by Nadia Lee
“Did you like it?” Mark asked after the performance was over.
“I loved it. Oh wow.” She gave him a big grin. After years of setting Gavin’s social calendar for him, she was finally experiencing a high society date herself. “Thank you. It was beautiful.”
He grinned back at her. “My pleasure.” He kissed the back of her hand. She shivered at how soft his mouth felt there, and how the little touch made her insides throb. She smiled even more brightly.
The crowd moved to a giant hall set up for a special reception. Bright crystals dripped from numerous chandeliers. The shiny marble floor showed a blurry reflection of the angels and clouds painted on the domed ceiling, and tuxedoed servers wove through the guests to offer them refreshments. Everyone had donated at least twenty thousand dollars to the cause to build schools in some poor country in Africa. Eliza Pryce-Reed was a shrewd fundraiser, and apparently educating and feeding children was her thing.
Standing by Mark’s side, Hilary sipped a glass of champagne and watched the who’s-who of high society mingle. They chatted like they were all best friends, and people greeted each other so sweetly. Everyone was dressed to be seen and noted. Hilary was certain of it. The perfume in the air alone had to cost more than twenty thousand dollars.
A group of people came by to sweep Mark away to get his thought on some venture they were trying to get off the ground. “I shouldn’t leave my date,” he said.
A middle-aged man took a long look at Hilary. “She can come with you I suppose.”
“No, it’s all right,” she said. Most men weren’t comfortable talking business freely in the presence of a woman they didn’t know well. “Go ahead.”
Mark turned to Hilary. “You sure?”
She nodded. “I’ll just go out and get some fresh air while you do your thing.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He dropped a quick kiss on the top of her head.
After he was gone, she stood by the veranda railing. The night glittered with the lights of the city. It was interesting to be at the same social event as her boss, but as a guest rather than some type of support staff. And it was intriguing to observe the way all these wealthy and famous people treated Mark. She’d thought he was popular and good at operating restaurants. But apparently his talents extended beyond that since several people had wanted his opinion on various investments they were considering.
She took a deep breath of the cool evening air, trying to relax. Yeah, Mark was gorgeous, smart and funny. That only made him more impossible for her. Even if he hadn’t been a playboy—and the son of a playboy—he was totally out of her league.
She was a Rosenberg girl. When she was growing up, adults had looked at her with pity and contempt, certain she’d end up just like her mother. Kids had been worse. They’d spat on her and kicked her and called her horrible names. All of them had known she wasn’t worth anything, and it was all she could manage to claw herself out of the fate everyone had been sure would be hers. But that wasn’t enough to date somebody like Mark.
“Whew.” A man came onto the veranda and sighed. “Do you mind if I hide out here for a bit?”
“Not at all,” she said, bemused and glad for a distraction. He looked just like Mark except for the dark eyes. And his exceptionally clean and classic profile confirmed her suspicion. “Are you one of the Pryce brothers?”
“Yeah. Iain.” He gave her a long stare. “You’re Hilary Rosenberg, right?”
“Yes,” she said, a little surprised.
“I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Hopefully it was mostly complimentary.” Then she remembered the YouTube video and winced inwardly. Maybe not.
He gave her a lopsided grin that looked remarkably like Mark’s. But Iain didn’t make her breath catch or insides warm. “Don’t worry. So, did he beg you to save him from having to date and possibly marry the dreaded heiress?” His eyes sparkled. “I hope you made him get on his knees. You deserve at least that much.”
Self-conscious, she laughed. “Stop teasing.”
“Do I look like the teasing type to you?” He leaned against the railing and they looked out over the city lights. “I’m always serious about women.”
“Mmm. The way Mark is, I’m sure.”
He turned his head and studied her. “You’re pretty direct.”
“Is there any point in not being direct?”
“I suppose not.” He gave her another easy smile. “I can see why my brother’s into you. You’re more interesting than Katarina. So why are you hiding out here? Do you need some solitude away from my no-good brother?”
“No, it’s because some finance guys stole me away from her,” Mark said from behind them. His hands settled around her waist, and it was all she could do to not melt into his warmth. “If you stay here much longer, Mom’s going to track you down. You know how she is.”
Iain sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. I should’ve followed Dane’s example and just run off.”
“Ah, but the heir is poised to return,” Mark said in a pompous announcer’s voice, “so you’ll be safe again soon enough.”
Hilary tilted her head and looked up at Mark. “When?”
“In a few weeks for the Fourth of July party.”
And based on what Kim had said, he wouldn’t be going back to wherever he lived. That was much faster than Hilary had expected.
“Come on. Let’s go back in and mingle.” Mark lowered his head and whispered into her ear, “I want us to be seen. I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
Mine.
Her stomach fluttered at such a possessive word. Warmth started at the small of her back where his hand still rested and spread to the rest of her. She wanted to lean just a little bit closer to him, angle her body just so, but she swallowed hard and resisted the urge. This was a make-believe relationship. After it was over, he’d return to what he did best—going from one Quarterly Girl to another. Everyone here probably knew she was one…except she was only going to last a month.
Did they pity her?
Despite her apprehensions, everyone Mark introduced her to was gracious. Most knew who she was—Gavin’s trusted assistant. That probably helped, since most people knew how much her boss liked her, and not many people wanted to offend Gavin.
Toward the end of the event, Hilary slipped away to the ladies’ room. Maybe she shouldn’t have drunk so much, but it was difficult to resist the best champagne and cocktails money could buy, and waiters had ensured she was never empty-handed.
As she was finishing up in a stall, she heard a few women walk in. One of them sniffed loudly, while two others moved around, their shoes clacking against the tiled floor.
“Did you see that redheaded cow he brought here?” Woman Number One said, sniffing again.
“I know. What an ass. And I don’t mean hers. I can’t believe he downgraded. What does he see in her?”
“He must like them shameless. Did you see how she was strutting around? Where did she even find a Dior that huge? I’m surprised her heels don’t break under all that weight.”
“He could take her down to Texas. Every other step and she’d strike oil.”
There was tittering laughter. Hilary put her hands on her suddenly hot cheeks.
“Crap. I can’t find my lipstick,” a third woman said.
Some rustling and clattering, and Woman Number Two said, “Try mine. It’s almost the same shade.”
“Thanks.” A short pause. “It galls me how people can’t see what she really is. For god’s sake, she’s a secretary.”
“Yup. Bet she got her job because she’s good at…”
Hilary strained to hear what the other woman was saying, but obviously she wasn’t going to say it out loud. Or maybe Hilary just couldn’t hear over the roar of her blood in her ears.
A moment later all the women burst out laughing. “Oh my god! Who would want that from somebody who looks like her?”
“Some men like them chubby. Besides, she has
that trashy look going on.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if her family’s been on one of those daytime talk shows.” Woman Number Two put on a twangy accent. “‘How could you fuck mah sister while you were wit me? Ah even had your baybee!’”
The ensuing giggles sounded garbled and distant as spots appeared in Hilary’s vision. How could they know? Was it that obvious? It was shameful to admit, but the fact was both her mother and aunt would’ve been more than happy to be on one of those programs. She could just imagine them, twin sisters fighting over who deserved Tim more…except he’d been generally unavailable for that kind of confrontation. There had been too many women to screw to bother with TV.
“…let her enjoy her Cinderella moment,” Woman Number Three was saying. “Soon the clock’s going to strike midnight. You know Mark. She’ll be lucky to last one month, much less three.”
“No shit. Taylor, you’ll get him back.”
“Oh, I plan to,” Woman Number One said.
The voices dwindled as the three women exited.
Her knees weak, Hilary opened the door of the stall and peered out. Her reflection stared back from the big mirror, and suddenly her entire ensemble—the dress, the earrings, her make-up, everything—looked ludicrous, like expensive window dressing on a dime-store mannequin.
The women were wrong. She wasn’t even Cinderella. In the fairy tale, everyone thought she was a princess…because deep down, Cinderella was a princess kind of girl. Hilary wasn’t like that. It didn’t matter what she wore or whose arm she was gracing. She could never hide who she was. What she was.
She was a messed up girl from a messed up family. She didn’t belong here.
* * *
Mark could tell something was wrong the instant Hilary returned from the bathroom. She was so pale, not even the makeup could hide it. “Hey, you all right?” He took her hand, and the iciness of her skin shocked him. Her eyes were glazed, but it couldn’t have been from drinking. She’d been fine when she left. “Hilary, baby, talk to me. Are you all right?”
“I don’t feel so good.” She rubbed a finger against her temple. “I want to go home.”
“Yeah, sure. Of course.” He made some excuse to Eliza—she promised to see him again at the family party—and escorted Hilary out. The driver waited outside with their limo.
Hilary shivered in the car, and Mark put his jacket around her. What the hell had happened to make her like this? She’d seemed to be having a good time, and everyone they’d met had been gracious and sweet…except his ex, Taylor, who’d somehow managed to wrangle an invitation. Eliza had apologized profusely for the awkwardness, but whatever. It wasn’t like Taylor didn’t know the score, and she’d behaved herself even if her eyes had flashed daggers at Hilary. Stupid girl. If she’d been smarter, she would’ve known their breakup had nothing to do with Hilary.
Still…
“Hey, did something happen back there? Somebody say something to you?” he asked. If it was Taylor, he’d throttle her.
Hilary started. “No. Nothing like that. I just have a headache.”
He put an arm around her, and she flinched. “Sorry,” she said, then gave him a wan smile. “I sort of ruined it, didn’t I?”
He wanted to know what made her pull away like that, but she was trying so hard to put on a brave face that he didn’t have the heart to push her on it. It was obvious she was barely hanging on, and he could sense control was important to her. So he forced a lighter tone. “Ruin what?”
“You know…the function. Whatever. You need to mingle and be seen.”
“Nah. Eliza doesn’t care so long as she gets my money. I’m just a mobile ATM as far as she’s concerned.”
Hilary’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“No. I’m kidding. She likes me, but yeah, she also hits me up for money a lot. It’s for a good cause, so I don’t mind too much.”
Hilary’s place was a rather humble house located in a lower middle-class neighborhood. Strange. Mark knew she could afford something nicer than this. The commute alone would be pretty awful, given how far it was from Gavin’s downtown office.
They pulled up, and a moment later the door opened, the chauffeur standing by like a sentinel. She put a hand on Mark’s arm. “You don’t have to get out. I can walk myself.”
“But…” How could he argue with those pleading eyes? She looked like she’d shatter if anybody even breathed wrong around her. Against his better judgment, he nodded. “Okay, but I’m swinging by tomorrow to check up on you.”
“I’m fine.”
“We’ll see.”
She started to shrug his jacket off, but he stopped her. “Take it. That’s the least you can do after destroying my hopes and dreams for the evening.”
She gave a small laugh, but stepped out with his jacket. It settled around her like a lover’s embrace, and he wished he were wrapped around her instead. Then he could press his lips to hers and warm her with his heat.
It was a desire he’d had more than a few times in his life, with more than a few women. But for some reason it went deeper this time, with an emotional undertone that felt foreign. And he found that bothered him.
Chapter Nine
Watching the limo disappear, Hilary pulled the jacket closer. It smelled so good…like Mark. She could almost pretend it was his arms around her.
What a crazy thought. The two of them weren’t going to end up together. No matter how she viewed the situation, those women in the bathroom had been right. She didn’t belong with him. At least Cinderella was a well-born girl down on her luck. There was nothing well-born about Hilary or her family.
She started toward the house, then stopped when a man jumped out of a car. Her eyes widened when she recognized Walt and his Lexus.
“Hilary!” he said, approaching her rapidly. His shirt and slacks were rumpled. His prematurely graying hair stuck up in clumps, which was unusual. He always looked so professional and doctor-like.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, tightening her hold around the jacket.
“I’ve been trying all night to get in touch with you.”
Her phone had been turned off for the concert, and she hadn’t turned it back on yet. “What’s there to talk about?”
“Look, I don’t know what happened, but I don’t have a fiancée.”
“What?”
“I’m saying… Shit.” He raked his hair, messing it up further. “I saw the YouTube video. A colleague told me about it, and I was like what the hell?”
“Walt, it happened over a week ago, and you just found out?”
“I was out of the country for a conference. I told you that.”
“Yes, you did. You were always really great about telling me when you weren’t going to be around.” Something bitter spread in her chest. “So thoughtful.”
“You don’t seriously believe her, do you? I swear to you, I’ve never seen that woman before.”
“Well I certainly don’t know her. So…what? You want me to believe that some woman neither one of us has ever seen before suddenly decided to see if she could break us up? Just for shits and grins? Is that really what you’re asking me to buy?” Her pent-up fury, fear and humiliation shattered her control. If he hadn’t been a two-timing bastard, she wouldn’t have been subjected to the scene at her company lobby. Nor would she have gone out with Mark…and heard all those horrible things about herself. She fisted her hands and glared at him. “Because if you are, I’ve got a better scenario. You’re here because your fiancée dumped you for cheating on her, and now you want to see what you can salvage out of the mess!”
“Hilary—”
“Just stop. There’s nothing you can do to change any of it. It’s over, Walt.”
“But—”
“I thought you were different. I thought you were one of the few good guys.”
“I am a good guy!”
“No, you’re not. You’re a horrible jerk. Did I look so easy to you? Was there somethin
g on my forehead that said, ‘This woman’s okay to fool around with on the side, while my fiancée sits at home thinking I’m out there saving some baby’s life?’”
Walt pulled back like he’d been struck. Then he looked at her up and down, as if he’d just noticed her clothes. “I see. So this woman has provided you with convenient, guilt-free permission to move on. Who did you latch onto? Your boss?”
“Are you crazy? He’s married!”
“Why would that matter to you?”
“It means everything to me! I’m not like some people.”
“Girls like you… Why wouldn’t you want to marry well? You know the kind of life they can give you. You see it up close every day. I remember you talking about the jet your boss gave his wife. I…” His mouth tightened. “I’ll never be able to give you that.”
“This isn’t about money or private jets, Walt. It’s about you cheating.” Me picking the wrong guy again.
“I told you I don’t know the woman. This is all about you”—he pointed at Hilary—“willing to dump me so you can move on to something better. And if your boss isn’t available, what did you do? Snatch one of his rich clients and friends?”
Hilary stiffened. “You are not making this about me.”
“I have a better idea. Let’s not make it about either of us anymore. I want the bracelet back.”
“Oh, so the real reason for this visit comes out.”
“It belonged to my mother. It’s for a woman who’s true and deserving, not somebody like you.”
Bitterness and anger flooded her. He was the one in the wrong, but somehow it was she who was unworthy of anything better. “Sue me.”
She turned to go. He caught her wrist. “Don’t do this,” he ground out.
She gave him a cold stare. “Let go or I’ll call cops for harassment and sic an army of lawyers on you.” When his grip tightened, she lost her temper. “You don’t think I’ll do it? Like you said, I found myself a rich boyfriend. And he will be more than happy to drag you all over the court system for me.”
