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With a sigh of frustration, he gives me a remorseful look. "Give me a moment." He hits the button and steps away speaking quickly in French.
My high school French is rusty, but I catch a few curse words in the mix. Even so, I can't focus on it because the name Marshall rings in my head like a bell. Had Sebastian told me this party was at Drew's family home? I don't think so. Why hadn't Drew told me about it either when I just saw him a few days ago?
Shit. Everything comes raining down on me at once. Am I even ready to see Drew’s dad again? I monitor Seb, silently urging him to hurry the hell up on his call. But he only talks faster and moves farther away. So much for making me stay near his side all night.
I look between Sebastian and the front of the house. This strange feeling of being full, content encompasses me. I can do this. Turning my attention back to the house, I lift my head, and start up the stairs alone.
I'm no one's fucking punching bag.
Not Drew's, not his dad's. No one’s.
I square my shoulders and make it to the wide open double doors. With an exhale, I make the choice that it's time to start this new life properly, by facing down the end of my old one.
25
DREW
Five minutes in and I already want to rip this bow tie off and get out of this penguin suit. While I'd love to skip this party, my father made it clear I better show my face. Since I wanted to check on Mom, I decided to show up and not poke the bear. At least not tonight when he'll be his most volatile.
But the second I arrived at the house, I got dragged into the preparations. My father, as usual, is nowhere to be found until the drinks start circling, or there's someone's money to steal.
I do what I can with zero knowledge, and when my phone pings another text from Bel, I tug my phone from my pocket and duck into the kitchen for a moment of privacy.
It takes a second for my phone to pick up the Wi-Fi and then the picture to load. I smile at the long, sexy line of her leg in a dress. She never wears a dress. It frames her thigh down to the black heels on her feet. What the hell is she doing in heels?
One of the kitchen staff finds me hiding to get the decision on some wine. It all tastes like shit to me, so I just point at one of the bottles and say use the most expensive one. If only to fuck with that asshole and cost him more money.
My mind stays stuck on Bel's leg. Oh fuck. No. Seb and I talked about this, or rather argued about it. There's no way in hell Bel should be coming to this fucking meeting.
I rush out of the kitchen toward the foyer. Maybe I can intercept them before they arrive and talk Seb out of it. It'll piss Bel off, but I don't want my wallflower anywhere near these assholes. Not after what happened last time.
People are already arriving by the time I make it out to the foyer. I slow my pace, nodding back to those who acknowledge me. Lots of bodyguards mill around. Most of them are tall with wide shoulders and bulky suit jackets practically advertising their weapons. I have to squeeze through the door around several arrivals.
I make it to the driveway just in time to watch Bel step out of Seb's car. Fuck.
The valet helps her to her feet, and I shove forward, intent on getting there. I don't even want this asshole touching her. But she's already free, her gaze over her shoulder and focused on Sebastian, who's talking on his phone near the trunk of the car.
I cut across the lit-up entry and glare at the valet boy, telling him with my eyes to get the fuck out of my way. He skitters around the door while Seb's driver pulls the car away. She hasn’t noticed me yet, thankfully, so I take that moment to look at her.
I suck a tight breath into my lungs. Fucking hell. She is stunning.
Her stunning blond hair hangs around her waist in long curls, shiny and perfect.
Her bright green eyes pop even more when outlined with makeup and her lips. Damn, I want that red lipstick smeared on my cock.
She turns, giving everyone a smile that slowly dims when she notices me standing there. I take a step forward, slipping my hands into my pockets.
"I’d ask what you’re doing here, but I think I already know."
She blinks slowly, and I realize how shitty that sounds only after I’ve said it. "In case it wasn’t obvious, I'm here representing my family."
I narrow my eyes, my own anger flaring. I’m not mad at her. I’m mad at Sebastian for dragging her into the fucking lion’s den.
"What’s going on?" Sebastian’s deep voice fills my ears as he ends the call and walks toward us.
"Really? I thought we talked about this. I told you I didn't want her at this thing. She doesn't belong here. She doesn't belong in this world."
Sebastian’s features turn indifferent as he slips on the mask of business. His eyes are cold and dark. It’s the same look he's given me for weeks now and doesn’t do shit to sway me. I’m not scared of him.
