by JA Low
“You look good.” She steps back and assesses me. “You’ve been working out.” She gives me a nod in appreciation of that fact.
“It’s good to be home,” I tell her.
“Reecy.” Audrey, my younger sister by ten years, rushes up and pulls me into a hug. “I’ve missed you.” Even though she visited me during my stay in England, it’s been forever since I’ve seen her. Audrey and I are close. We have similar personalities. Stanford was always the odd one out of the three of us. He hated that Audrey and I did things together, even with the age difference.
“I’ve missed you, too.” Kissing the top of her head, I smile at her.
“Hey, buddy.” Stirling walks out and greets me.
What’s he doing here? With a frown on my face, I shake his hand.
“I ran into Audrey. She invited me to pre-fundraising drinks,” he tells me.
“Of course, it would have been rude not to.” Audrey waves my concern away.
I don’t trust men around my sister. She’s a beautiful woman but highly naïve due to the gilded cage we’ve surrounded her in, which is our fault entirely. And as much as I trust Stirling with business, around a beautiful woman, I do not.
“We should head to the event. Would look bad if the hostess was not there on time.” Mom ushers us out of the apartment and down to the limousine. We all hop in and head out into the traffic.
“I heard you had a meeting with your father?” Mom asks as we settle in for the ride.
“Yeah. He heard I bought the old marina in Montauk, and he wants it.”
She smiles and nods her head knowingly. “I’m assuming you won’t give it to him?” She turns to look at me with a smirk on her face.
“I have no desire to.”
She chuckles. “You know he’s probably going to retaliate when you make your decision,” Mom warns me. “You know he bid on the property.” No, I didn’t know that. “Seems you have deeper pockets than him.” She grins.
“Dad must be fuming,” Audrey muses.
“He most certainly was… as was Stanford,” I tell them.
They all nod their heads in understanding.
“Just watch them, sweetheart,” Mom warns me. “You know the kind of man your father is.”
I can handle dear old Dad.
Eventually, we arrive. I help my mother step out onto the red carpet. This is my first event in a long time. I’m hoping everyone has forgotten me by now. I link arms with my mother as we begin to walk down the aisle. Photographers go into a frenzy, and then the reporters start shouting questions at me, but I ignore them all. Mom gives my arm a reassuring squeeze as she waves and smiles.
Finally, we make it into the foyer of the old building, where my mom runs into her society friends. She gives me a kiss on the cheek and walks off into the ballroom to attend to her duties.
“Drinks?” I ask, turning around to Audrey and Stirling, who walked the carpet together.
“Yeah, I could do with one,” Stirling agrees.
Then I look at my sister, who waves me off. “I’ve got friends to catch up with.” My eyes narrow, but she gives me a megawatt smile, and I leave it.
Stirling and I walk over to the bar, which is relatively empty at the moment.
“Please tell me nothing is going on between my sister and you?” Looking over at my best friend, his face blanches, and he chokes on his scotch.
“What? Why would you think that?” Stirling’s voice raises as he quickly defends himself while his eyes flare with discomfort.
Maybe something hasn’t happened yet, but I think something might be brewing.
“Just making sure, that’s all.” Turning, I take a sip of my drink.
“Your sister is a wonderful person, but there’s nothing going on,” he explains.
“Good.”
“Do you think I’m not good enough?”
Well, that question throws me off.
“No.” Shaking my head and continue, “But it’s my sister, man. You have a reputation. And don’t forget the obvious… I know you.”
“I would never hurt her,” he tells me, which makes me pause.
I spin around and look at my friend. “You like her?” I push.
“Of course. She’s a good girl,” he adds, then takes a large gulp of his scotch. “We’ve hung out a bit since you’ve been away. That’s all. I was simply a replacement for you.” He shrugs his shoulders. I see a different side to my best friend, and I’m just not sure what it is he’s showing me. “But I can assure you nothing is going on, other than I really enjoy her company… as a friend.”
“So, you’re asking my permission to be friends with my sister?”
“Yeah, in essence. We like going to the Sunday markets, amongst other things,” he confesses.
I’m stunned.
I had no idea.
I have been away too long.
“And you seriously like hanging out with her?” I question, just to be clear about what he’s asking.
“You know I don’t have female friends as such…” he looks up at me, “… but Audrey’s different, and we like… hang out. Nothing more.”
This conversation is very weird.
“You’re both adults. I can’t stop you,” I tell him.
With those few words, he looks a little relieved.
“Just don’t break her heart if something happens. Okay?” Slapping my friend on the shoulder, I smile at him.
“Nothing will happen. She sees me as a friend,” he tells me.
Right. Good. Glad we’ve cleared that all up.
“Come on, let’s walk into the lions’ den.”
Stirling nods.
So, we head off and into the main ballroom.
12
Ariana
Emma opens her apartment door to me with a huge smile on her face. “Did you do it?” I nod my head sadly. “Oh, no… what happened?” She ushers me into her living space.
“Hey, Ari.” Anderson greets me with a smile, but Emma shoos him away. He turns on his heel and heads back into his office.
“Now, tell me what the hell happened?”
“I went into the office and handed in my two weeks’ notice. They said… thanks, but they don’t need two weeks, and I could go pack my stuff and leave now.”
“What fuckheads,” Emma categorically states, which makes me smile.
“They told me that I would never make it in the industry because my plans are subpar.” Tears begin to well in my eyes. For some reason, I can’t help it as one slips down my cheek.
“No. No. No.” Emma angrily shakes her head. “Please don’t listen to them. They are full of shit and have tiny dicks.” Emma wraps her arms around me tightly. “They are butt-hurt because they have just lost their most brilliant architect, and now their business is going to suck.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, maybe Emma’s right. They are simply angry because I’m leaving and won’t catch their mistakes before they go to clients like I do. Or maybe because they won’t have someone to go fetch coffee or look pretty around the office like I’ve heard referenced multiple times.
“I’m happy to have left.” Feeling a little bit better about the situation now when I realize I don’t have to deal with misogynist pricks who think because I don’t have a dick, I don’t have a right to be in the game. Fuck them.
“I’m happy you’ve left, too. Andy and I want you to build us a dream boathouse.” I turn and look at Emma, a little shell-shocked.
Stella’s booked me in to build her dream home in Montana and now Ems. Honestly, how did I get so lucky with my friends?
“I’d love to.”
Emma squeals with delight. Anderson rushes out of his office to double-check what’s going on.
“She said yes, Andy,” Emma tells him.
It takes a couple of moments for Anderson to work out what on earth his wife is talking about, but when he does, he grins and nods his head.
“This is cause for celebration,” he tells us. “I�
�ll grab you ladies some champagne.”
“Great, ‘cause we need to start getting dressed.” Emma grins. “I have the perfect dress for you. Plus, my glam squad is here to help get Cinderella ready for the ball.”
I simply go with it. My life is in utter freefall, but not tonight. Tonight, I’m going to allow myself one night to let loose and not think about my unemployment status or how I’m going to live. That is tomorrow’s problem. Embrace everything Emma is throwing at you tonight.
With my glass of champagne, we walk into Emma’s huge closet—which in all honesty, is as big as my apartment—and we’re greeted by her glam squad, which are set up in her makeup room. Yes, she has a makeup room beside her closet. Guess this is what happens when you marry a billionaire. Not that Emma doesn’t earn her own money from her fashion business. I know how much something like this costs, and it’s a lot more than I could ever afford.
“I’ve pulled a dress for you.” Emma grins as I check the dress hanging in a special clothes area.
Oh, wow!
The top half is white with tiny little beads and what looks to be a daring neckline, then the bottom half of the dress is black with beads running along the material with a split right up to my crotch. I run my hand over the thin super soft material. I’m not a supermodel like Emma, so I’m not used to wearing something so daring like this or as see-through.
“You like it?” Emma looks at me excitedly.
“I do. I really do.” Because the dress is stunning, but I have curves, and I don’t know if I’m going to do the dress justice.
“Try it on,” Emma encourages.
I don’t even know if I am wearing the right underwear for a dress of this caliber. Carefully, I unhook the dress from the hanger and make my way into the bathroom. I take off my inferior day dress and slip into the designer dress. Thankfully, you can’t see my nipples in the dress due to the paneling, and the slit covers my crotch. Thank goodness you can’t see my panties or panty line. I did the whole bend-over-and-look-in-the-mirror test. That’s when I catch a glimpse of myself in a side mirror, and I pause for a moment.
Wow! This dress makes me feel beautiful.
“Ari.” Emma knocks on the door to the bathroom. “You dressed yet?” she asks. I open the door, and she gasps. “Oh, babe… you look fucking amazing.”
“I know,” I agree with her. All of my reservations have gone right out the window.
Emma assesses me to make sure everything is in its right place, turning me around and checking me over. “This dress was made for you.” She gives me a little happy dance.
“It really does.” Running my hand down the material, I feel the little bumps of the beads under my fingertips.
“Okay, jump out of it, and let’s get you all glammed up.” She squeals.
Hours later, we are ready. Anderson’s in a tuxedo which, of course, he looks awesome in. I mean, the man was born to wear one.
Emma comes strutting out of her wardrobe like she’s on a catwalk, looking every inch the supermodel she once was, in a daring one-shoulder white sequin number that has a slit all the way up to her hip, exposing her long legs as she walks. I think I’m going to be on flap patrol all night. That’s how high this split is.
“Wow, Ems.” She does a twirl, and Anderson looks like he’s moments away from launching himself at her.
Hello, you have a guest.
“Ari, you look like a vision.” Emma looks over me.
My hair is pulled into a high ponytail, my makeup is natural but dramatic in the same breath, and I’ve gone for a gorgeous burgundy color on my lips. Emma lets me borrow one of her designer clutches and heels to finish off the outfit, as well as some of her diamonds. Which, to be honest, is stressing me the hell out because I know they are worth a lot of money. What happens if I lose them? Don’t think like that!
“Are we ready to go, ladies?” Anderson asks.
We both nod our heads and make our way out the door, then to the limousine which is waiting for us downstairs. Anderson helps us into the car like the gentleman he is before he takes his seat. The limousine pulls out into the busy Friday night traffic.
“When you step out of the limousine, let Anderson stand in front of you,” Emma explains. “Keep one hand over your crotch as you step out because those photographers love nothing more than to get some up-the-skirt action.” Huh? Okay. Now I’m well and truly freaked. “Just smile as you walk the red carpet. You don’t owe anyone a comment or an acknowledgment of who you are.” Emma trains me in the art of society which is a whole other world for me. Is this what the other girls have to go through with their partners?
It doesn’t take long for us to arrive at the event. Anderson gets out first, and I’m surprised by the flash of photography, and instantly he has people screaming his name. He holds out his hand for me, and I place my clutch in front of my privates as I step out onto the red carpet. I’m overwhelmed by the sudden flashes, people screaming at me, but I have no idea what they are saying.
I suck in a deep breath to calm myself to take the experience in. That is until I look up and read the sign that’s hanging above the old building reading ‘Davenport Foundation’ on the front.
What in the ever-loving fuck is this?
My entire body stills.
No, Emma wouldn’t bring me to a Davenport event, would she? I mean, I was just told to fuck off by them. Why would I want to be here?
“Breathe,” Emma says through gritted teeth as she gives the cameras her megawatt smile. She links her arm with mine, and slowly we make our way down the red carpet. The closer we get to the end, the more my nerves are frayed.
As soon as we exit the red carpet, I turn around and glare at Emma. “Did you know this was a Davenport event?”
“Ari…” She gives me a frown. “It’s the good Davenports, not the bad ones.” She smiles, waving my concern away.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means… it’s not your boss and his creepy son’s event. It’s Marjorie Davenport, Rhys’ mother’s event. She’s lovely,” Emma explains as if somehow this fact makes it all okay.
“Rhys is going to be here?” My eyes bug out as I put two and two together.
“Of course, he will be. It’s his mother’s event,” she states, the bleeding obvious to me. What the hell? Panic laces my body. “You okay?” Concern falls across Emma’s face.
“No. I’m not. This is all too much.” Waving my hand around in the air, I continue, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because then you wouldn’t have come,” she replies honestly.
“Of course, I wouldn’t have. I want nothing to do with him. I told you.” I’m becoming agitated. I can’t help it.
“I’m sorry, Ari. I thought… I …” Emma’s genuinely surprised by my reaction.
“I need a moment,” I tell her.
Emma frowns but nods her head once.
“We are at table twenty-six,” she tells me as Anderson drags her away and into the crowd. I take off in a direction I have no idea where I am going to get myself under control. I pass the bar where people are mingling, diamonds are sparkling under the overhead lighting, which almost blinds me.
Where are the freaking bathrooms in this place? Looking desperately around, I spot a door down the end of a corridor that’s empty, so I follow the swirling designs on the carpet and push through the door, which leads me into an empty room. Shit! The entire side of one wall is glass, and it looks out onto the Manhattan skyline. I suck in a deep breath to try and calm my nerves and head toward the glass. Maybe watching the world below for a couple of moments will help to center myself.
Get my game face on.
I can do this.
Giving myself a pep talk as I stalk across the room, I place a shaking hand against the window and let out a heavy sigh.
“Ariana?” a deep voice calls from behind me.
I spin around quickly and find Rhys sitting in the dark with a glass tumbler in his hand. What the h
ell? My heart begins to run a million miles a minute at the surprise right there in front of me.
Dammit! The one person I was trying to avoid is the person I’m now stuck in this room with.
13
Ariana
“What are you doing here?” Annoyance filters in my tone. Rhys stands from his chair and stalks over to me.
I thought seeing him in a suit was too much, but him in a tuxedo is devastating. I hate that my body is responding to being near him, but I will stand my ground. I won’t let him see how much he affects me.
“This is my family’s event,” he declares. “So, I have to ask… what you are doing here?” Those aqua eyes run up and down my body, taking me in. “Are you here on a date?” Rhys’ eyes flare with something akin to jealousy.
“Maybe.” He doesn’t need to know I’m third-wheeling tonight.
“You look breathtaking.” He stalks closer, stepping out of the darkness and into the light.
What do I say to that? I suspect he doesn’t need me to say anything.
I swallow down my nerves as he prowls around, assessing me, devouring me with those hungry eyes as if at any moment he’s ready to pounce. The problem is, I think I like it.
“I’ll ask again, are you here with someone?” Rhys stops right in front of me, those aqua eyes imploring me to be honest with him.
“No. I’m here with friends.” Relief washes over his face. “Are you here with someone?”
He shakes his head. “Just family,” he tells me.
Not sure why I’m relieved over that bit of information, but I am.
“I resigned from your father’s business today.” Rhys’ eyes widen in surprise over my revelation. “It would be really great if I don’t run into him or Stanford,” I tell Rhys, my fingers nervously playing with the clip of my clutch.
“I highly doubt he will be here. This event is mainly my mother’s friend’s group, and they are not the biggest fan of my father.” That’s understandable. “Why are you hiding out in here?”
“My friends didn’t tell me it was your event,” I explain to him honestly. “And um…” I bite my bottom lip, “… I was worried about running into you.” Giving him a weak shoulder shrug because obviously, my plan didn’t work and here he is standing in front of me right now.