Chapter Twenty-Seven
Rainey
Success.
As I glance around at the happy guests, devouring wings, burgers, ribs, and even the vegetarian appetizers, a sense of satisfaction fills me.
There are three serving stations. One has wings, another has burgers, and the third has the ribs.
Servers are walking around offering the appetizers and the specialty drinks, which Mak is mixing behind the bar.
I’d made sure she’d be working as one of the bartenders so her unique drinks are made perfectly.
No one would know there were any glitches in the planning. I’d gone home to change into my outfit for the night and though I’m still working, I look like I’m one of the attendees.
The players are walking around like the royalty they are, taking photographs by their banners and dancing.
And my family is here, those who work with the team and even those who don’t.
Although club music is playing now, I have a surprise for the guests later.
My uncle Grey, a rock star who retired to write songs for other musicians, is going to play.
“Rainey Noelle Dare, I could not be prouder of you.” My father takes me by the shoulders and presses a kiss to my forehead. “From the day you were born, I knew you were special. Thank you for doing this for the team.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Happiness fills me. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am. It’s all perfect.”
“You look beautiful, too. Where’s your—”
“Lucas?” I ask. “He’s with Jack and Tristan. Before that, he was by my side.” I smile up at him. “He’s good for me, Dad.”
“I see that.” He places his hand on my back and leads me toward where my mother is standing with Uncle Alex and Aunt Madison.
After spending time with Mom, I check in with the caterers and restaurant owners. Everything is running smoothly, so I take time to mingle with my cousins. I have a lot of them, and we catch up.
Lucas walks over and I take him in. Wearing his usual black slacks, jacket, and white dress shirt, he’s still the sexy club owner I used to wish I could get to know better.
Now I do.
“Hey, beautiful. How are you?” he asks.
“I’m great, thanks to you.” He shakes his head and gestures around the room. “All of this is due to you, your talent, and determination.”
I grin. “If you say so.”
He laughs and suddenly his expression changes. “Isn’t that the woman we met at the charity gala? She’s your competitor, for lack of a better word.”
I look over my shoulder toward the entrance and see Blaire walking into the club. “This event is invitation only,” I grit out.
“If one of my people let her in or was bribed, I’ll handle it,” he assures me.
“More like Ashlynn gave her an invite. She can’t get away with what she did.”
“Rainey!” Kaylee rushes up to me, speaking in a loud whisper. “It’s time for you to introduce the speakers.” She slips a microphone into my hand.
“I need ten minutes,” I tell her. “Let my father know we’re starting a little late.” As team owner, he’s first up to speak.
Anger fueling me, I storm over to where she’s standing with Lucas by my side.
“Easy, tiger,” Lucas whispers in my ear, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Remember, you’re at your own event. You don’t want to cause a scene.”
I know how to handle myself, but I appreciate the reminder.
“Blaire. I’d ask what you want, but I already know. You’re here to see the damage you inflicted.” I sweep an arm, gesturing around the room. “Go ahead. See what a successful party looks like.” I’m snarky and I don’t care.
She looks around, her astute gaze taking everything in, zeroing in on the nearest food station, her mouth parting in a perfect O. “But… But—”
I grab Blaire’s elbow. “We need to talk in private.”
She sets her jaw and allows me to lead her to Lucas’s office. He starts to follow, but I shake my head. This is between me and this woman who has issues with me I don’t understand. While walking, I turn my phone’s recorder on, determined to get her admission taped.
I place the phone face down on Lucas’s desk. “Tell me why. Why have you been trying to sabotage me ever since I won the bid on the Thunder party?” I ask.
She narrows her gaze. “Because you’re a bitch and have been since high school. You don’t remember me from then even though you were picked for the trip to France for the cultural exchange program and I wasn’t.”
What?! She’s going back to a high school gripe? “It was chosen by grades. How can that be my fault?” I ask.
“You always come out on top! It’s not fair. Every time I go for something, you win!” She’s yelling as she speaks, her cheeks turning red.
She’s irrational but she keeps talking. “I encouraged Gregory Attwater to complain publicly about anything and everything. Luckily, it wasn’t hard since nothing makes the man happy, but you rebuilt after that. It’s like you never go away!”
I blink in stunned silence as she continues to incriminate herself.
“Everything good falls in your lap. Then this party. You’re a Dare, so of course you got the Thunder party bid!”
Staying calm isn’t easy, but I manage. “Blaire, I had a solid presentation. They liked my ideas, that’s all. I know for a fact nobody in my family pushed for me to get this job.”
She rolls her eyes. “Keep telling yourself that,” she mutters loudly.
“And the brick?” I ask, because I need to know.
“I threw it in frustration. And I sabotaged this party, and I’ll keep trying to ruin you until my company is the only one people will use. And nobody will ever know what I did because it’s your word against mine.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” I tell her, flipping over my phone and pointing to the red screen. “I’ve been recording you this whole time. From vandalism to stalking, I have your admission of criminal activity. I’m sure the police will love to listen.”
Blaire’s cheeks are already red. Now, tears form in her eyes.
The door bursts open and Kaylee rushes in, Lucas and my father close behind. “Rainey? Are you okay?” my best friend asks.
“I wasn’t waiting another second,” Lucas tells me, his gaze holding mine.
“I’m fine.” Shaking, but fine. I didn’t realize how much adrenaline the confrontation took until now.
Blaire looks to each person in the room, and I almost feel sorry for how humiliated she must be. Almost.
Without another word, she runs from the room.
My father’s jaw is clenched tight. “Go after her,” he tells Lucas.
I shake my head. “It’s not like there’s anything we can do about her actions. I’ll turn the information over to the police and let them deal with her.”
Despite his hesitation, he agrees.
“Dad? I’m sorry this happened at your party.”
He shrugs. “A party will never be more important than you. As far as the guests go, nobody knows a thing.”
I smile at him, grateful I have him as my father. It takes a while, but I manage to convince everyone to go back to the main event. Despite wanting to be alone with Lucas, I have an event to run. We all exit the office and return to the party.
Microphone in my hand, I step onto the stage where the speeches will take place. “Can I have everyone’s attention?” I ask, and wait until things quiet down. “It’s time for the speeches, so I’m going to turn the microphone over to the president of the Miami Thunder, Ian Dare.”
My father accepts the microphone, and I slip away from the crowd and find Lucas hovering by the hallway entrance. He snags my hand and leads me back to his office where he shuts and locks the door.
Two steps and I’m where I need to be, in his arms. I soak in his warmth and the strength of his embrace, allowing myself to fall apart for the first time. My body shakes but I hold back tears, knowing I’ll need to return to the other room looking professional.
“I can’t get over the fact that she hates me so much she’d go to those extreme lengths to destroy me and my business,” I say.
He places a hand beneath my chin and tips my head up to face him. “I don’t think she dislikes you as much as she does herself. It’s sad,” he says.
I nod. “A part of me doesn’t want to go to the police. I feel sorry for Ashlynn and Blaire obviously has issues.”
“My concern is if she’s unhinged enough to throw the brick just because you won the bid on this event, what will she do next? Maybe if the police get involved, it’ll scare her enough to leave you alone.”
I sigh. “That makes sense.” And it would make me feel better to know she has something to fear. “But not Ashlynn. She was desperate and I really don’t think she wanted to hurt us.”
“You have a soft heart,” he says, brushing his knuckles over my cheek. “You also have mine.”
The words mean everything to me but even more importantly, he backs them up with actions every single day. “You have my heart,” I tell him. “And I’ll do my best to show you how I feel. To never take what we have for granted.”
He kisses me for a brief moment before he lifts his head and his gorgeous green eyes stare into mine. “We have a bright future ahead of us, sweetheart. I promise.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” I tell him.
And then his lips come down on mine and he kisses me for real.