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“In that case, let’s take the seats nearer to the door, at the front.” Kelly tugged on her arm, leaving her little room to protest.
Raina reluctantly agreed and they made their way to the front, a position that did not entirely please her. The hall filled up quickly and she entertained herself by people watching. She looked sideways at Kelly and saw her engrossed in the program that had been handed to them at the entrance. Kelly was hoarding the program, and hadn’t shared it with her.
“Why did you bring me here, Kelly?” Raina finally asked.
“Well, the talk is on entrepreneurship and I thought it’s something you’d enjoy.”
“That goes to show how little you know me,” Raina mumbled.
“Did you say something?” Kelly said, grinning from ear to ear.
She had obviously heard Raina’s comment. She was about to say something when the lights dimmed. Kelly shushed her and pointed to the podium.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this year’s …”
Raina tuned out. She paid attention again when the main speaker was being introduced. He caught her attention for the familiar way in which he walked, as though he was in no rush. Something about him captivated her and Raina sat up straighter in her seat. When he turned, his blue eyes seemed to glow against the lighting of the podium.
“Hi everyone, thanks for having me. My name is Christian Del Mar …”
Del Mar? Like the Del Mar Hotel? Raina felt her panic growing. Did Kelly not know her at all? This is the last place she would want to be. A tightness was gripping her chest, making it hard to breath. She had to get out of there.
She shot Kelly an angry look. “I’m leaving.” she hissed.
“Wait!” Kelly whispered urgently. “Wait—don’t you see? Don’t you see who it is?”
Raina turned her attention to the stage in confusion. What did she care about the Del Mar Group’s owner? She had been fired after all? He was probably some old, pompous geezer. Some ancient, rich, white, asshole, who spent his days counting his money and looking down on all the little people he’d trampled on to get where he was.….
She raised her eyes to the podium, and her angry gaze slowly turned curious, and then … astonished.
Raina’s heart stopped beating. She stared at the man in disbelief.
It couldn’t be, could it? It was Christopher up on that stage! But no … it was … Christian Del Mar… but it was also Christopher.
She gripped the chair in front of her and kept her gaze on the man. She listened to his voice, watched his body movement. And she knew.
Christian Del Mar was Christopher Smith, without a doubt.
A swelling of anger started in her stomach, growing bigger and bigger, so that when she turned to glare at Kelly, she felt as though she would burst. Kelly nodded in reply, her expression solemn.
“How could you?” Raina hissed. “How could you not tell me?”
“I only learned last week, Raina. I’m sorry, I thought you’d be happy!” Kelly said.
“Happy? Are you crazy? How can I be happy at such deceit? He lied to me! You lied to me!” She didn’t know which betrayal hurt the worst.
“Hush!” voices around them called out.
Raina gave Kelly one last glare before turning her attention back on stage. Her heart did a somersault despite her anger and feelings of betrayal.
Christopher—no, Christian looked so handsome standing there. She watched the movements of his lips and her mouth ached at the memory of them kissing. The happy memories they had shared flooded over her, making her momentarily forget how angry she was. Then he said something about Del Mar and the reality hit her like cold icy water.
Christopher, Christian, or whatever his name was, was the owner of Del Mar Group of companies! Why the hell had he deceived her? Why pretend to be some lowly maintenance guy, pretending that he cared for her and the kids, when his worl
d was obviously so removed from theirs?
He must have laughed at their small lives and petty problems. The more she sat there watching him, the more her anger grew. She felt humiliated, knowing that while she had given him her heart, she had surely never been anything but a momentary distraction to him. All the dreams she’d shared with him—he’d never intended on being a part of them.
Lying Bastard.
