“Those will just have to wait until after the interview is over.” Madeline said nonchalantly. “I’ve booked the photographer for the entire wedding, she’ll be following us around.”

"come on babe." Drake said a smile plastered on his face, “this will be fun.” He grabbed Lydia’s hand and began pulling her in the direction Madeline had pointed them in.

'what the hell does Drake have planned now.' Lydia thout to herslelf. once again letting Drake pull her along for the ride, she was starting to wonder just how mysterious Drake really was.

As Drake approached the writers table with Lydia in tow he felt a sense of excitement. He’d love improve in theater when he was younger and now he was getting to do it again, this time for a major magazine.

“Do you know the gist of improv?” He whisper to Lydia, the writers table just a few feet away.

“Umm refresh me, what’s improv again?” Lydia asked a hint of nervousness in her voice.

“It’s where you make something up right on the spot. So I’ll start and then you make something up along the way. We will take turns answering questions it’ll be fun.”

“ Uhh I think you and I have a different definition of fun.” Lydia let out a nervous chuckle.

“Come on Lyd, you’ve got this. Where’s that fierce tiger that came out earlier?” Drake teased her.

Lydia reached out to a nearby cocktail waitress, grabbing a drink from her table, she quickly downed it, trying to calm her nerves.

“Okay, Drake. Let’s improvise.”

Drake starred at Lydia briefly, his smile still in place. Maybe in another time or another place, they could’ve been something else. He shook the thought from his head, this is purely business he reminded himself, as he continued walking towards the writer’s table with Lydia in tow.


Drake and Lydia stopped in front of the writers table and Drake cleared his throat, grabbing the writers attention.

The young man looked up from his writing and you could tell that Drake’s size Intimated him a bit. The writer pushed his chair out and stood up to greet them.

“Julian. Julian Von Stitzel.” The writer said sticking his hand out to shake Drake’s hand first and then Lydia’s.

Drake took the moment to introduce himself and Lydia to Julian.

“Oh yes! Mr. Whittenberg. Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Madeline and I were roomies back in college and she knows I’ve been waiting for my big break with the New York Times Magazine. When Dianne, told Madeline her wedding would be covered in the magazine, Madeline called me up right away and said she had a story for me. I really hope this doesn’t inconvenience you. It’s just no one else is going to be able to get the inside scope on our evasive bachelor and I think this could really make my career.” Julian spieled talking rapidly. Once he finished spilling his guts he swiped his palm over his forehead wiping off the sweat that was starting to drip. “Is it hot in here or is it just me?” He asked pulling the collar of his top away from his neck.

Drake chuckled at his nervousness. “Don’t worry Julian, I’m not going to eat you alive. I’m more than willing to help out a friend of Madeline’s. But if it would make you more comfortable, we can sit out on the deck where there’s a cool breeze.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Julian said still looking like he might get sick from being so wound up.

“Of course not.” Drake said walking towards the outside deck. “It’s beautiful this time of year and I was feeling a bit cooped up here anyways.”

Lydia followed closely behind Drake. She’d been quiet this entire time wracking her brain over what type of questions the writer, Julian had planned for them.

“Do you mind if I record you? I plan on taking notes but I don’t want to miss any important information.” Julian asked hesitantly.

“Whatever’s easiest on you.” Drake said relaxing in his chair, pulling Lydia down on top of him.

“Ah new love.” Julian said looking up from the table where he was setting up smiling at them.

***To my new readers, I hope youre enjoying the Escort, to my previous readers thank you for your continued support. Xoxo Marriah***