Chapter 18
“I’ll try the champagne but I can’t promise I won’t throw it in the face of the next person who flirts with Eli.” ~ Paisley
Paisley
Eli wraps the lace shawl over my shoulders. “Are you ready?”
I glance out of the limo at the red carpet. There are people lined up on either side of it as well as reporters waiting at the curb.
“I didn’t realize our arrival would be documented.”
He kisses my nose. “Ignore them. This night is for you and me.”
Not exactly. “And the money we raise for women’s equality.”
He smiles. “Naturally.”
The driver knocks on the door. I don’t get a chance to respond before he opens it. Eli steps out and offers me his hand. I let him help me out of the vehicle since the slit in this dress could be pornographic if I’m not careful .
Flashes from the numerous cameras nearly blind me as we walk from the limo down the red carpet to the entry of the Smithsonian Art Museum. A woman is waiting at the door.
“Good evening, Mr. Raider.” She flashes him a brilliant smile before narrowing her eyes on me. “You didn’t RSVP with a guest.”
“Oh? Would you prefer we leave?”
She immediately backpedals. “Of course not.”
A security guard opens the door and we enter the museum. It’s already crowded with groups of people standing around drinking champagne. The area is adorned with floral arrangements and artistic centerpieces on various cocktail tables scattered throughout the room. The colors white, purple, and green feature prominently.
A woman bustles toward us. “Mr. Raider.” Her gaze travels over his body and she bites her lip. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ripped her clothes off and offered herself to him as a sacrifice.
My stomach sours with jealousy – this woman is gorgeous in the way my stepsisters are and I will never be. A growl escapes before I can stop it.
Eli glances at me and smiles in reassurance before placing a hand on my hip and squeezing. The move is possessive, which normally irks me – men shouldn’t own women – but instead of being annoyed, my body fills with warmth at his claim on me.
The woman’s eyes flick to Eli’s hand and she scowls. She covers up the scowl quickly, though, and smiles sweetly at Eli. “Can we get a photograph of you in front of the sponsor wall? ”
Eli frowns. “Must we?”
“It is an opportunity for sponsors to promote their brands.”
“Do you mind?” he asks me.
“Of course not.” I try to step away from him but he tightens his hold on me.
“I’m not going alone.”
I don’t have a chance to protest before he ushers me to the sponsor wall. My eyes widen when I realize Apparoo is one of the biggest sponsors.
A man rushes toward us. “Can I take your shawl?”
“Um…” He snatches it from me before I can ask who he is and why he wants my shawl.
He caresses the fabric. “I may steal this from you, gorgeous.”
It was the first gift Eli ever gave me. It’s way too expensive and I will probably never have another opportunity to wear it again. But I will cherish it, nonetheless. And no one will steal it from me.
“Don’t worry, boo. I’m kidding.” He winks and shuffles away.
I try to follow him but Eli stops me. “We still need to take the picture.”
“I shouldn’t be in the picture.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m no one.”
He circles my waist and pulls me flush to him. “Lace, you aren’t no one. You’re the most gorgeous woman in the room. I couldn’t be prouder to have you on my arm. ”
I should protest. He’s wrong. I’m nowhere near the most gorgeous woman in the room. But I find myself melting into his arms instead.
He kisses my forehead and – flash! – a camera goes off. “Thank you,” the photographer says. “This is the best picture of the night thus far.”
I feel my cheeks warm. I forgot we were in the middle of getting our picture taken. I am usually a rational person but Eli can rattle my thoughts.
Eli escorts me away from the wall and the man with my shawl runs toward us. “Every woman in the room hates you.” He giggles. “I think I love you.” He hands me my shawl, kisses my cheek, and rushes away.
“Who was he?” I ask as I stare after him.
“Danny works for Apparoo. He helps with all of our charity endeavors.”
“Endeavors?” I raise my eyebrows. “You sponsor more good causes?”
“I don’t. This is my one good cause. Each member of the board has a charity they’ve chosen for the company to support.”
A waitress passes by and Eli snatches two flutes of champagne from her. He hands me one and I sip on it. I grimace and he bursts into laughter.
“I’ll get you a beer.” He takes my glass and marches toward the bar I didn’t notice set up in the corner. I chase after him.
“The champagne is fine.” I try to steal my glass back from him .
He holds the glass in the air. Even with four-inch heels on, I can’t reach it. “If you don’t enjoy champagne, you don’t have to drink it.”
He whirls around and places the flutes on the bar. “Can we have two bottles of beer, please?”
The bartender frowns. “Beer? I don’t…” He scans the available drinks.
His colleague notices him floundering. “We have some beer in the kitchen. I’ll grab you two.”
Eli settles at the bar to wait. “I can’t believe you,” I mutter to him.
“What? You want a beer, you get a beer. I don’t understand what the big deal is.”
I motion to the room full of elegant people wearing cocktail dresses and tuxedos while drinking champagne out of fancy glasses. “We’ll stick out.”
He grins down at me. “Lace, you already stick out.”
I frown and he kisses my nose.
“Not because you don’t fit in but because you’re obviously special.”
Now I roll my eyes. “Did you watch YouTube videos on how to be charming before tonight?”
He puffs up his chest. “You think I’m charming.”
“I think you’re over the top.”
“I am who I am.”
The bartender arrives and sets two glasses of beer down in front of Eli. Eli hands me one before picking his up .
“To many more evenings spent together,” he says as he clinks his glass with mine.
I narrow my eyes on him. “Did you forget I don’t want to get involved with you?”
He smirks. “And yet where are you this evening?”
“Because my friends tricked me.”
He tweaks my nose. “As if anyone could trick Paisley Bardot.” He offers me his elbow. “Shall we have a peek at the items up for auction?”
I’m curious what type of items could interest the rich and thread my arm through his. He leads me toward the display of auction items.
The first item is a necklace. “This jade necklace would match your dress.”
I notice the starting bid is five thousand dollars. I drag Eli away. “You are not bidding on a five thousand dollar necklace for me.”
“But I want to spoil you.”
“Spoil me by buying me a new beer fermentation tank.”
“Send Dakota the specifics and she’ll order it.”
I screech to a halt. “Eli Raider, you will not buy me brewery equipment.”
“You just said I could spoil you by buying you a fermentation tank.”
I huff. “I was joking.”
He tugs on my arm. “We’ll find something else you want.”
I refuse to move. “Why don’t we mingle instead? ”
He barks out a laugh. “Mingle? You, Paisley Bardot, are going to mingle?”
I narrow my eyes on him. “I can mingle. I’m not socially awkward.”
“Nope. You just find most people boring.” He leans close to whisper in my ear, “Rich people tend to be extremely boring.”
“What are the two of you whispering about?” a woman asks as she stops in front of us.
“What I can buy to spoil her,” Eli answers.
“And, as I’ve explained to him several times, I don’t want him to spoil me.”
The woman bats her eyelashes at Eli. “You can spoil me as much as you want.”
“Sorry. I’m a one-woman man.” He squeezes my arm. “And this is the one woman.”
“How utterly boring,” she says and glides away.
I’m confused. “Being monogamous is boring?”
“Who knows what she meant?” He motions to the other auction items. “Shall we continue?”
“Only if you promise not to bid on anything for me.”
“What if I accidentally bid on an item for you?”
“How do you accidentally bid on an item? Oops. My pen slipped and my wallet opened and now it’s ten thousand dollars lighter?”
He grins. “It could happen.”
“You’re delusional.” I shake my head as I sip on my beer.
“I’m…” He trails off when he notices a woman making a beeline for us. “I apologize in advance,” he whispers .
“Apologize? What for? Do you have gas?”
He barks out a laugh as the woman reaches us.
“Is it true?” she demands.
“Lucinda, it’s lovely to see you.” Based on the way Eli’s gritting his teeth, he’s lying.
“Who is this?” She practically snarls at me. “Is it true the great Eli Raider is off the market?”
“The great Eli Raider? Who’s he?”
I scan the room as if I’m searching for this mystical creature and Eli pinches me. “Behave.”
I mutter Chloe’s favorite line. “Why start now?”
Lucinda’s nostrils flare as she glares at me. “Is this her?”
I offer her my hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Paisley.”
She looks down her nose at me. “And you’re drinking a beer.”
“I own a brewery.”
The woman’s lips purse as her gaze travels up and down my body. “Of course you do.”
“Lucinda,” Eli growls. “Be nice.”
“Why?” She throws her arms in the air. “I’ve waited years for you to realize who I am to you and you settle for this… this… this thing.”
I’m confused. Is Eli in a relationship with this woman? Why did he have sex with me then? Why is he chasing me?
“Can someone give me the Cliff Notes version on what’s happening now?”
Eli sighs. “Lucinda and I have known each other from college. ”
“We dated. We were a couple for years,” Lucinda says.
“No, we weren’t. You were my plus one whenever I had to attend one of these events.”
“You took me home.”
I do not want to hear this. I know Eli’s been with other women. Obviously. He’s thirty and a billionaire. Plus, he’s handsome. He could have a harem if he wanted to. But I do not want to know the details. I refuse to let the jealousy building in my stomach bloom. Eli isn’t mine to be jealous of.
“Um…” I point to the restrooms. “I’ll just go there and you can finish your conversation without me.”
Eli throws an arm around my shoulders and draws me near. “You’re not going anywhere. If anyone should leave, it’s Lucinda.”
Lucinda huffs. “But…”
“No buts. Enjoy your evening. I know we will.” Eli maneuvers me away from her. Once we’re out of her hearing range, he stops. “I’m sorry, Lace. I promise I wasn’t in a relationship with her. I don’t understand why she feels wronged.”
I know why. Because Eli is a difficult man to get over. Maybe even impossible.
He kisses my nose. “I promise I have no interest in any other woman than you.”
I want to argue with him – we’re not in a relationship after all – but the facts are undeniable. He’s ignored every other woman tonight. He’s made his claim on me clear. I could fall in love with this man .
I freeze. I’m not supposed to fall in love with Eli. I’m supposed to prove to him why we wouldn’t make a good couple.
This is not good. This is dangerous for my heart.
What if he forgets about me again? What if this isn’t serious to him? Just like our date in high school he completely forgot about?