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If he did…I had a strong feeling Heath might not make it to see his company’s IPO.
CHAPTER10
Dante
“Another one bites the dust. Something must be in the water, with the way everyone around me is suddenly getting hitched,” Christian drawled. “Howarethings with your blushing bride? Blissful, I hope.”
“Cut the crap, Harper, or I’ll throw you out myself,” I growled. My engagement party was insufferable enough without dealing with him.
I was still unsettled from my kiss with Vivian last week, and now I had to make small talk with a bunch of people I didn’t particularly care for.
A wicked smile slashed across Christian’s face. “Not blissful, then.”
In the fourteen years I’d known Christian Harper, not a single one had passed without him inciting me to near murder. It was almost impressive on his part.
Instead of strangling him like I wanted, I smoothed a casual hand over my tie. “Compared to your pining? It’s fucking paradise.”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t pine.”
“No. You simply slash the rent for everyone who wants to live in your building for no good reason.”
He wasn’t the only one who kept tabs on the people in his circle.
As a computer genius, owner of a luxury building in D.C., and the CEO of Harper Security, an elite private security firm, Christian had eyes and ears everywhere.
He knew about Francis’s blackmail. Hell, he was the one I’d tasked with tracking down and destroying the evidence.
He was also an asshole who got off on seeing how far he could push people. Some pushed back. Most didn’t.
Unfortunately for him, I was one of the few who called him out on his bullshit without hesitation.
“I’m not here to discuss my business decisions with you,” he said coldly. If anything could rile up the normally composed Christian, it was the mention, however indirect, of a certain tenant in his building. “I’m here to celebrate thisexcitingnew chapter of your life.” He lifted his glass. “A toast to you and Vivian. May you have a long, happy life together.”
“Fuck off.”
The bastard laughed in response, but the mention of Vivian unwittingly brought my eyes to where she stood chatting with an elegant older couple. She’d been the consummate hostess all day, mingling and charming the guests until I couldn’t take two steps without someone gushing to me about how lovelyshe was.
It was galling.
My eyes lingered on the sweep of hair cascading over her shoulder and the swirl of silk around her knees. Her parents were here, but she wasn’t wearing tweed, thank God. Instead, she wore an ivory dress that flowed over her curves and made my pulse pound.
Short sleeves, modest neck, elegant cut.
The dress wasn’t racy by any means, but the way she glowed in it—the way her skin looked smoother than the silk and the way the skirt ruffled in the breeze—made my blood burn a little hotter.
Vivian laughed at something the couple said. Her whole face lit up, and I realized I’d never seen her genuine, unguarded smile before. No sarcasm or prim facade, just sparkling eyes, rosy cheeks, and an airy lightness that transformed her from beautiful to stunning.
Awareness kindled in my chest, hot and unwanted.
“Should I come back after you’ve finished ogling her?” Christian swirled the ice in his glass. “I don’t want to intrude on a private moment.”
“I’m not ogling her.” I dragged my eyes away from Vivian, but her presence remained a tangible heat on my skin. I tried to shake it off to no avail. “Enough bullshit. Give me an update on the project.”
He sobered. “Business operations are going as planned. The other situation is progressing, but not as quickly as we’d hoped.”
The pieces were falling in place for Francis’s business takedown, but we were still stalled on the evidence front.
Dammit.
