Page 128 of Last First Date

“What is she doing here?” I muttered under my breath, a mixture of surprise and frustration bubbling within me. Waverly was not someone I anticipated seeing at this event. Her presence disrupted the carefully constructed walls I had built around my emotions. I had worked very hard to push away the images of her in the sexy gowns back in New York. Then she showed up wearing another one that was even sexier.

But why? Why in the hell was she here?

As the event unfolded, I realized with a sinking feeling that she was not just a random guest. She was a guest of honor.

It felt like a deliberate move, orchestrated to catch me off guard and stir the pot. Benjamin had managed to manipulate the situation to his advantage, using Waverly as a pawn in his twisted game.

I couldn’t believe she would be that naive. Why in the hell would she believe him? She had to know I would never stoop to his level. She caught my gaze and gave me a hard look before turning away.

Anger surged within me, directed not at Waverly, but at the conniving tactics of Benjamin. He had succeeded in making Waverly believe I was the villain. Now he was exploiting her presence to boost his own image. It was a calculated move that left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I decided then and there, I wouldn’t let Benjamin get the satisfaction he yearned for. I would not give him another chance to manipulate Waverly or take advantage of her. If he thought he could get away with it, he had another thing coming.

After exchanging pleasantries with a few more people, I maneuvered my way through the crowd toward Waverly, my heart thudding heavily in my chest. She didn’t notice me at first, engrossed in a conversation with a couple of Benjamin’s business associates.

“Excuse me,” I said, interrupting politely. When she turned to face me, her expression hardened. Her eyes, once warm and inviting, were now icy and guarded. She looked at me as though I was the enemy. That hurt more than she probably intended it to.

“Hello,” she said coldly, her voice barely above a whisper. She quickly turned away from me and resumed her conversation.

Ignoring the sting of her dismissal, I remained by her side, patiently waiting for her to give me a chance to speak. I couldn’t just walk away without at least trying to clear my name.

As the evening wore on, I found myself locked in a silent battle of wills with Waverly. Her stubbornness was only matched by my resolve. She may not have wanted to hear me out, but I didn’t plan on leaving without making my intentions clear. Benjamin was getting his way in that regard. I was staying for her. I would have left an hour ago if I wasn’t so desperate to talk to her. I wasn’t going to leave her. He would coerce her into going home with him. Or maybe he’d try to get her drunk.

Her cool indifference, however, proved to be more difficult to penetrate than I had expected. Every attempt at conversation was met with curt responses or dismissive looks. It was clear that she had formed an opinion of me based on Benjamin’s manipulations, and it wasn’t flattering.

Benjamin, for his part, watched from afar with a smug smile plastered across his face. He knew he had me cornered. He knew the situation was in his favor. But I was not going to let him continue his game unchecked.

Each time Waverly tried to slip away, I managed to find her in the crowd. I was keeping an eye on her, even if she didn’t want me to. She didn’t know what a snake Benjamin was.

As Waverly exited the room, presumably heading toward the restroom, I followed in pursuit. My heart pounded loudly against my ribcage as I weaved through the crowded room, eyes firmly fixated on the sweep of her gown as she vanished through an archway. A golden opportunity had presented itself, and I would be a fool not to seize it.

Out in the corridor, dimly lit by sparkling chandeliers, there was an eerie silence that contrasted with the lively buzz of the ballroom. I saw Waverly disappear into a restroom at the far end of the hallway.

I waited, leaning against an antique side table, allowing myself a moment to collect my thoughts. This had to be handled delicately. One wrong move and I could potentially push her further away and play right into Benjamin’s hands.

Unfortunately, when she came out, she was flanked by two other women like she knew I was waiting for her.

“Waverly, I need to talk to you,” I said.

“I’m sorry, but I need to get back to the party,” she said with a cool smile. “Maybe we can talk at work.”

She walked away without giving me a backward glance. I watched helplessly as she disappeared back into the ballroom, her dismissal cutting me sharper than any knife. The taste of defeat was bitter in my mouth, but I knew I had to swallow it down. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

For now, though, I was left with no choice but to retreat. Benjamin caught my eye from across the room, his smirk evident even from a distance. The smug satisfaction on his face made my blood boil. He thought he’d won.

But I wasn’t done fighting for Waverly. She might hate me, but I wasn’t going to throw her to the wolves. Benjamin was a wolf. He was parading around in sheep’s clothing, but I knew better.

I snatched a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, my eyes scanning the crowd. Benjamin walked toward Waverly. I watched as he gently touched her arm. He leaned in and spoke close to her ear. My blood literally felt like it was boiling in my veins.

A moment later, he took his spot on the stage. “Everyone, thank you for coming to our grand opening event. I am excited to be back home and I know you are all going to love what we have to offer. But enough of the boring business stuff. I’d like to introduce everyone to a very special guest. I know she’s a bit of a hometown hero right now. This beautiful woman is a friend of mine and I thought you would prefer her to talk about how awesome my new store is than me because let’s be honest. Don’t we all prefer to hear anything when it’s coming from a gorgeous lady?”

There was a lot of clapping. My stomach sank when I realized Waverly was acting as a PR person for him. The realization fueled the fire of resentment burning within me. I considered making a swift exit. If I had to stand by and listen to her sing his praises, it was going to be too much.

“Everyone, please welcome my friend, Waverly Edwards!”

The crowd cheered and whistled. I watched in horror as she carefully climbed the few steps onto the stage. Benjamin greeted her with a kiss on the cheek in a very intimate gesture that nearly gave me super-human strength to catapult over the crowd to tackle him. I managed not to do it, but it was close.

I had to leave before the very tenuous hold on my self-control broke. But just as I turned to leave, Waverly stepped forward, capturing the attention of the room. My curiosity compelled me to pause and listen, a mixture of apprehension and anticipation settling within me.