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Gigi cuts me off. "I think your girl is at the other end of the bar wondering why you're down here making a scene."
My eyes are fixed on her face waiting to see a crack that says this isn't what it looks like, but it never comes. Instead, she just stares back at me, completely void of emotion.
Ethan takes that moment to place his hand on her waist. I put my hands on my hips and take a deep breath, so I don't strangle him.
"You better fucking remove that hand before you lose it."
The asshole dares to laugh before saying, "Maybe you should let Gianna choose who's hands she wants on her."
Before I can even respond to that, Carson walks up and wraps her arm around my waist, effectively tucking herself into my arm as if we're some cozy couple. She knows damn well the only reason she is here tonight is that our families set this up months ago. Her parents bought a twenty-thousand-dollar table and since we had been dating it was only fitting, that she would be my date.
“Auggie, you left me all alone.” Why the fuck does she keep calling me that? The only person who has called me that is Ethan, and he does it out of insolence. Before I can remove her arms from my waist, she shocks the hell out of me.
“Oh hey, Ethan, who's the flavor of the week?" Is she kidding me right now? Has she always been this spiteful towards other women, or is this a new development since she's been away?
Gianna doesn't even flinch at her words. Instead, she picks up her shot, tips it back, and says, "Oh, I'm not his flavor of the week. He's my sugar daddy."
Is she fucking serious right now?
I watch on in horror as she turns into him, grabs his suit lapel, and says, "Come on, daddy, I'm getting bored." His eyes are sparkling with delight, like he's enjoying every second of this exchange. Then, giving me a cocky smirk, he shoots his shot, grabs his drink, and walks away with her in tow. I'm just about to lunge at him and knock his ass out when Eduard appears out of nowhere.
"August looks like your dad's having a great turnout tonight!" He claps me on the shoulder and gives it a good squeeze before addressing Carson.
"Carson, sweetheart, it's always a pleasure seeing you here on August’s arm." He leans in and kisses her cheek.
"Eduard, I was at the salon this morning, and when I walked out, I saw you getting into a brand-new Ferrari Aperta. Lucky man you."
My eyes widen in surprise, my aunt has a decent trust fund, and Eduard makes good money working for my dad, but not two-million-dollar Ferrari good. Last month they went on a month-long trip to Europe, and they just bought the most ostentatious house of anyone I know. They must be investing well, or they're blowing through her inheritance.
"Well, you only live once." He admonishes. I fucking hate pompous small talk, not to mention this entire exchange is incredibly bizarre. Eduard never makes small talk with me or Carson because he has nothing to gain from us. This entire interaction only reminds me that he’s up to something. I excuse myself to go find Gianna. There is no way she is willingly here with Ethan.
"If you guys will excuse me, I need to use the restroom."
I swiftly start walking away before they pull me into more trivial commentary and God forbid Carson tries to follow me to the restroom.
Once I'm clear, I quickly scan the room and see that Ethan is making his rounds and is currently stuck talking to his dad's board of directors. If I walk over there and steal Gigi, I know he won't be able to stop me because he'll have to keep up appearances with the board.
"Gentlemen, if you'll excuse the interruption, I'm just going to steal Gianna away for a moment." Ethan sets his jaw and glares daggers at me, and out my peripheral, I see him squeeze her hip. If that was a silent message, I wouldn't know because her gaze gives nothing away. When I extend my hand to her, she gives the men a curt smile before saying, "If you'll excuse me," and then she takes my hand.
Her hand in mine feels so good, like I can finally breathe even though I want to murder someone. Promptly I pull her aside to a quiet empty table. I try to search her expression for answers, but she won't meet my eyes. Finally, irritated by my stare, she says, "What do you want, August?"
Is she kidding me right now?
"What do I want? Does that mean you care now?"
She finally gives me her eyes. "That's rich coming from you, considering you never cared. Just leave me alone and go back to your girlfriend."
"Is that what this is about? You still think I'm with Carson. I haven't been with Carson for months, Gianna. I'll fucking kiss you right here, right now, in front of this entire room so there’s no question who you belong to."
I step into her, seeking approval, but she nervously looks around me searching for Ethan. I'm entirely enraged, and I don't want to take my anger out on her and make things worse, but before I can say another word, she moves to walk around me. Grabbing her wrist, I halt her movement. "You'll let him of all people parade you around as his flavor of the week, but I had to keep you as a secret?"
She closes her eyes and swallows hard as if readjusting her mask for the night before saying, "You played me, at least with Ethan. I know what I'm getting."
She yanks her wrist out of my hand and hurries off toward Ethan, who has started walking our way. When she reaches him, he rubs the sides of her arms and looks up at me like checkmate mother fucker. What the hell is going on? When would they have even talked? I'm missing something big, and I can't place it.
Everyone starts taking their seats for dinner, and I notice Gianna excuse herself and head for the doors. Ethan seems to be in a deep conversation with his dad, so I quickly slip out in search of Gigi.
She walks into the women's bathroom, and I make sure no one is watching before I follow her in. Inside I instantly scan the room to make sure we're alone before locking the door. Gianna is bent over the sink running cold water over her forearms, so she hasn't noticed my approach. When she shuts off the water and looks in the mirror, her gaze locks with mine, her breath catches, and her skin prickles with goosebumps.
