With a sinking in my gut, I realized he was talking toClaudia.
“My husband and Iwould love to see the staging area,” I said, making sure my voice was loud and clear.
Everyone looked at me, slightly startled.
“Oh,” the manager said, looking uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, I thought—”
I waved off the apology. “Staging, please?”
Claudia had dropped her hand from Ford’s arm, but her expression was stormy. As we all followed the manager, she came up alongside me. “That was unbearably rude,” she said.
“I agree,” I said. I was just about to tell her exactly how rude when Ford joined us.
“What was that all about?” he asked me.
Claudia frowned. “I’m not sure Emzee wants my help,” she said. “And if I’m not wanted, well, I’m happy to just go and leave you to it.”
Part of me wanted to tell her not to let the door hit her in the ass on her way out, but I knew that if I wanted this fundraiser to be a success, I needed her.
“Don’t go,” Ford said. “I’m sure Em was just eager to see everything.”
“Yep,” I said, grinding my back teeth together. “That’s what it was.”
Claudia gave Ford a dazzling smile. “I’m so glad we’re working together,” she told him. “We always made such a good team, don’t you think?”
My nails were digging into my palms.
“I guess we did,” Ford said.
“Remember that time in Ibiza?” Claudia asked. “We had so much fun traveling. All those adventures.”
Ford chuckled and patted Claudia’s arm. “That was a long time ago. Another life.”
“I think we should focus on the fundraiser,” I said, hoping to remind both of them that I was literally standing right there. “We still have a ton of logistics to iron out.”
Claudia glanced over at me and waved a hand dismissively. “I’ve been doing this for a long time. Once we pick a location, the rest will fall into place.”
“I’m sure it’s not that simple,” I argued.
She gave me a look. “It’s exactly that simple with me,” she said with a condescending little laugh. “It’s almost like you’ve never planned a fundraiser before.”
There was a long pause and then another laugh.
“Oh, wait,” she said, literally looking down her nose at me. “I guess you haven’t.”
She was right, dammit. I’d never planned a fundraiser before, and certainly not one of this scale.
“All I care about is raising money for See Yourself,” I said, yet again feeling like a third wheel for my very own project. “I’m sure you’ll do a great job.”
Claudia did that condescending laugh again. “Well, of course, I will,” she said. “It’s not rocket science but it does take a particular kind of gentle touch.”
She turned to Ford.
“And you know exactly how gentle my touch is, don’t you, Ford?”
They both laughed, and I forced myself not to scream. Claudia obviously had Ford wrapped around her finger, because he had yet to speak up for me even once—or even seem to notice what was going on.
How dare that…Trust Fund Barbie keep putting the moves on my man. Even after I’d flashed my rings in her face! Our marriage might be fake, but Claudia didn’t know that.
