Chapter 15
PHOEBE
“Welcome to the Friends of the Ocean Gala,” a slim, pixie-looking hostess greets us at the main entrance of the Aquatic Museum in North Hampton. “Miss Baldwin and guests?”
She looks at Dominic, August, and Theo as if the embodiments of three Greek gods just walked into the lobby of one of the East Coast’s most popular charity events of the year.
“August and Dominic Coates,” I say with a pleasant smile. “And Theo Forbes.”
“Ah, you’re Penelope’s special guests!” the hostess exclaims, then points across the hall to a massive, tropical-themed bar complete with snazzy neon designs and enough glass shelves loaded with high-end booze to put the whole tri-state area into an alcoholic coma.
“She’s right over there, waiting for you. ”
“Thank you,” I reply.
Dominic and August hook their arms through mine, while Theo proudly walks beside us. It is strange and a little scary, but with them by my side, I feel confident.
“Our first public outing,” Theo says as he looks around. “Are you ready, Phoebe?”
“If I say yes, I’d be lying.”
“We’re right here with you, baby,” Dominic reassures me.
“I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
August chuckles. “She might bolt the minute we take our eyes off her.”
“Absolutely.” We laugh as we make our way through the crowd.
The entire main hall of the museum has been decorated in the spirit of a luxurious under-the-sea party for the East Coast’s elites.
Beautiful shells and faux coral sculptures hang about, while intricate glass tentacles in a variety of colors swirl down from the cathedral ceiling.
Large aquariums hosting a diversity of ocean life for the museum’s visitors to admire line the walls.
An electro jazz orchestra plays on a small stage.
Tonight, however, we have the main hall for Penny’s favorite charity gala, as she’s on the organizing committee and has been pulling its strings for three years running.
Everywhere I look, I see sleek tuxes and shimmering gowns adorned with sparkling jewels. The sound of clinking champagne glasses fills my ears as we walk through the crowd.
“That blue dress looks beautiful with your tan,” Theo says, giving me a smile as we cross the hall.
“I know pretty much everyone here,” I whisper.
“I’m not surprised. Most of them are New York socialites,” Dominic says.
“Heirs, heiresses, trust fund babies galore. But I see some Rhode Island folks around too,” he adds, nodding to our left.
“That guy over there, with the silver hair and silver tie? He’s one of our business associates.
Big finance shark. Don’t let his smile fool you.
He will bury you if it brings him a profit. ”
“Penny did one hell of a job here tonight,” August comments. “It’s actually better than last year’s, and I wasn’t sure how she’d manage to top that one.”
“Oh, that’s right, you attended last year’s event, as well,” I reply, remembering that particular night, how fat and unattractive I felt walking beside Matthew, shortly after he told me I could’ve gone for a looser fitting dress that would have hidden “those extra pounds.”
“I may have had one too many drinks that night to recall the details.”
“You were drowning out Matthew’s garbage, most likely,” Theo replies.
I give him a surprised look. “You remember?”
“I remember him complaining about your dress. Then again, he spent half the evening schmoozing with Crystal and trying to get a hand up Georgina’s skirt,” he scoffs. “Personally, I found you utterly delectable. His loss, our gain.”
Penny turns around just in time to see us walking toward her. She looks gorgeous in her little black dress and Louboutin heels, her hair pulled back into a sleek bun, artsy vintage earrings dangling from her ears.
“Phoebe!” she exclaims, holding up a glass of champagne for me as we approach. “Finally! I’ve been looking for you!”
“You have?” I laugh as we hug, then take a sip of the champagne while my guys shake the hand of her date. The tall man standing next to her looks familiar with his brown hair and all-American smile. “You already have company, I see.”
“Ah, yes,” she replies, as if barely remembering she brought a date. “This is Todd Chapman, my date. And a generous donor to our cause for tonight, of course.”
“Todd, it’s a pleasure,” I reply and shake his hand.
“I’ve heard a lot of wonderful things about you, Miss Baldwin. Though, I’ll be honest, I’ve seen a lot more online.”
Penny rolls her eyes. “Todd. No.”
“It’s alright,” I say with a soft smile. “It’s online. These are my—”
“Your gentlemen,” Todd finishes for me, lighting up as he proceeds to shake their hands. “You guys rock. The way you swooped in, handled the whole thing. Kudos to the three of you, seriously.”
Theo chuckles lightly. “Thank you, Todd.”
“Let’s just say this whole drama has become my favorite thing to watch between executive board meetings,” Todd confesses with a sheepish smile.
Dominic gives him a curious look. “Hold on. Chapman. Of the New Haven Chapmans, by any chance?”
“That’s right,” Todd confirms. “I believe you’re acquainted with my cousin.”
“Josh Chapman, yes,” Dominic says. “He’s been instrumental to our accounting and finance departments.”
Penny and I let the guys get to know each other better while a waiter buzzes around and provides them with drinks.
“I’m so glad you guys decided to show up together,” Penny says.
“I wouldn’t have missed this. I know how important this event and the cause it’s funding are to you.”
“Yeah, that’s not what I meant,” she gives me a broad smile. “I’m glad you brought your boyfriends to the gala. It’s insanely empowering.”
I offer a shrug. “It made sense. We spend a lot of time together and we’re actually building something. Honestly, I don’t know where it’s going to lead or how it’s going to end. I’m just enjoying it now.”
“Who says it has to end?” She raises an eyebrow. “Look around you. All the ladies here are jealous and all the guys want to be August, Dominic, and Theo. You hit the triple jackpot the minute you decided to take them to Hawaii with you.”
“It feels surreal sometimes. I mean, I was sure I’d never find someone after Matthew.”
“How long did that feeling last? A few hours?” She laughs, but her humor quickly fades into a deep frown. “I saw the clip, by the way. He showed up at the guys’ beach house in the Hamptons?”
I nod. “It was embarrassing. For him, mostly.”
“What was it like for you?”
“Bitter. Unpleasant. I just wanted him to leave, but he kept droning on, torn between groveling and trying to hurt me some more. Matthew was disingenuous, and it showed. Or maybe I’ve just gotten better at spotting the difference.
Either way, whatever hold he had on me before, it’s not there anymore. ”
A smile blooms across my best friend’s face. “In other words, you’re over him.”
“Oh, so over him. I can hardly remember what I liked about him in the first place, let alone what made me say yes to his proposal.”
“Good. That’s really good.”
“Except now, my whole family is against me.”
Penny sigh heavily, her gaze wandering across the event hall. “Your mom is a piece of work, what can I say?”
“Yes, but Penny, I didn’t see it coming. I’m still trying to understand why they’d do something like this. Why Crystal didn’t even bother to—”
“Speak up for you? Protect you?” she scoffs.
“They’re in it together, Phoebe. Maybe this was their plan all along, to figure out a way to keep you from getting what’s rightfully yours.
Think about it. They wouldn’t let you anywhere near the company’s finance department, even though that’s your professional specialization.
You graduated Magna Cum Laude, for Christ’s sake. ”
“I thought family was supposed to stick together.”
“Well, money clearly trumps family where the Baldwins are concerned. I’m just sad and angry that you’re going through this.
I hope you’re planning to fight them with everything you’ve got, honey.
You deserve that trust fund and your share in the company.
Hell, you deserve a lot more than that just for putting up with them. ”
I give her a wry smile. “The guys said they’re behind me on this, one-hundred percent. And the lawyers they have on their payroll are veritable hawks.”
“Good. You need to bring the full artillery into this war. And, might I add, I love what they’re doing on social media. Influencing the public opinion,” Penny chuckles. “Excellent preemptive tactic, because everything Crystal or your mom says online will eventually be used against them in court.”
“Do you think they have a shot?”
“At what?”
“At stripping me of my inheritance.”
Penny thinks about it for a moment, lowering her gaze.
“As far as the law goes, not really. But if there’s some sort of moral clause embedded in the will that could be skewed or interpreted to suit their narrative, they might have a shot.
It doesn’t mean they’ll win. No way we’re letting that happen.
The Coates brothers and Theo certainly won’t allow it, and neither will I. ”
“I like the faith you have in them,” I reply with a soft smile.
She gives me a curious look. “Don’t you have faith in them?”
“Oh, I do, absolutely. But I know better than to underestimate my own mother. As it turns out, she’s more than ready to throw me to the wolves if it makes her richer, or if it gives her more power over my father’s company.”
“Shit,” Penny hisses, staring persistently somewhere to our right.
I follow her gaze and see them coming. “Shit,” I echo.