Page 6 of Glitterati Omega

Rupert waited patiently as she listened; she turned her dark gaze to him, her lips drawing into a frown.

“Mmmhmm,” she said finally, “well, I suppose—”

She paused again, her gaze boring into Rupert’s. “You’re herenow?” she said finally, her brows jumping. She glanced around. “Yes—well. All right. Of course. Certainly.”

She hung up, then shook her head. “I’m sorry, Roo—there’s a big to-do tonight, this engagement party, the one with the nightmare bride—anyway, one of the bride’s party just arrived with a cake or something.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time,” he said, pointing to his phone screen. “My flight doesn’t leave until four. I’ve plenty of time—I’ll take a look at the menu.”

Alina smirked and shook her head, then disappeared to the front door. Rupert glanced down at the laminated sheet—he rolled his eyes atCape Town Brunch Special. He’d have to scold her about making up special menus for his visits.

The door banged open. “Are yousure,” Alina was saying, even as she staggered in backward, almost bent double under the weight of whatever confectionary horror the bride had ordered.

Alina tossed a quick look at him. “Get one of the carts,” she called, and Rupert spied a few of them sitting across the way, against the far wall. He trotted over as quickly as his heels would let him, then charged up one of the ramps with it.

Just in time, too, it seemed, as Alina almost threw the damn thing onto the trolly, huffing and puffing. The cake slid a little further onto the tray, pushed by dark, broad hands, which were attached to …

Winston, who peered curiously at Rupert. “Hullo,” Rupert said when he managed to find his tongue. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Winston replied. He looked at the cake again and, satisfied, straightened up.

“It seems heavy,” Rupert commented, looking at the cake, which was a towering confection of five tiers. “There isn’t a live person in it, is there?”

“Heavens, no,” Winston laughed. Then he frowned. “At least, Jake better not have …”

Rupert giggled a little. “I take it you’re in the wedding party?”

“Yes,” the lawyer replied. “And I have apparently drawn the short end of the stick—I am the lucky one who gets to handle all the errands before the party tonight.”

“Oh,” Rupert said. “That soundsunlucky.”

Winston gave him a strange look. “Perhaps not so much,” he murmured, before his gaze turned quizzical. “What are you doing here?”

Alina, who had walked off to find an appropriate cover for the cake, returned now. Rupert pointed to her. “Visiting my good friend who works in hospitality,” he said, watching Winston’s face transform with understanding. “Before I leave again this afternoon.”

“Leave again?”

Alina glanced between the two of them. Rupert ignored her. “Yes, I’m heading back to Cape Town.”

Winston frowned. “Morgan was going to ask you to accompany them to the party tonight.”

Rupert frowned. “Oh goodie,” he grumbled. “Another opportunity for Merl to sink his claws in.”

“Merl won’t be there,” Winston said.

“He won’t?” That seemed incredibly odd if Gwen, Morgan’s older sister, was getting married. Gwen was thick as thieves with both of her parents. Rupert couldn’t imagine her not inviting them.

He frowned, trying to puzzle that out. Morgan not telling him, Merl not showing … It got stranger and stranger.

Winston shook his head. “No. Why don’t you ask Morgan? They’d said they wanted you to stay.”

“Well,” Rupert drawled.

Alina laid a hand on his arm. “We should get back to brunch,” she said. “The staff will be in shortly to start decorating.”

“Oh!” Rupert cried, then looked at Winston. “Yes, we were having brunch. Would you care to join us?”

Alina stared at him; he could feel her gaze going right through his skull, like she wanted tox-ray his thoughts. Luckily for him, Winston just shook his head. “Thank you,” the lawyer said with that brilliant smile of his, “but I am afraid I must go. Many things to be accomplished before this evening.” He gestured to the cake.

“Oh,” Rupert said, unsure of why he felt like his heart had stopped. “Of course. Um. Well then. I … guess we’ll leave you to it.”

“Yes,” Winston said with a nod. “And perhaps I will see you tonight.”

With that, he turned and left. The door banged shut behind him, and no sooner had it than Alina pounced. “What was that all about?!” she squealed, and Rupert had to beat a hasty retreat to the table.