I’m glad they find my situation so amusing. At least it’s bringingsomeonejoy. My parents must also enjoy watching me struggle because they don’t seem surprised at how little progress I’m making after the cannoli incident.
I come to a stop in the crowd as people block a table, all surrounding my parents, as they talk about their plans for the next quarter. My dad’s face is beaming with pride, Arthur standing beside him with an equally proud smile. My mom catches my eye, giving me a quick thumbs-up and I flash her a smile. I know she’s counting on me tonight. She thinks the speech is going to be a piece of cake, and it should be since I spent all night rehearsing in the living room with the girls. I take one last look at them before turning in the opposite direction to head out the hall, when I spot Evan and his dad across from me.
What the fuck is he doing here?
Calahan and Evan Branson are the spitting image of each other. Both tall and blond, with sharp jawlines and smooth, deep voices. You can tell they spend a lot of time together just from the way they talk and act with each other. They look like business partners who go out for brunch together and play golf. It looks like Calahan didn’t even hesitate to let Evan into the business, and that shouldn’t irritate me as much as it does.
I would probably be exiled from my family for saying this, but Calahan Branson is hot. In a silver-fox, rich-dad kind of way. I never thought I’d be into that kind of thing, but there’s something about him that makes me stare at him for a little too long. He commands every room he’s in. It’s probably a confidence thing too. He knows how much power he has and isn’t afraid to show it.
Oh, and Evan’s here too.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen him at an event. Usually, his dad and other company seniors take the lead on that. I wonder why he’s here. Maybe it’s some sort of payback for slapping him. Maybe he found out about my speech later tonight and now he’s trying to distract me, or wants to watch me humiliate myself.
I’m already off my game. I can’t have him here. Not tonight.
Evan’s gaze snags on mine like a zipper getting caught on something. His eyes pierce me like heknowssomething I don’t. I can’t be seen speaking to him, never mindlookingat him. But he makes his way toward me, and I meet his strides, furiously pinning him with a look until I get to him.
I grab his arm and pull him out of the hall before anyone can notice, shoving him into the nearest closet.
EVAN
A bright light illuminates the tiny space I somehow, willingly, let Scarlett drag me into.
It looks like a facility closet of sorts, shelves packed high with cleaning solution and toilet paper. But I’m not really paying much attention to my surroundings because Scarlett’s here, furious as ever, and . . .
Look.
At.
That.
Dress.
I’m transported to last spring when Voss Couture had a feature in a popular magazine and I opened the second spread to see Scarlett’s face. She was wearing a simple black dress, a slit up one side, showing off her long, toned legs. Her hair was down, dark wavy strands covering her shoulders. She looked magnificent. Elegant. Rich. I wouldn’t say I’m interested in women’s fashion, but I stared at that picture for much longer than I needed to, and I still can’t get it out of my head.
I don’t think I’m allowed to look at her like this. I don’t think I should even be allowed to breathe the same air as her right now. Not like I need it anyway, since I haven’t been able to breathe much lately when she’s around. I don’t know when that started happening, but it really needs to stop.
She has subtle silver makeup around her eyes, complementing her earrings and her big, long lashes. She’s not wearing a necklace, but I still find myself looking down at her neck. Her throat shines with a sheen of sweat, and some dangerous part of me wants to put my mouth there just to be close to her.
No.
No, I absolutely do not want to be close to the girl who is part of the family who are my dad’s biggest rivals.
Jesus. What the hell is wrong with me?
I clear my throat, speaking for the first time since being in here. “Care to explain what’s going on here?”
She scoffs. “Me? I don’t have to explain anything. What areyoudoing here?”
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but my dad owns this pretty big company and—”
“Don’t smartass me,” she seethes. “You’ve not been to an event in months and it’s just a coincidence that you show up tonight? I don’t think so.”
I scratch my jaw, confused. “I don’t know what youthinkis going on here, but I’m not here for any other reason than to step in for my uncle who couldn’t make it tonight.”
She frowns. “You’re not here to get under my skin?”
Underher skin, no.
