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“And you know why he’s always angry? Even if you won’t tell me.”
“Lance isn’t angry. He’s careful. Calculated. Maybe more than any of us. He has good reason to be wary and doesn’t want the fake that’s thrown around the room at events like this. And what’s a smile if it isn’t real?” He shrugs.
“Umm, manners?”
“Scarlet, if it’s manners you’re looking for, you’ve been cancelling the wrong business meetings.”
“Charles.” I slap his arm.
He laughs and bumps his knee against mine. “I’m messing with you. He took the fall for you just now. I don’t think you realise what it would have taken out of his ego to do that. That’s about all the manners you’ll get from the guy, and it would’ve been out of respect to your brother, no doubt.”
“I didn’t ask him to lie.”
“Exactly. Reiterates the kind of man he is, wouldn’t you say?”
Lance didn’t have to take the fall for me cancelling the meeting, and I don’t know why he did, but I am thankful.
I also don’t fully believe he did it for my brother.
Our food is served, and I sit quietly for the remainder of the meal, only speaking when someone asks me a question. When I see Mason locked in a conversation with Malcolm, I take it as my chance to slip away from him and our group, needing a minute alone. As I pull my chair back, all four sets of eyes land on me.
This is ridiculous. “I’m going to the toilet.”
Mason looks back to Malcolm and then goes to stand.
“I’ll go,” Lance speaks up, placing down his tumbler as he leisurely rises from his chair. “I need to speak with Jake.”
“I can take myself to the toilet, thank you.”
Charlie lets out a “hmm” at my side, and I give him a death stare in return.
“Go with her,” Mason says to Lance.
I roll my eyes and walk away, but I’m pulled back by my hand. Mase looks up at me as he leans back in his chair. “You told me todealhowever I need to. Well, this is part of it. I want someone with you tonight.”
My face softens, and I nod in understanding. My brother hasn’t ever been this protective of me, but I guess I’ve never been anywhere like this with him before either. I’m not in anyone’s way out at the estate.
I link my arm in Lance’s when he holds it out to me, and we walk through the ballroom.
“Do you go to all work events with my brother?” I ask, sighing as the smell of him washes over me. It’s all man, but it’s not natural. Soap maybe? I need to know what he uses.
“The ones I want to go to.”
“You’re close with him.”
“I am.” He side-eyes me. “But that wasn’t a question.”
“He took you to the lodge. Our place in Bora Bora.”
“And that’s monumental because?”
“It just is.” I look up at him and find his eyes scanning the bar area. I’m not tall enough to see what has his attention, but a part of me wants it to be me. “You’re in a mood tonight. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing that concerns you,” he murmurs nonchalantly as if this is the most uninteresting conversation he’s ever had.
“But there’s something?”
He releases my arm and points to a corridor that leads off to the side of the room. “Toilets are down there. I’ll wait here.”
