Lindsey was laughing, tossing back glass after glass of champagne, and also flirting somewhat outrageously with Ian – a situation that was embarrassing Matthew, pissing off Tessa, and making Ian extremely uncomfortable. Lindsey was a pretty woman, and looked amazing for being forty, the same age as her husband. Petite with glossy dark brown hair and green eyes, she was definitely making sure every male in the room noticed her rather obvious assets showcased by the slinky, low-cut black gown she wore. Tessa was certainly no expert on the subject, but she was almost positive the older woman’s gravity defying breasts couldn’t possibly be real.
Fortunately, Ian had long ago mastered the art of fending off unwanted female attention, and very diplomatically extricated himself and Tessa from what could have become a very awkward situation.
“Poor Matthew,” murmured Tessa in a hushed tone as Ian walked them in the opposite direction of the married couple. “He looked mortified at the way Lindsey kept flirting with you. And it’s a very good thing you got us out of there when you did, because if she tried shoving those fake tits of hers into your face one more time I was going to take her down.”
Ian started to laugh almost uncontrollably, until he became aware of all the curious glances directed his way. Trying to muffle his laughter but not doing a very good job of it, he pulled Tessa into his arms and turned his face against her hair.
“My little tigress,” he murmured, his body still shaking with mirth. “And here I thought I was the only one of us with violent tendencies when it comes to someone poaching on my territory. I’m very glad to know I can count on you in the future to – ah, defend my virtue.”
Tessa couldn’t help laughing along with him. “I think those kickboxing classes I’ve been taking have brought out my protective side. You told me once that you always look out for what’s yours. You’ve got to know that it’s the same for me.” She kissed his cheek before adding softly, “You’re mine, Ian, and no other woman can ever have you.”
Ian’s fingers bit into her waist and she could feel the outline of his erection through the fragile fabric of her gown. “Christ, I wish like hell there weren’t hundreds of people here right now. Because I have the card key for the owner’s suite in my pocket, and I’d love nothing better than to quietly disappear with you and lock ourselves in for a few hours.”
She smiled at him in a deliberately provocative manner. “I wouldn’t say no to that idea. Maybe another time, hmm?”
He gave her a lingering kiss on the mouth, evidently not giving a damn how many people were watching. “It’s a date, love.”
***
Alicia was seething, her barely controlled temper ready to snap at a moment’s notice. She couldn’t recall a time in her twenty-nine years when she’d been this angry, or so in need to throw something. Or better yet, kick someone. Especially if that someone was a certain blonde tramp who had effectively managed to ruin Alicia’s entire evening. No, make that her entire life.
“Hey, everything okay?” asked Ross, who was seated to her right.
Alicia glared at her date, who she was this close to dumping for good. She had never considered him good enough for her, and wasn’t at all sure why she was still dating such a loser. And seeing him here tonight among all of these rich, successful men only served to emphasize his shortcomings.
“Fine, yes. Why do you keep asking?” she snapped. This was at least the third time he’d inquired about her rather obvious agitation.
Ross shrugged. “Maybe because you’ve been hitting the booze pretty hard tonight. Not to mention being a little – uh, testy.”
Her voice was dripping with ice as she replied, “If I need a lecture my parents are seated just across the table from us.”
Ross threw his hands up in frustration. “Suit yourself, Alicia. I’m just concerned about you, okay? But as usual, you snap my head off whenever I try to do something nice. I’ll keep my mouth shut for the rest of the evening.”
Alicia defiantly drained her wine glass. She had been drinking rather heavily this evening, but who could blame her? After the shock she’d suffered earlier, it was small wonder she wasn’t trying to drown herself in booze right now.
When she’d continued to hear the increasing rumors about Ian and his new blonde girlfriend, she never in a million years would have suspected that woman to be Tessa. Alicia had been stunned speechless to recognize her former co-worker clinging to Ian’s arm and looking like some sort of fucking princess. It was a joke, really, that the naïve, somewhat awkward girl who’d dressed in discount store clothes and clearance rack shoes would be here tonight wearing that regal Marchesa gown, with real sapphires at her throat and ears. Alicia grudgingly conceded that Tessa had always been pretty, but now, tonight, in the right clothes and her hair done up, she was striking. Enough so that Ian Gregson hadn’t allowed her to leave his side all night, or been able to tear his eyes from her for more than a minute at a time.
Alicia wondered wildly how and when they had started seeing each other, and why it had been Tessa – of all people – who’d finally managed to snag the attention of the elusive Brit. She clenched her fists as she thought of all the times she and Gina and the others had gossiped freely about their boss, speculating on who he might be dating or banging, and joking bawdily about Alicia’s potential chances with him one day. And all that time Miss Goody Two-Shoes Tessa had never said one word or even blinked an eyelash, keeping her nose to the grindstone as she always did and refusing to participate in any gossip. Tessa had never once betrayed any interest in Ian, and certainly their standoffish employer had always kept his distance from the support staff.
Had they been seeing each other in secret all this time, since Tessa had begun working at the office? But no, Alicia truly didn’t think Mr. Prim and Proper would fuck a married woman, so this little fling of theirs had begun more recently. And the more she stewed over the matter, the more it was that certain things started to become clear.
Like why Tessa had suddenly been appointed to fill in for Andrew when that had never happened in the past. And why Ian had rather abruptly stopped being seen in public with any of his usual escorts, and then stopped attending certain events altogether. The wheels kept spinning as she realized the “hot blonde” her parents had seen Ian dining with must have been Tessa, and that the “friend” the bitch had stayed with after the fire at her apartment was most likely Ian.
And it would certainly explain why she’d quit her job, a question the whole team had puzzled over for weeks. No one had been able to figure out where she was getting the money to travel or take an extended break, though Kevin had half-jokingly guessed she had some rich new boyfriend taking care of her. Alicia had dismissed his theory as ridiculous, but now it all made horrible, awful sense.
Tessa had left the company because she’d been fucking the boss. Now wouldn’t that make for some really, really juicy gossip. Except, thought Alicia with a snarl, it would be humiliating beyond belief to admit to her co-workers – and especially her roommate, best friend, and staunch supporter Gina – that the man she’d salivated over for the past four and a half years had chosen a slut like Tessa over her.
And any thoughts she might have of causing trouble for Ian were swiftly abandoned. First, she couldn’t prove a damned thing, especially since Tessa had already quit. Alicia was willing to bet that righteous prick Andrew knew everything, but trying to pry any information out of him was a complete waste of time. If Alicia was foolish enough to ask him anything the least bit personal about Ian, Andrew would merely give her a scathing look and tell her to get back to work.
And that was yet another problem. Admittedly, she’d been slacking off a bit on the job lately, though no more so than any of the others. Andrew, however, had chosen to make some sort of example of her, calling her under the carpet for a variety of grievances – tardiness, taking too many breaks, sending personal emails (which the bastard had actually had the balls to read), and screwing up on some travel arrangements she’d made for
several of the managers. Andrew had let her off with a warning, but the dickwad had actually threatened her with formal probation next time.
No, making any accusations or spreading gossip about Ian at this time would be extremely unwise, and that realization only made Alicia angrier. The need to lash out was overwhelming, but with her parents present she was forced to keep a damper on her emotions.
It became harder and harder to control her temper, though, as the evening wore on. From her place at the dinner table, she unfortunately had a good vantage point of the table where Ian and Tessa were sitting, and it made her stomach hurt to observe how lovey-dovey the two of them were acting. Each time Ian kissed the bitch’s cheek, Alicia wanted to follow it up with a hard slap. When he caressed the nape of her neck, Alicia’s fingers itched to yank a long strand of Tessa’s blonde hair out by the roots. And when the dancing started and she watched how closely Ian held Tessa in his arms – not to mention the tender, loving way he gazed into her eyes – she feared she might upchuck the small amount of food she’d been able to consume.
But when she spied Tessa leaving the ballroom and heading towards the ladies lounge, Alicia surged to her feet like a panther scenting its prey. She ignored Ross’ voice asking where she was going, or her mother calling after her in concern. She was more than a little tipsy at this point, and had to weave her way carefully around the tables. But she was determined to corner that little bitch and get a few things off her mind.
Tessa was visibly startled when she left the toilets to find Alicia pacing back and forth in the adjoining lounge. It gave Alicia great satisfaction to see the fear in Tessa’s blue eyes, the same look a small animal had when it knew it was trapped. Alicia noted with some relief that the two of them appeared to be the only ones in the lounge, though at this point she was so worked up it wouldn’t have mattered if three dozen people were present.
“It won’t last you know,” Alicia told her boldly. “He’ll get tired of you quicker than you can blink an eye. You’re nowhere near good enough for a man like him, Tessa, not even close. What the hell does he see in a stupid bitch like you anyway?”
Except for the slight tightening of her mouth, Tessa didn’t betray the slightest emotion, which only infuriated Alicia more.
“He loves me,” was all the bitch said in a calm, serene voice that made Alicia want to scream. “And I love him. He doesn’t care about anything else.”
“But he will. One day soon when he gets tired of banging you, he’ll realize what a mistake he’s made,” raged Alicia. “You’re nobody, Tessa, fucking nobody. You have no education, no family, no breeding. You used to buy your clothes from Ross Dress for Less, and wear shoes with worn out heels. And you might be all dressed up tonight but deep down you’re still nobody and that’s never going to change.”
It gave Alicia great satisfaction to see the tears pool up in Tessa’s eyes, and the way her lip started to tremble. But still the bitch wouldn’t break, despite the fact that her voice was a little less steady.
“None of that matters,” replied Tessa quietly. “To either of us. He loves me for who I am, not what school I did or didn’t go to, or where I bought my clothes. Ian’s a good man, the very best, and you’re the one, Alicia, who will never be good enough for him.”
“How dare you!” screamed Alicia. “I’m exactly the sort of woman he needs. I went to fucking Wellesley, the best women’s college in the country. I was a debutante, my mother’s family is one of the oldest in San Francisco, and my father is the top criminal attorney in the state. You couldn’t pick a more perfect woman to be worthy of Ian Gregson.”
“Except for one very important fact,” murmured Tessa. “He doesn’t love you, Alicia. In fact, I don’t think he even likes you very much.”
“Shut up!” Alicia’s rage was off the charts by now and she advanced on Tessa until she was close enough to grasp her by the arm. “How would you like it if I told everyone in the office that the boss was fucking one of his employees? I don’t suppose that would go over very well with the higher ups, would it?”
Tessa grimaced as Alicia dug long fingernails into the flesh of her bare arm. “First of all, I don’t work there any longer as you well know. And second, considering that his father is about as high up as you can get and that he knows all about us, I’m not really sure what sort of trouble you think you can cause.”
“Oooh, meek little Tessa is finally growing a spine I see,” sneered Alicia. “You make me sick. You were always so prim and proper, sticking your nose up in the air when we would gossip about other people in the office. I wonder why you never said anything all the times we’d talk about the boss man. Afraid of showing your cards, I’ll bet. Exactly how long have you been screwing him, Tessa?”
Tessa’s mouth tightened angrily. “Our relationship is none of your business, Alicia. I have no intention of talking to you about it.”
Alicia shook her head. “No wonder you always seemed to get the best assignments, why Andrew always seemed to favor you. It was because the boss wanted you for himself all along. Tell me, bitch, when he asked you to do all those spreadsheets for him, were you spreading something else at the same time? Your legs, maybe?”
Tessa gasped, and was struggling to maintain her composure when a pair of heels clicked rather loudly on the marble floor of the toilet area. Alicia glanced up, ready to tell the unwelcome intruder to mind their own business, when the words caught in her throat.
Joanna Gregson was regarding Alicia like she was something scraped off the bottom of a shoe. Both Alicia and Tessa were silent as Ian’s mother glided their way with carefully measured strides, a smile on her face that somehow chilled Alicia to the bone.
“Tessa, dear, you really ought to get back. Ian will be missing you,” said Joanna gently. “Tell him and my husband that I’ll be along shortly.” When Tessa hesitated, Joanna gave her a little push. “Go, my dear. I’ll join you once I have a little chat with the young – er, lady.”
Tessa gave a quick nod and then hurried out of the lounge.
Mrs. Gregson refocused that chilling smile on Alicia. “You’re a very pretty young woman. Your name, dear?”
Alicia swallowed with some difficulty. “Alicia Spencer, ma’am.”
Joanna fingered the fabric of Alicia’s pale lilac gown. “Lovely dress. Dior, I believe?” At Alicia’s nod she continued. “Pretty face, beautiful dress, but such an ugly soul. And frankly, it doesn’t seem that your years at a prestigious school like Wellesley did much to teach you things like good manners.”
Alicia flushed and began to stammer an apology. “I’m very sorry you had to overhear all that, Mrs. Gregson. I’m just - ”
“Disappointed that Ian didn’t choose you?” Joanna raised a dainty brow. “My dear, there have been a great many girls like you over the years who’ve pursued Ian – pretty, well-bred, well-educated. The woman he was engaged to once was very much like yourself. But do you know why none of them ever held his attention – why he didn’t pick you over – ah, what did you call Tessa – oh, yes, a nobody?”
Alicia could only shake her head, too cowed to utter a reply.
“It’s because that girl loves him for who he truly is,” replied Joanna softly. “She sees far beyond the man that everyone else sees, beyond his obvious attributes like good looks and wealth and power. And that is why there will never be anyone else for either of them. Because deep down, where it really matters, they are two of the kindest, purest souls you’ll ever meet, and somehow they’ve managed to find each other.”
Alicia stared rather sullenly at her shoes, refusing to acknowledge what Ian’s mother had just said. She knew – just knew – that bitch Tessa was most likely telling Ian all the awful things she’d just said to her, and wondered wildly how she was going to talk her way out of this, especially when his mother had apparently overheard every word.
“How long have your worked for our company, dear?”
Alicia was a bit startled at the question but replied, �
�Almost five years, Mrs. Gregson.”
Joanna nodded. “Ah, well, that will look impressive on your resume, won’t it? And if you don’t have it up to date, I’d strongly advise polishing it up, dear. Maybe at the same time you’re typing up the letter of resignation I’ll tell my son to be expecting on his desk tomorrow morning. Now, do be sure and enjoy the rest of your evening, Alicia. And lay off the alcohol, dear. Otherwise your complexion will start to look like your father’s before you know it.”
With a charming smile, Joanna exited the lounge, allowing Alicia the dignity of sobbing her heart out in private.
Chapter Twenty-Two
June
“Hmm. Good morning.”
Ian glanced up from his newspaper and smiled at the sight of the gorgeous blonde framed in the doorway. Her hair was rumpled and she was in the middle of a very wide yawn. He knew that beneath her long white cotton robe with its ruffled neckline that she would be nude, and his blood immediately started pumping a little hotter at this realization. Even with a severe case of bedhead and not a scrap of makeup, his girl never failed to arouse him, often just by being in the same room.
“Tired?” At her nod, he gave her an indulgent look. “You should have kept sleeping then, love. After all, we were up a bit late last night and will probably be so again tonight.”
Tessa shrugged, causing the gaping neckline of her robe to slide over her bare shoulder. “I got lonely in there without you. Why didn’t you wake me up?”
Ian chuckled. “For the same reason I ought to be tucking you back into bed right now. You obviously need your rest, darling. We have plenty of time until the wedding, you know. Why don’t you go back to sleep for a bit?”
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