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The sight of his father with that woman has obviously piqued his interest, because he’s so distracted he doesn’t even hear me asking him what’s wrong. I use the moment to place my untouched drink on the tray of a server as we pass them.
Thankfully, Alex didn’t notice I didn’t have a sip. I figured it was a dead giveaway after I asked him how he would treat our future children. I was sort of hoping he would pick up the future he was imagining with us as parents would come sooner than he thought.
But then I noticed his father, and it shattered the moment.
I don’t even knowwhyAlexander is approaching him. When we’re a few steps off, I realize why. The woman’s got an engagement ring on. The two of them are standing among a group of people—two men and two women. Ben is standing behind him, more focused on his job than the party.
My stomach twists, and I sort of wish I could drink, if even to calm my nerves. I always knew that meeting Griffin Duke would be difficult, but to know that he almost killed Alexander a few hours ago and clearly wants me dead puts a different spin on things.
Now they’re just a few paces off from each other, he’s shorter than Alexander. There’s little resemblance between them except for the shape of their eyes. He has dark hair—it’s graying at the roots—and gray eyes. He looks like he’s in his sixties, sixty-five if I had to guess.
But a strong sixty-five. There’s a sharp, biting edge to the aura that surrounds him. Even though he has a smile on his face, it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He has a few bruises on his face and a bandage on one of his hands.
So, Alexanderdidget a few punches in.
“Ah, here he is,” Griffin says, with a deceptive chirpiness, to the group of people with him. I tighten my grip on Alexander’s forearm. I know this can’t be easy for him, the pretentiousness. “My son, Alexander, and his acquaintance, Alize.”
That stings, but I can’t say I didn’t expect it. Griffin’s eyes skim over me disapprovingly, ending with a haughty look that feels more like castigation than anything else. I didn’t expect him to love me—I know I’m shy and a little awkward—but this feels a little ridiculous.
“She’s my fiancée,” Alexander amends.
Thank you.
I shake hands with the women of the group, and the men kiss my hands. Griffin looks incensed through the entire encounter, even though his guests seem pleasant enough.
“And you are?” I ask the woman on Griffin’s arm, smiling as sweetly as I can.
Bold of me, but it’s clearly the elephant in the room. She’s the reason Alexander brought us over here, because I got the impression he wanted to avoid his father as much as possible. I feel a little of the tension leave him at my question.
Griffin looks over at her. Now that we’re this close, it’s clear she isn’t much older than Alexander. Maybe she could even be the same age as him. As far as looks go, she’s the kind of girl I expect his father wantshimto end up with. She’s small and dainty, with a waif-like look that kind of makes you want to check her nailbeds to see if she’s getting enough oxygen.
She’s dressed in a white, floor-length dress that hugs her slight curves, and there’s a neat little tiara nestled in her blond, wavy hair. The girl gives me a smile, revealing a set of perfect teeth. Too perfect and white to be natural.
“Oh, I’ve heard so much about you two!” she says, grinning and stepping away from Griffin to come closer to Alex and I. “I’m Sarah,” she says. “I’m Griffin’s fiancée. I’ve been dying to meet you.”
I’m shocked. I look over at Alexander and he is positively dumbfounded. I know I should speak before he does, because there’s no way he’s going to be able to say anything nice.
“It’s so lovely to meet you, Sarah!” I force a smile.
The air among the group of onlookers is light, positive, unlike what I know Alexander is feeling.
“Will it be a double wedding?” One of the women jokes, and there’s laughter from Sarah and even a smile from Griffin.
“That’s what this party is for?” Alexander finally says, and even though there’s a hard edge to his voice, I’m thankful that what he’s said isn’t too offensive.
Griffin regards him with a cold stare. “Sarah’s birthday is in a few days. We’re celebrating for the week.” At his words, his fiancée looks up at him and he gives her a warm smile.
Does she know the kind of man she’s marrying?
“When did this happen?” Alexander asks, narrowing his eyes. Little by little, more and more anger bleeds into his expression. Already, I feel myself getting hot from the anxiety of this.
The last thing I want right now is for him and his father to come to blows. Griffin might actually kill him this time. Or worse, Alexander and I kill him in a room full of witnesses. I tighten my grip on Alexander’s forearm, hoping that somehow, he’ll focus on me instead of what his father is about to say.
“We met a month ago,” Griffin says matter-of-factly.
Sarah however, is positively brimming with excitement. “I applied for a job at one of the casinos. It was love at first sight.” So, she’s not from their world.
Again, I have to wonder if she knows the kind of man she’s marrying? Alexander doesn’t reply, only looks from Sarah to his father. The other people who were a part of the conversation have split from us now, obviously picking up the change in the air.
