Chapter Fifty-NineGrace #3
Brennan shook his head. “You can’t actually expect–”
“They’re big donors, and you not sitting down could cost us not just that gift but others. Now, I’d hate to cut all those scholarships Evan gives out because we didn’t get enough funds,” she whispered-scolded.
“You knew.” Hurt tinged his voice.
“You’re making a scene. Sit,” she hissed, then sailed off.
Brennan put a hand to his face.
What a bitch. Threatening to take scholarships away from kids. Not telling her son his ex was attending.
“We can still leave. We’ll find another way to fund the scholarships,” Evan whispered.
“Yeah, we’ll start our own foundation or something,” Jett added.
“Siobhan has a point about appearances and donors. Sometimes you have to be nice to people you hate,” Spencer said. “But you also have a good reason to leave. It’s your call. I’ll support you either way.”
“I will totally protest tyranny by leaving,” Wes said.
“Me, too. Not telling you she was coming was a dick move,” I told him, feeling bad that his mom was such a bitch.
“Please, let’s go,” Riley replied.
Troy joined us, expression hard. “Sit down before you ruin everything. People are staring.”
People weren’t staring. They were coming in and finding their tables. Okay, Caroline was glaring at us. Scratching my nose with my middle finger was tempting–though Riley already had that covered.
Brennan rubbed his forehead. “We might as well sit and eat. It’s not like they’re at our table. Now we have a reason to leave as soon as we can.”
“Are you sure?” Jett prodded. “We have your back. We could end this.”
Brennan’s shoulders slumped as he sat back down at the table as Troy left. “Causing a scandal at the gala will hurt those who rely on the foundation’s funding.”
“Do you need me to hit your mom with a chair?” I offered.
“Fuck, no.” Brennan shook his head and lowered his voice. “She has good reflexes. You might have to push her off a balcony.”
Laughter bubbled out of my mouth as I took a seat between Wes and Spencer. Riley was between Spencer and Evan. Brennan between Evan and Jett.
“That’s that bitch from the mall, right?” Riley asked, eating her pie with a plastic spork.
“Unfortunately. Why didn’t anyone tell me?” Brennan pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You look amazing,” Spencer whispered, getting very close to me.
I ducked my head. “Thanks.”
“Did she hurt you or upset you?” Concern tinged his scent.
“Not enough for you to worry,” I assured. “We can dance together tonight, right?”
He beamed. “My good doctor, it would be my pleasure.”
Katie came over, Rami on her arm. “Hey, I just saw Caroline. I had no idea that she and her pack were coming. I wanted to give you a heads up so you can cut out after the program.”
“Too late.” Brennan sighed. “But thanks.”
Rami got a sly look on his face. “I wonder if the band takes requests.”
Mischief glinted in Evan’s eyes. “Oh? You’re sly. You know, Grace knows that one.”
“Please be cautious. My mother will forgive you two for a lot, but it only goes so far, especially in public,” Brennan warned.
Rami went over to the band. Katie shook her head, trying not to laugh.
“Does Caroline have a song she hates, and he’s requesting it? I’m here for that level of petty,” Riley said, taking a picture of the almost empty pie tin.
“Me too,” Katie grinned. “She used to pay bands not to play it. It’s also one of Rami’s favorites. Ri, why do you have a pie?”
Riley smirked. “The question is, why don’t you?”
Music started, and Evan offered me his hand. “Grace?”
Evan led me out onto the dance floor. Rami joined us with a woman with dark skin and hair, who was heart-stoppingly beautiful and wore a white sparkly dress.
“That’s Nevin, she’s Liam’s omega. Liam’s a dick, but she’s nice.” Evan whispered as we glided across the floor.
“She’s an amazing dancer,” I replied, watching her effortless movements.
“Nevin used to dance professionally,” he replied. “ooh, Caroline doesn’t look happy.”
Caroline had a sour look on her face. Brennan’s parents stood near the corner of the floor, but they looked amused, not upset.
Jett joined us on the dance floor with another woman I didn’t know. Her dress was black, her light brown hair was short. Everything about her was understated but perfect–and probably expensive.
“Troy’s wife. She’s also a dick, like Troy, and, like Troy, works for the foundation.
But we’re having fun teasing the alphas right now.
It’s what we usually do, dance with their mates, then we give them back,” Evan whispered as he continued to twirl me across the floor.
This dance was fun, he’d taught it to me the other day in the living room.
Troy, a man that I presumed was Liam, along with Katie and Brennan, all stood near the edge of the dance floor, watching their spouses dance–amused.
Rami winked at Katie and led Nevin toward them.
He twirled Nevin into her alpha’s arms and took Katie’s hand.
They went back out onto the dance floor.
Troy cut in on Jett and took his wife’s hand. Brennan and Jett came over to us.
“Grace, will you dance with me?” Brennan offered me his hand, as Evan and Jett took off across the floor.
“I endorse this political statement,” I whispered, as we danced past Caroline, who looked livid for a woman who was supposed to be happy with her rich mates.
“I’m not trying to use you, I wanted to make sure you were okay,” he added. “She wasn’t mean to you? Or hurt you?”
“No. I didn’t know who she was. Her mom helped me with the train of my dress in the bathroom. I met her at the dress shop. She wanted me to meet her daughter and called her Cari . I didn’t know; I wasn’t trying to start anything,” I murmured.
Brennan was an excellent dancer, possibly better than Spencer. Evan gave me a saucy wink as we danced by.
He grimaced. “I know. I’m angry my mother hid that she was coming.”
“That’s shitty.” I saw Brennan’s parents take the floor, along with a few other people that could be cousins. “Was this dance planned?”
“Yes and no. It’s not uncommon for us to open with a family dance during dessert. It’s also not uncommon for Rami to drag everyone up beforehand,” he told me. “Your dress is beautiful, Grace. You’ll probably end up gala queen again, especially if they got a good shot of you on the staircase.”
“That wasn’t my intention.” I watched my feet as we danced.
“I know. But I’d rather it be you than me.” He smiled.
The song ended, and we returned to our seats, where someone had set the first course.
“Beautiful.” Wes gave me a kiss as I sat.
Frank and Siobhan went up to the bandstand, along with someone I didn’t know. The music stopped, and they welcomed everyone, and introduced the other person, who seemed to be the host, like Antonio had been at the science dinner.
We ate our salad while they talked. When the talking stopped, Wes stood.
“Drinks?” Wes asked.
“I’ll go with you, because I need another.” Brennan joined him.
They took orders and left, as the servers took our empty plates and others brought around the entrees.
Riley gave Spencer a pleading look. “Can we go now?”
“Let’s hijack a limo and get ice cream?” I suggested.
“All in favor.” Evan laughed, raising a hand as our meals were served.
“Why do Grace and Evan have different dinners?” Riley eyed the plates that were brought out.
Everyone else had salmon and a slice of prime rib with potatoes and asparagus. Evan and I had a tiny bacon-wrapped steak, a lobster tail, roasted root vegetables, and mushroom spinach risotto.
“We’re special.” Evan grinned. “I’ll trade if you’d rather have mine.”
“Ooh. I want this.” Riley speared his lobster tail with her fork and put it on her plate.
“I had a different dinner at the science dinner, too.” Huh. I’d thought that they’d run out, and I’d gotten a substitution plate.
“It’s an older custom, giving the omegas a special dinner,” Spencer replied.
“Oh.” I frowned at my dinner. “I… I’ll trade.”
Jett gave me a curious look. “No one’s ever given you a special dinner before?”
Wes joined us, setting down drinks for me, Spencer, and him. “What’s wrong?”
“Grace is concerned because we get lobster and you don’t,” Evan teased.
“Oh, right.” Wes put an arm around me. “It’s a thing they do sometimes. Eat your dinner. Unless you want me to feed you?” His eyebrows waggled.
I laughed. “It’s fine.”
“Here, try.” Spencer held out a fork full of salmon and fed me.
“Delicious.”
Brennan brought drinks for him, Jett, and Evan. We ate dinner, then I slipped out to go to the bathroom before the main program started. The ballroom was warm, and I needed some air. Riley came with me.
“Do you want to leave? You seem so unhappy,” a male voice said, from some place in the lobby.
“You have us, and our children. There is no need to be upset. They don’t deserve you anyway,” another added.
“I know. I’m so happy to have you and our babies. It just hurts to see those who rejected me with someone else,” Caroline sniffed.
I saw them in a corner and hoped she wouldn’t see me.
“Rejected? Not the story I heard,” Riley muttered as we entered the bathroom.
“Me, neither,” I replied.
They weren’t there when we went to return to the ballroom. Good. I hoped they’d left. But Hiro was there. Marcos was, too.
“I’ll be right there,” Riley grinned. “Marcos decided to crash the party.”
“Hi, Marcos. Hey, I’m going to get some air.” I went out onto a tiny balcony off the foyer and leaned on the rail. There was a set of stairs going down to the gardens below.
“You’re Wes’ mate ,” Caroline said from behind me. “I don’t understand.”
I sighed, still leaning against the rail. “Go back to your pack, Caroline.”
“How could you move in on an omega’s alpha?” There was a bite in her words.
“I promise, I’d never hurt Evan.” Unlike you. It was funny that she was spouting concern for Evan when she’d tried to poach his pack. I turned to face her, mostly because her being behind me, when I couldn’t move forward, made me nervous.
Not that my back being to the rail was any better.
“But you? How could they let someone like you into their pack? I’m still surprised they even did. Brennan’s a control freak. You’re not even pretty. And math?” she scoffed.
“I like math. Now excuse me, I should get back.” I tried to move, hoping she'd let me, but she didn’t. My heart thudded in my chest. I didn’t like being trapped, and I didn’t think her motives were pure. Given she looked pregnant, I didn’t want to punch her.
Though if anyone needed punched in the tits, it was her.
“How did you even meet him?” she huffed.
“Caroline, please, I’d like to return to the dinner. Won’t your alphas be missing you?” I turned my body so my back was to the stairs instead of the edge of the balcony.
Where were her alphas?
“You’re after their money, aren’t you,” she demanded, stepping toward me, trying to get me back up against the rail of the balcony.
“No.” I sidestepped her, slipping out. She was still between me and the door to the inside, but the staircase was now free. “I should go.” Without waiting, I took off for the stairs, heart thudding.
“Yes, you should,” she sneered.
“Grace, are you out here?” Riley called.
I tripped and took a tumble down the stairs as a scream ripped from my throat.