Chapter 27
Harry
Two hours and fifty thousand conversations later, I was ready to leave. I could usually hide for at least half an hour when the schmoozing became too much, but here, stuck on the boat, nowhere was safe. Unless there was a distraction, someone would always try to find me.
It was dinner, then a private performance from the London Opera House, then more drinks, an art auction, and finally the fireworks to signal the end of the night.
But when you had already done five sixteen-hour days in a row, the prospect of another six hours of work didn’t have me jumping to my feet, even though today was so monumental.
By the time dinner was over, I was tired and frustrated. I had achieved something I’d worked towards for years. Almost everyone at the party had congratulated me, and the night was going perfectly. My family was even acting restrained, which was a miracle in itself.
But I’d texted Molly three times, and she still hadn’t replied. That, combined with the fact that every one of my senses had been on fire the entire night, had me on edge.
Dom had been with me since my dance with Mum ended, like he always was at these parties. The only difference was I had never balanced on a fine line of wanting to kiss him and push him away.
But the conversation was light, no tension-inducing stares from him, though he kept stroking me, nudging me here and there to help me stay soft. He knew how irritated I could get at these events, and he was usually the one who calmed me.
Dom and I were still mingling, but Bunny Collins had caught us in a chokehold. We’d been talking for at least fifteen minutes, but I could tell she was hanging around just to get to her pitch, easing us in with small talk before she pounced.
At five foot two, she was the complete opposite of her outward appearance, especially when she was drenched in hot pink and chiffon.
She was all cute smiles, adorable blonde curled hair, and a personality that rivalled the devil herself.
People simply thought she was a spoiled princess.
No one knew the true Bunny that lay underneath her shiny veneer.
On top of that, she was angling for a spot in Mum’s social circle. We’d grown up together, attending these parties for years, so I forgave her for it. It also meant no one else would interrupt us unless they wanted to deal with Bunny’s particular brand of revenge.
She rolled her eyes as she pursed her lips. “And then my step-mum said if I don’t buy those shoes, she’d get them for me!” she said as she placed her hand on her chest for dramatic effect.
Dom blessed her with one of his classic smiles as she went on. He shot me another look, the same look he’d been giving me all night. But these were ones I could handle. Open and friendly, but still dangerous.
I returned Dom’s smile with an easy grin.
“I totally feel like we need to have a better hold on our spending,” Bunny continued. “These parties are, like, so important, but we have to save money, too. Do you see what I mean?”
I definitely could, especially as she was finally getting to the point.
“Of course. And what do you do with those extra funds?” I asked, lifting my glass of whiskey to my lips. I was growing more and more frustrated with Molly’s lack of contact, and I'd won the vote, so I could cut myself some slack. Plus Dom’s closeness was unnerving me in a good way.
“Well, obviously,” Bunny said, “I would totally donate them to more worthy causes like…”
I really wasn’t interested. She was aware that there were different departments for such matters.
Dom reached over and I stiffened as his fingers swept mine as he took my empty glass, his thumb languidly stroking the skin of my palm before he released me. I knew he was doing it deliberately, and I didn’t want him to stop.
I was looking up at him when his face changed. His bright smile disappeared, his jaw tightening, his lips thinning as he caught sight of something on the other side of the deck. I followed his gaze, but I couldn’t see what grabbed his attention past Bunny’s coiffed hair.
But she picked up on Dom’s change, a quick scowl snapping across her face before she called him out on it immediately.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Am I boring you?” she asked, one hand on her hip as she glared at him. With her heels, she just met his eyeline.
His expression quickly changed as he looked down at her. “Never, my dear. But I just realised I’ve forgotten something below deck. Please forgive my rudeness.” He bent forwards, dropping a kiss on her cheek before he leant back.
From her soft blush, all was forgiven. But he only nodded before he took off.
I watched him go, confusion and disappointment mixing inside me as I tracked his path towards the doors of the lower deck of the ship. I forgot Bunny could see the surprised look on my face, but she had more important things to think about.
“What do you think of the party?” she asked, seemingly randomly.
I blinked as I looked back at her, unsurprised by the change in conversation, and glad for it.
“Mother has done a fantastic job arranging everything,” I said, attempting to be vague, but she wouldn’t be deterred.
“It’s no better than last year.” She sniffed, meeting me head on. I should have expected it. I was trying to figure out what her angle was, and it was finally revealed.
“And what makes you say that?” I asked, waiting for her pitch, my attention still on Dom. I wanted so badly to know what was going on, and why he had changed so suddenly.
I needed a tactful way to extract myself from Bunny’s clutches. I couldn't stay invested in her when Dom was striding away.
“So, what do you think?” she asked, bobbing her head.
“Sorry, what was that?”
“Don’t you totally think I would be better? I could organise the gala next year for The Foundation, and modernise the whole thing?”
My attention drew back to her. She was completely sincere, and why wouldn’t she be? It didn’t matter to her that I had literally just been announced as the Director. Every conversation was an opportunity to elevate one’s status.
She didn’t know that I had already threatened Mum about bringing Bunny and her step-mum on to host the parties, but they were empty words now that I had won the vote.
I usually had patience for these kinds of games, but I was in no mood to entertain her when Dom pulled open the door and disappeared inside.
“Have you ever hosted a party like this?” I asked, though I’d already made my decision. There wasn’t a chance any of the Collins family was hosting a Foundation event, no matter how much I threatened Mum with it.
“Of course I have!” She beamed. “You saw the circus ball I threw last year? People went absolutely crazy over that. It was, like, the best party of the season.”
They went crazy because two of the macaws escaped and it took days to capture them, as they decided they enjoyed Hampstead Heath far more than being with their handler.
It was a chaotic mess, but no worse than I was in my bedroom earlier, looking up at Dom, wondering what he would do if I’d just...
If I had to choose between following Dom or talking to Bunny Collins about her current social aspirations, there was no competition.
“Sorry, Bun,” I said, cutting her off before she could continue her pitch. “Can we pick this up later? I have to double-check something with my assistant.” Hopefully, Anita wouldn’t mind taking the fall should it ever come up.
“Oh, of course!” She laughed lightly. “But make sure you come and find me, okay? I feel like my plans would bring a whole new vibe to The Foundation.”
I nodded before I turned and rushed towards the lower deck as casually as possible, deftly swerving at least two people who watched me with hungry eyes.
I shouldn’t have gone, really. If I stayed with Bunny I could have remained ignorant. There was no need for me to follow him. My life had enough trouble, but I wanted to torture myself more.
Rounding the staircase that led up to the balcony, I went on to the door on the other side. It took five steps to reach it. That was all. Five simple steps.
But I froze after three, my eyes fastened on the sight before me.
Dom, with his finger curled under Darcy’s chin, inching his mouth closer, Darcy’s grin wide as he stretched his neck, meeting Dom’s heavy gaze.
They were both lost to the world.
Darcy was another society child like Bunny and me.
He had perfected the old money look, going as far as to have a cream jumper thrown over his shoulders, his blonde hair gracing its edge.
He was thin but had finely defined muscles, wearing casual slacks and a navy polo shirt, and a smile that had caused more than one casualty.
He was known for sleeping around, and the second I saw them, I could tell where those looks were leading.
Tension thrummed between them, visceral, even through the door. Dom released him, keeping his eyes on Darcy as he reached into the pocket of his suit. His lips moved, his face serious, speaking to Darcy as he pulled out a golden key. And my heart sank even further.
Mum insisted that we use embellished golden keys for our bedroom. It meant she could make them match the golden sigils she had fixed to every door, naming the occupants.
Each room only had one key, and I had already seen the arrangement of the room.
Darcy Hastings was not on that list. Darcy Hastings wasn't even supposed to be on the boat. The only way he could have hopped on was piggy-backing in with his grandfather, which shouldn’t have been possible.
But Darcy was never good at taking no for an answer.
Darcy swiped the key with manicured nails, lifting it to his lips. With a slow smile, he gave the head a lush kiss, saying something to Dom before he twisted on one foot and left. Dom watched him go, a soft smile on his face.
My heart ached from Dom’s expression alone.
I knew that softness, but it was usually reserved for the people closest to him.
Or maybe there was something more between him and Darcy that he had never shared.
He didn't tell me about his one-night stands, but if they were dating, surely he would share that?
Dom shook his head, running a hand through his hair as he grinned after Darcy. His cheeks puffed as he blew out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.
I didn’t know what was going on in his mind, and I didn’t want to.
I took a step back from the door, swallowing the loud beating in my chest at the sight. As quickly as these feelings materialised, they were being crushed. And they needed to be.
Keeping my face straight, I returned to the party, gently easing into a conversation with yet another person looking to make a bid for their own social status.
I was thankful I’d seen it. Because it was a reminder of who Dom really was, and that it was insane to have any illusions about him, especially when I had Molly.
The door stayed in view, my fingers tapping when he returned minutes later. He scanned the deck, his face brightening as his eyes landed on me. He gave me a small wave before heading over, and not a single word about what had happened with Darcy.
I was getting married, and Dom was free to sleep with anyone he liked. But it still hurt, and I had no one to blame but myself.