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"Decourcy," Knix said, reaching out and taking the man's outstretched hand, shaking it firmly before releasing. "Good to seeyou."
"I take it this is the wife?" Decourcy said, turning to me. He took my hand, raising it to kiss hislips.
"My girlfriend," Knix corrected. "Harlow, this is Mr. Jacob Decourcy." I blushed as Decourcy's lips brushed my knuckles in a gentlemanlyfashion.
"Lovely to meet you," Decourcysaid.
"L-likewise," Istuttered.
"I'm going to run and grab us something to drink," Knix said suddenly. "Decourcy, would you mind keeping Harlowcompany."
Decourcy smiled at me. "Not atall."
I smiled back a little awkwardly as Knix leaned down and brushed a chaste kiss on my cheek before he disappeared back into thecrowd.
"So, Harlow, was it?" Decourcy looked atme.
"Uh, yes." I shifted a littlenervously.
"How long have you known Knix?" heasked.
"A few months," I admitted. "We haven't been together for verylong."
"Well, you must mean something important to him if he's brought you here. Knix rarely brings a date to these things. In fact, I'll chance it and say I haven't ever seen him with a woman here. Will you be joining him for the annual charity masqueradegala?"
A blush rose to my cheeks. I didn't know how to reply to that. Panic settled over my mind. I didn’t want to come off as snobby or ditzy to one of Knix’s associates. I swallowed around a throat full of anxiety and said the first thing that came to mind. "I’m not sure,” I said, sounding far calmer than I felt. “This is my first time coming with Knix to any of his business functions. I’m pretty impressed so far, though.” Hopefully, that wasappropriate.
Decourcy nodded. "Oh yes, Miss Vandersen-Caruso does a marvelous job with thesegatherings."
I froze as the name crossed his lips. Almost as if she had been conjured by some magic spell attached to her name, Theodora—Teddi—rounded the corner in a gold studded dress. Chandelier earrings dangled from the lobes of each ear, glittering in the light as she glided through the lounge. Her tinkling laughter rose above the murmur. I could almost see how she drew a crowd. Men looked at her and they wanted her. Women looked at her and they wanted tobeher. But oh no, not me. I just wanted the hell out of that room. I wanted to getawayfrom her—as far from her aspossible.
"I'm sorry, I've got to find Knix." I didn't even make up a better excuse as I practically ran from the room, finding a separate doorway that led back into the hall. The low sound of masculine laughter sounded from somewhere further down the dark corridor. I followed it, hoping for Knix. I wasn'tdisappointed.
Knix stood in an immaculate kitchen with two other gentlemen and a woman with short, curly, red hair pinned back against her scalp. The woman stood close to Knix, her hand locked on his elbow as he held up two glasses. I narrowed my gaze on the woman but shook my head. Now wasn't the time. I movedforward.
"Knix?"
He half turned and started out of surprise, his eyes widening when he saw me. "Harlow, I thought you were still with Mr.Decourcy?"
"I was, but I decided to join you. I have to tell you something." There was no way I could hold off any longer about what had gone down at the Cancer Care Center. Even if I wanted to wait for Grayson and Marv to get back from wherever they were, Teddi washere. She was herenow. Had she known we’d be here? It was only days ago that I’d seen her and now this? No. Instinct told me that this was not acoincidence.
"Who is this?" The red-haired woman latched onto Knix's arm and pulled him to a stop as he moved to step towards me. I frowned, closing the distance between us. I took one of the glasses from Knix's hand and then, without even considering the rudeness of my actions, I tugged the other woman's hand off of hisarm.
"I'm his girlfriend," I said plainly. Knix's eyebrows shot up. Not because of what I had said—he had said the same to Mr. Decourcy just moments before—but probably because of how quickly and sternly I removed the other woman's hand from him. She blinked at me as I set the glass down on the counter, politely excused myself and Knix from the rest of the room, and promptly dragged him out. It didn't escape my notice that Knix, too, left his drinkbehind.
As soon as we hit the empty hallway, Knix pulled me to a stop. "What's this about?" he asked, confusion marring his handsomefeatures.
"Grayson's mother is here," I said, my hands shaking. "And I haven't told you, butshe—"
"Harlow, dear, is that you?" The very devil I had just been about to tell him about spoke from behind me, making my entire back stiffen. Slowly, with excruciating displeasure, I turned towards Teddi as she glided out of the lounge, entering the hallway surprisingly alone despite all the followers I had seen nipping at her heels a few minutes before. "It's been so long, hasn'tit?"
"Harlow?" Knix looked down at me, his confusion increasedtenfold.
I sucked in a breath, fighting back the urge to glare at Teddi Vandersen-Caruso. I had the distinct feeling any sort of disrespect to her in this type of setting wouldn't go as it had at the CareCenter.
"Knix," I said quietly, forcing the words through my mouth as I spoke, "this is Teddi Vandersen-Caruso, Grayson'smother."
Knix's gaze rose to Teddi. He took in her immaculate looks, the way her hair fell perfectly, her makeup, her nails, everything. And I watched as shutters closed over his expression. With nothing but utter politeness, Knix took the hand that Teddi proffered and bent over it. "It's nice to meet you Miss Vandersen-Caruso, I’ve heard many things aboutyou.”
