What is Courtney doing here?
The woman standing beside her in a very short black dress turns and catches my eye.She smirks and gives me the dirtiest look, which promises everything I usually want.
A second later, when I don’t respond, she taps Courtney’s elbow.I watch her turn, and she looks about as happy as I am to see her.Despite how we left things.
Before I realize what is happening, I’m standing before her.“Mrs.Blackmore.”
“Mr.Sterling.”Her smile is nervous.
Something you want to tell me?
“Hello, I’m Kylie Spencer.”The brunette holds out her hand.My eyes flick back to her, and I realize I know who she is.
Kylie is a supermodel.Or soon to be.
“Any relation to the Spencer family in England?”I ask, referring to the late Princess Diana.
Kylie snorts.“No, more like the Spencer’s of Main Street in Michigan.”
I frown.“You grew up on Main Street in Ann Arbor?”
Kylie stares at me for a long moment, then breaks out into laughter.She is fucking beautiful, I’ll give her that, but beside Courtney, I barely notice.
“No, but I love that you know there’s actually a Main Street in my old state.”
Isn’t there in every city, in every part of the world?I’ll check during my next doom scroll.
“Zander, we’re being seated.You coming?”Dereck appears beside me.
I turn and lift a brow at him humorously.We both know I don’t need him to show me to the table.He’s here to be introduced.I just don’t know who he’s got his eye on.
I know who hecan’ttouch, and I’ll make that fucking clear if I need to.
“Ladies, this is a friend of mine, Dereck Baxter.”I turn back and my eyes land on Courtney almost in warning.
They sparkle back in challenge.
“Pleasure,” he kisses the back of Kylie’s hand and then Courtney’s.The cunning bastard gives them both the same amount of attention, keeping his options open.“You both look stunning this evening.”
Courtney appears uncomfortable with the compliment, which I’m amused by.I can’t believe it would be her first.
“I didn’t realize you were attending.”My voice is rough.
“Why would you?”she asks, sipping her champagne, but we’re interrupted when the City Comptroller turns around.
“Sterling, good to see you.”
“Jeremy,” I shake his outstretched hand.
“Nice seeing you again, Mrs.Blackmore.”He pats her arm and walks off.
I lift a brow in question.
“Adam and I did a lot of entertaining.Many politicians and the like came to our home over the years.”She explains, her gaze darting around.“I wasn’t sure how I’d be received tonight, but he’s not here, and so I suppose they feel safe to speak to me.”
I almost cringe, but this is common in divorce.
People feel they should take a side.It’s just another reason I find marriage ridiculous.
