“I didn’t,” he said.
“I’m sure Reginald sent you an email.” Her tone was reproving.
Luke ran a hand through his hair. He hated how his mother managed to make him feel ten years old again. “Dad hated these events. He wouldn’t have wanted the charity announced like that.”
“And how do you think it should’ve been done?”
“A press conference, like we’d discussed.”
Someone patted Luke on the shoulder. “Excellent speech,” the man said as he walked passed. Luke forced a smile.
“Your dad may have hated these events, but he knew they were necessary for the well-being of the company. Tonight was the perfect time to make the announcement. We have Los Angeles’ richest in the room tonight, and they’re all in a giving mood thanks to the holidays. Donations will pour in. Maybe it’ll help us find a cure.” Mom’s voice was wistful, but hopeful too.
Luke wouldn’t hold his breath. How long had scientists searched for a cure? Decades, at least. Even if they did find one, it wouldn’t bring his dad back.
A woman smiled coyly at Luke. “Excellent gala, Mr. Ryder. Congratulations on thirty years.”
Luke nodded, and the woman slunk away.
“I’d better go mingle,” Mom said. “Looks like Brooke’s headed over here anyway.” She gave Luke a kiss on the cheek and left.
Brooke arrived seconds later. “You did great,” she said, giving Luke a hug. “Especially for not knowing about the charity’s unveiling.” She pursed her lips as though tasting something sour. “Mitch is furious. Apparently they sent you an email but never mentioned anything to him. He’s making phone calls now.”
Luke’s jaw clenched. “That’s exactly the kind of crap that makes me avoid these events. Darius had no right.”
“I agree.” Her eyes focused on something behind his shoulder. She grabbed his arm. “Don’t look now, but Darius is headed right for us. Let’s go.”
Luke swore, quickening his pace.
“Luke.” Darius’s voice was loud, drawing the attention of those around them.
Brooke stopped walking and looked up at Luke, her eyes apologetic. “If you don’t talk to him, it’ll make a scene.”
“I have nothing to say to him,” Luke hissed.
“Then make something up.” Brooke’s face melted into her best keep-the-client-happy smile. “Mr. Darius, we didn’t see you. I spotted a waiter serving quiches and must’ve blocked everything else out.” She laughed, a soft tinkling sound that sent shivers from Luke’s head down to his toes. “What a fantastic turnout tonight. You must be so pleased.”
Darius frowned, his laser vision focusing on Luke. “I was, until that speech.”
Brooke’s mouth fell open, but Luke wasn’t surprised. “The speech I had prepared didn’t seem appropriate in light of the charity being unveiled,” Luke said. “If you ever spring something like that on me again, I’ll have your spot on the board as payment.”
Darius didn’t flinch. “I sent you an email yesterday about the change and asked you to solicit donations from our guests.”
“I didn’t read the email.”
“I gathered as much. As CEO you shouldn’t let communication lapse. The board needs to be able to get in contact with you anytime, day or night.”
Luke felt the anger spread like a rash. He clenched and unclenched his fists, and Brooke put a hand on his arm. “I’m grieving, Darius. And you’re going behind my back, announcing my dad’s charity?” His voice rose with every word. “You should’ve relayed the change over the phone, at the very least.”
“Luke,” Brooke said. “You’re making a scene.”
“I wasn’t trying to go behind your back,” Darius said. “Your father was one of my closest friends. Don’t think you’re the only one affected by his loss.”
“Don’t compare how you feel to how I feel. If you ever—”
Brooke stepped between the two men. “Okay, I think that’s enough. In case you hadn’t noticed, you’re attracting attention.”
Luke caught the eye of a tuxedoed man with a cell phone pointed in their direction. The man quickly slipped the phone into his pocket and walked away. A few other cameras flashed.
“Mr. Darius, I hope you can respect how hard this is for Luke,” Brooke continued. “I know you meant no harm, but I think it’s best if you discussed keeping the lines of communication open another time.”
“Brooke, I hope you at least understand that I meant nothing by it.” Darius took her hand in both of his. “I tried to keep him in the loop.”
Brooke patted his hand. “I know, Mr. Darius. Oh, there’s Mitch. He actually sent me to find Luke. We’d better see what he wants.” She grabbed Luke’s arm and whisked him away.
“Darius should be fired for that stunt.”
“He made a mistake. Try to calm down, okay? You don’t want the cameras capturing this.”
Luke tugged at the collar of his tuxedo shirt. “I need a Scotch. Just one.” After what I’ve been through, the least she can do is give me one drink. It wasn’t like he could leave to go to the gym and release his stress.
“We’ll get you a spiced cider. Or maybe some hot chocolate.” She focused on something over his shoulder. “Oh crap.”
And that’s when Luke saw her, wrapped around Nathan Kendall like a piece of meat on a kabob.
Luke froze, his breath heavy. “What. Is. He. Doing. Here?”
“I have no idea.”
“He’s here with her?” Luke massaged his temples and tried to make sense of what was happening. With Candi, you never really knew.
“I know. Let’s go get you that drink.”
At the bar, Brooke ordered him a spiced cider. He leaned back against the counter, watching Candi cling to Nathan like plastic wrap. Any closer, and they’d be fused together.
“The gala’s had a great turnout,” Brooke said. He knew she was trying to distract him—trying to get him focused on anything but what he was seeing.
“Candi,” Luke ground out. He felt no disappointment at seeing her with another guy. He knew last night would’ve only be a one-night fling. But to be here with Nathan, his competition? That seemed a little too convenient.
Candi leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss to the corner of Nathan’s mouth. And then she looked across the room, caught Luke’s eye, and smirked.
“I can’t believe it,” Luke muttered.
Brooke glanced at Candi and Nathan, then grabbed Luke’s arm and tugged him in the opposite direction. “I think I need some fresh air. And you definitely need to cool down.”
“She smirked at me.”
“Should we see if Zoey and Mitch want to go with us?”
“She kissed him then smirked.”
“Is that the girl from the tabloid?” an unfamiliar voice asked.
Luke whipped his head around, and saw two old biddies whispering together.
“What a hussy.” The second woman, who sported a sequined dress, actually harrumphed. “Young people these days. His girlfriend is engaged to another man, and he’s seeing a scarlet woman on the side.”
“Oh, I heard the engagement’s being called off.”
Sequined Dress raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Well that’s what the magazines are saying. I also heard Brooke and Luke haven’t ever dated, but are just friends.”
“They can’t really think people believe that. Best friends don’t act like those two.”
Luke clenched his jaw. “What a disaster.”
Brooke put a hand on his arm. “It’s fine.”
He shook his head. “No. I keep bringing you into the papers, and people think …” He couldn’t even say it.
“It doesn’t matter. You and I and Antonio know the truth.”
The two biddies moved away, giving him a clear view of Candi, who threw back her head and laughed. She pressed herself suggestively against Nathan and slipped one hand beneath his tuxedo coat, her lips turned up in a smirk the entire time
.
Is she a corporate spy? If so, she wasn’t a very good one. He hadn’t spilled any company secrets, and now that he knew she was with Kendall, there was zero chance she’d get anything out of him. Besides, even Kendall wouldn’t try something that dumb.
“Brooke, darling.” Mrs. Darius threw her arms around Brooke, nearly toppling her. Luke reached out a hand to steady her. Brooke’s expression was one of surprise and horror. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been looking for you all night.”
“Mrs. Darius,” Brooke said. Luke heard the caution in her voice, but doubted anyone else would. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“You must meet my grandson.” Mrs. Darius tugged Brooke away from the bar. “I think I’ve told you about him before. Andrew’s visiting from Oregon for the holidays. He’s so ready for a wife, but doesn’t have time to find a suitable woman to date.”
“Toujour sounds perfect for him then.” Brooke’s eyes flicked to Luke’s. He knew the matchmaking firm she worked for was struggling, and he saw the desire for a new client battling with her obligation to stay with him. “Luke and I were just enjoying a spiced cider together.”
Here it was, his chance to get a Scotch. “Don’t worry about me. Who knows when Andrew will be in town again?”
Mrs. Darius beamed. “He’s really unsure about the whole matchmaker thing, but I think if you explained it to him …”
Brooke grabbed Luke’s arm. “Don’t. Just don’t,” she whispered.
He waved her off. “I’ll be fine. Give Andrew my best.”
“Oh, we will, dear,” Mrs. Darius said, and she and Brooke disappeared into the crowd.
Luke whipped around to the bartender. “Give me a Scotch on the rocks, and keep ’em coming until that woman returns.”
The bartender grinned and quickly poured Luke a glass. “I’ve seen her in the papers with you before. They say she’s your girlfriend.”
I wish. “Best friend. And she doesn’t like it when I drink.” Luke downed the Scotch in one painful gulp. The bartender’s eyes widened, and he quickly poured another. Luke devoured that one too. The speech. Brooke. The gala. Candi. Nathan. It was all too much.
The room was starting to spin when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see none other than Nathan and Candi, still fused together.
“Luke,” Nathan said, holding out a hand. Luke shook it warily. “I had to stop by and congratulate you on the foundation’s creation. We’ll find that cure eventually.”
Luke grunted. “I’m surprised to see you here, Kendall.” He heard the slur in his words, but couldn’t bring himself to care.
Nathan pulled his face into a look of faux offense. He wasn’t much older than Luke, maybe thirty or thirty-one, but he still managed to treat Luke as though he were a child playing make believe. “I know we’re competitors, but I’m here tonight as a guest celebrating your company’s success.” He motioned to Candi. “You already know my girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend, huh? She seemed pretty available last night,” Luke said. “She’s a great kisser, man. And even better in bed.”
Nathan’s jaw clenched. “I’m here to offer my congratulations. Let’s not make things ugly.”
“You’re the one who’s crashing my party.”
“Luke,” Candi said, her lips turning down in a pout. “Please. I know it was wrong of me not to tell you I was seeing someone, but I was so mad at Nathan last night. We had a horrible fight.” She laughed, and it sounded like breaking glass. “Turns out it was all a silly misunderstanding.”
Ah, I was the means to piss off Nathan. Luke decided to push the envelope, just to see what would happen. “Are you sure it wasn’t a pathetic attempt to get company secrets?”
Nathan laughed. “We don’t need your secrets. Talia’s a joke and your product’s floundering. I’m launching a new system in January that’s going to make yours look like something out of the Dark Ages.”
“Talia is not a joke.”
“She’s got more glitches than a government website. And you refuse to even consider replacing—”
Luke’s fist flew and landed in the middle of Nathan’s face. Luke felt the crunch of cartilage as hand met nose. Felt the skin on his knuckles split. Blood exploded, splattering all over Nathan’s face and onto Luke’s white tuxedo shirt. Candi let out a dramatic scream. The bartender yelped. Nathan fell to his knees, his hands covering his bleeding nose.
Nathan let out an expletive. “What was that for?” His voice had a distinct nasal sound now.
And that’s when Luke saw Brooke.
CHAPTER SIX
Brooke stood frozen in horror as she watched blood ooze from between Nathan’s fingers. It’d taken a while to extricate herself from Mrs. Darius and her grandson, but not that long. His careful language and easy blush had spoken of a girlfriend he obviously hadn’t told his grandparents about—a bummer since she really could use another client.
Someone in a glittering green dress pulled a cell phone from her bra and snapped a picture. Brooke took a step forward, then paused. Antonio would freak if she ended up in the papers so soon after their conversation. A picture of her talking to the mayor at the gala was explainable, but not this.
Another camera flashed. Brooke lurched toward Luke.
“You’re crazy,” Nathan yelled at Luke. Candi helped him to his feet. A waitress hurried forward and handed him a stack of cocktail napkins for his nose.
“What were you thinking?” Brooke hissed at Luke. “What happened?” A few more people took out their phones. The reporters, clearly differentiated by the press passes on lanyards around their necks, were converging on the scene. The flashes of their cameras were nearly blinding.
“Mr. Ryder, was this a provoked attack?” one asked.
An old woman pointed an accusing finger at Luke. “I saw him punch Mr. Kendall in the nose.”
This is a nightmare. Brooke grabbed Luke’s arm, pulling him away from the crowd. His breath was heavy, and he shook his hand as though it stung. They had to get out of there.
“I’ll sue you to bankruptcy for this,” Nathan yelled at their retreating figures.
Mitch pushed his way through the crowd. “What’s going on?” he asked Brooke.
“He insulted Talia,” Luke said through clenched teeth. “I had to hit him.”
“Was the confrontation over the voice recognition feature in your home automation system?” a reporter asked, shoving a small voice recorder toward Luke. “Or was it because Kendall is dating your ex-girlfriend?”
“Don’t say anything,” Mitch said. He was already pulling up the contacts list on his cell. “Not until we talk to the lawyers.”
Paramedics pushed their way through the crowd, a gurney helping to cut a path. “Stand back,” one of them said. “Give Mr. Kendall some space.”
Nathan let a paramedic help him onto the gurney. “I think he broke my nose.”
“Wimp,” Luke said, and not quietly either.
“Shut up,” Brooke hissed.
“Does this have anything to do with the fact that you’re having an affair with Mr. Kendall’s girlfriend?” a reporter asked.
“Get him out of here,” Mitch said to Brooke.
Brooke quickly reviewed the contingency plan Mitch always had in place for these situations. Escape through the service entrance into the kitchen. Go to the back of the hotel. A car would be waiting. She grabbed Luke’s arm and tugged.
Two burly men in uniforms pushed their way through the crowd. “Security. Let us through. Security!”
Brooke’s heart sank. “Let’s go,” she said.
A hand fell on her shoulder. “Not so fast. Mr. Ryder, the police will need a statement.”
“Then they’ll have to make an appointment,” Brooke snapped. “Mr. Ryder isn’t feeling well and needs to leave.”
“I’m afraid that leaving isn’t an option, miss,” the security officer said.
“At least let us go outside to talk.” Brooke motioned t
o the cameras.
“Mr. Ryder, how much have you had to drink?” a reporter called.
The security officer looked around, then nodded and escorted them from the room. The door to the ballroom swung shut behind them. But not before a few last camera flashes captured the moment.
Antonio is going to be thrilled. Brooke groaned at the thought. She was supposed to pick him up at the airport in less than twenty-four hours—plenty of time for this to go viral.
“Thank you,” Brooke told the security officer. He nodded and helped them escape into the relative anonymity of the hotel’s parking garage. A police officer arrived moments later.
“What happened?” the police officer asked.
“Nathan was mouthing off,” Luke said, his words running together. “Insulting Talia. Insulting my father. And now he’s trying to steal our clients.”
The officer looked at Brooke.
“I didn’t hear the confrontation,” she said.
Mitch arrived then, nearly blending into the darkness with his ebony skin and black tuxedo. “Nathan grudgingly declined pressing charges,” Mitch said. Brooke let out a sigh of relief. “I think he wants to look noble in front of the press.”
“Let him try to sue me,” Luke said. He stuck out his chin belligerently. “I’d love to take him on in court.”
Brooke felt like slapping Luke. Didn’t he care about how this was affecting everyone else involved?
Mitch swore. “You think you’re in hot water with the board now? They’d have boiled you alive if Nathan had decided to press charges. And it’s my job on the line too. I’m supposed to stop this sort of crap from happening.”
The police officer held up a hand. “Let’s all calm down.” His radio beeped to life, and he spoke quickly into it, then listened. “Looks like Mr. Kendall is indeed feeling generous. Since he isn’t pressing charges, I don’t need to take your statements. You can go.” He nodded his head toward Luke. “Make sure he doesn’t drive himself home.”
“Thank you, Officer,” Brooke said as the police officer and security guards left.
“I’ll get him home,” Mitch said, motioning to Luke.
Brooke nodded. She needed some space right now. And she needed to figure out how to spin this to Antonio. Maybe she should call and explain, before it started circulating around the web. No, better to delay.
Miss Match Page 4