Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
New York—Present Day
“Wow!” Stuart exclaimed, when the elevator doors opened in the lobby, and she found the rest of the Armstrong Electronics group waiting.
“I could say the same.” Olivia smiled. “You all look very handsome.” And they did. All three were attired in black tuxes and bow ties. “You clean up well.” She kept her voice friendly, but didn’t let her gaze land on Kyle. He was handsome, but Olivia knew all too well what his boyish good looks were hiding.
Richard beamed. “You’ve always looked beautiful in blue.”
Olivia felt beautiful. She made it a point to dress well at work—thank you, Grandma Rose—but she didn’t get the opportunity to dress up like this frequently. She had splurged on a shopping spree at a high-end boutique in Buckhead. The strapless, sapphire silk gown with buttons up the back, fit her like a glove, and the stylist had talked her into topping it with two short ropes of pearls that rested just below her collarbone.
Stuart offered her his arm. “Bloom Communications sent a car.”
Tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow, she walked with him to the exit. Olivia climbed inside the limousine, feeling glamorous and confident.
The private club where the gala took place was only a short ride away on the Upper East Side. Spotlights lit up the building’s white stone fa?ade, and Olivia shivered as she emerged from the car into the cold, New York air.
“I can’t believe you didn’t bring a coat. It’s December,” Kyle sniped at her, as he buttoned his tuxedo jacket. His eyes scanned her bare shoulders and lingered on her cleavage longer than she would have liked. “But then you always have to be different.”
“Kyle,” Richard reproved quietly.
Olivia ignored him, excitement building inside her. Couples dressed lavishly in gowns and furs climbed the stone steps in front of her before entering two large wooden doors flanked by torch light.
“I feel like I’m in a movie,” Stuart murmured close to her ear, and she gave him a smile. “Let me.” He extended his arm as she used one hand to lift her skirt to ascend the stairs.
“Thanks. I’m glad you’re here. I’m feeling a bit like Cinderella right now.”
“Let’s just hope we don’t turn into pumpkins at midnight.”
Olivia giggled, Stuart’s attempt to make her laugh dissolving the rest of her nerves.
Who cared if she didn’t know anyone here? When would she ever attend an event like this again?
When they cleared the foyer, Olivia’s mouth fell open, and she heard Stuart let out his own startled exhale.
At the far end of the marble foyer, the room opened onto a massive ballroom below. Just beyond an elaborate wrought iron landing, a dual-sided, marble staircase descended into the vast room.
Everywhere Olivia looked was candlelight. Candles of varying heights were set in heavy gold candlesticks, and multi-armed candelabras, placed atop tables lining the perimeter walls, dripped with crystals refracting the light into rainbow prisms on the surfaces below.
Reaching the railing, Olivia looked up at the massive crystal chandeliers hanging over the space, their lights dimmed to not distract from the candlelight effect.
Two twenty-foot Christmas trees decorated with white lights and ribbons book-ended the room. Arranged across the marble floor between them were elegantly set tables with crisp, white linens, silver, and crystal, surrounding tall vase-centerpieces filled with sprigs of evergreen and white roses. A string ensemble quietly played classical music in a corner.
It was magical.
With one hand on the banister and the other on Stuart’s arm, Olivia carefully descended the steps, conscious of her higher-than-normal heels.
“Olivia.” Chris stepped toward them as they joined the crowd. He raised her hand, and there was a moment, when his lips lingered on the back of her hand before he made eye contact, that made her wonder if he was trying to flirt with her. “Stuart.”
Olivia was forced to drop her friend’s arm so that he could shake Chris’s outstretched hand.
“I want to introduce you to Lawrence Talbot.” Chris angled his body to include an older man behind him. “He’s our chief counsel at Bloom Communications. Lawrence, this is Stuart Pruitt, head of Research and Development for Armstrong Electronics.”
The men shook hands. Lawrence asked Stuart something about his opinion on intellectual property rights, and Chris moved between her and the men. With a hand on the small of Olivia’s back, he turned her away.
“While they’re talking shop, let me get you something to drink.”
Olivia cast one last glance at Stuart, who had narrowed his eyes as Chris steered her. Was Kyle right? Was Chris actually interested in her, or was this his way of trying to influence her?
“You look gorgeous tonight,” he said, as they approached the bar. “I hope that’s not inappropriate.”
“Thank you.”
“What would you like? Champagne? Wine?”
Olivia’s eyes scanned the bar as the scent of pine decorations on the bar reached her nose. “Jameson and ginger ale with lime, please.”
Chris raised an eyebrow at her as the bartender fixed her drink, setting it and a short glass of scotch in front of Chris. What made her order that? Nostalgia?
Because you can’t stop thinking about Declan.
She mentally shook herself.
“A whiskey drinker. I thought southern girls drank bourbon.”
Olivia arched a brow at him. “Southern girls drink whatever they like.”
“I stand corrected.” Chris watched her speculatively for a moment, his eyes dipping briefly to her breasts before meeting her eyes. “I have to admit, you aren’t what I expected?”
“What did you expect?”
His gaze went to where her colleagues stood. “I thought you’d be a figurehead. Married into the family, promoted at an extremely young age…” He shrugged.
Olivia narrowed her eyes. “If you’d done your homework, you’d know that XEROS is my baby. I may not have the technical skill to have designed it, but it was my initiative.”
“I did know that. I apologize for my assumption.” Chris placed a hand over his chest and gave her his best sheepish smile. “I shouldn’t have assumed that you earned your spot just because of your ex-husband.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t want me to speculate that you only got the position of CEO at Bloom Communications because you are engaged to a majority shareholder.”
She smiled sweetly at him, even though irritation still simmered in her blood. It was reckless, but if they were to partner with Chris Keller and Bloom Communications, she needed him to understand that, even though they were a small company, she wouldn’t be steamrolled.
His expression hardened for a second, but when she didn’t break eye contact, it lightened, and he tipped his head back with a laugh. He shook his head with a grin. “You are a delightful surprise. I think you and I are going to work together just fine.”
She smirked at him over the top of her glass. “If we agree to your terms, you mean.”
He clinked his glass against hers. “Here’s hoping that you say yes.” His eyes flared, and Olivia had the distinct impression that Chris was implying something else.
“Yes, to what?” a silky tone asked. Two hands with crimson nails appeared on Chris’s lapels as a blonde woman in a matching red dress appeared behind him and pressed herself against his back. She would have been beautiful if not for the anger twisting her features.
“Darling.” Chris’s smile dimmed, but he took her hand and led her to stand next to him. “Olivia and I were just toasting to what I hope will be the newest acquisition of Bloom Communications. Olivia, this is my fiancée Courtney Bloom.”
The woman glared at Olivia, her pupils dilated. Her eyes raked over Olivia, and whatever she saw seemed to make her even more unhappy. She turned and rubbed her breasts against Chris’s arm.
Chris’s face tightened, and Olivia downed her drink at the awkwardness.
Is she trying to mark her territory?
“Baby,” she whined. “I need a drink.” A muscle ticked in Chris’s jaw. “And don’t you dare say a word about mixing my meds with alcohol.”
Courtney suddenly raised on her tiptoes and nipped his jaw. A gasp nearby clued Olivia in that she wasn’t the only one shocked by the woman’s behavior.
Chris inhaled through his nose. “I wouldn’t dream of it, darling.” He sent an apologetic look to Olivia, but she took a sip, hoping the glass obscured her expression. “Another round please, and a vodka tonic.”
Courtney continued glaring at Olivia behind Chris’s back, making the hairs on the back of Olivia’s neck go up. There was something off about the woman. Her eyes were wild, her chest blotchy like she was trying to stop herself from screaming.
Is she on something?
Chris took Olivia’s empty glass from her hand and pressed a new one into it. “Shall we head to our table?”
Olivia happily stepped away, scanning the room for her colleagues. Behind her, she heard Courtney arguing with Chris, not bothering to keep her voice down.
“Don’t think I didn’t see you flirting with her. You are not going to humiliate me like this. Haven’t I been through enough lately? Do you want me to snap? Is that it? Because you won’t like what happens. Don’t push me, Chris.”
Chris murmured something Olivia couldn’t hear. Several heads had turned their way to watch their progression through the room, Courtney’s increasingly loud complaints providing them with a show. Olivia really hoped her cheeks weren’t as red as they felt.
“Did you see where they put our table? It’s an insult. I know they did it on purpose. They probably asked to sit there to torture me.” Courtney’s voice had risen, but there was pain in it. “All of David’s spawn watching me. Mocking me after they killed my babies.”
Olivia’s steps faltered. Wait? What? Surely she didn’t mean… But as they drew closer, Olivia saw one table was indeed watching them more closely than the rest.
Two identically handsome faces hardened when they caught sight of the approaching group. They and a third man were seated alternately around the table with four stunning women. Olivia instantly recognized Declan’s younger sister and bit back a groan.
“Fiona!” Courtney exclaimed, and one woman lifted a perfectly manicured brow at Courtney.
“Courtney, I’m surprised to see you here tonight. So soon after…” The woman made a theatrically sympathetic face. “But I suppose everyone grieves differently. I don’t think I’d be out partying so soon after my children died, but to each their own I guess.” Her lips lifted in a plastic smile.
Olivia might find Courtney’s behavior unpleasant, but Fiona’s cruel comments were shocking. Cara and the others at Fiona’s table exchanged wide-eyed looks.
“Traitor.” Courtney hissed at the woman covered in diamonds. “Judas! Your father is a member of the board, and you’re sitting here panting after the devil.”
Olivia’s gaze fell on the empty seat next to Fiona.
But before the beauty could reply, Chris gripped Courtney’s elbow and said in a low tone, “You are making a scene. If you can’t control yourself, go home.”
Courtney wrenched her arm away. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Hide me away while you do whatever with…” Her vicious stare landed on Olivia. “Whoever.”
Thankfully, Stuart came to her rescue. “Olivia,” he said, rising in his seat, doing his best not to stare at the scene unfolding. “I’ve been looking for you.”
Olivia sank gratefully into the seat next to him. On her other side was an older gentleman with snow white hair and a haughty expression. The entire Bloom Communications’ table watched as Chris maneuvered a wobbly Courtney into a seat on the far side of the round table.
Olivia was thankful for the large centerpiece that partially shielded her from Courtney’s glare.
“I don’t know which fool put the Blooms at a table so close to ours,” the older man sniffed. “They should be fired. Unless the drama is what they are after.” He turned to Olivia. “Alan Carrol, and this is Helene.” A bored looking young woman next to him nodded at Olivia.
“You must be Olivia Adler. The CFO.” He kept talking not waiting for a response. Apparently, her input to the conversation wasn’t necessary. “I’m a member of the Bloom Communications board and an investor with Bloom Capital. So whichever bid you choose, I win.”
Without another word, the older man began picking at the salad plate the servers had placed in front of each of them. Olivia met Helene’s eyes and was surprised when the woman rolled hers, before opening her purse and popping a small white pill in her mouth.
Olivia’s appetite had vanished but she forced herself to take several bites. She hadn’t had anything since a smoothie that morning and the tea in the afternoon.
“Have you been on the board long?” She heard Stuart ask.
“Decades,” Alan answered between bites, clearly uninterested in talking to any of them.
“What was all that about?” Kyle, never one for discretion, jerked his head toward the table where the Blooms were seated.
Unfortunately, from where Olivia was sitting, the family was in her sight line, the one empty seat mocking her. It hadn’t occurred to her that Declan might be attending, but now seeing the empty chair… Maybe Declan wasn’t coming. She squashed the disappointment that settled in her chest.
Even if he does…
He doesn’t remember you.
Alan looked at Kyle for a moment, and then shrugged. “It’s not a secret. That’s the Bloom family. Their father, David, founded Bloom Communications. There has been a rift ever since his death when his eldest son, Declan, was removed as CEO.”
“Really?” Kyle twisted in his seat to look.
“Yes. Luke and James are the twins. The brunette is James’s wife.” The older man’s eyes cut to Courtney and Chris. “Camellia is a famous podcaster.”
Was the man trying to start a fight? “The blonde with her back to us is Cara Bloom, well now Evans. She married this year as well. That must be her husband next to her.”
Olivia snuck a peek at the handsome man in glasses.
Kyle squinted and then gasped. “That’s Lia Everton, the movie star, right? Fuck yeah. I’d love to meet her.”
Olivia felt a tinge of embarrassment before she remembered she wasn’t responsible for his behavior anymore.
“Yes,” Alan drawled. “Next to Luke Bloom.”
“Who’s the other one? She’s hot.” Kyle ogled Fiona, and Alan’s face tightened.
“That is my daughter, Fiona.” His words were clipped.
Kyle slugged back more of his drink. “So, why’s she sitting over there instead of here? Aren’t they like… the enemy?”
“Yes,” Courtney suddenly exclaimed, having followed the conversation. “The Blooms are demons set on destroying me just because their father loved me and left me his fortune. They are horrible, horrible people. They never cared about their father. I’m the one who took care of him. I deserved it.” Her voice trembled with self-righteousness.
Alan made a face. “Declan and his father had their issues, but Declan was always loyal to the company.”
“You’re only saying that because you want him to marry Fiona,” Courtney exclaimed. “I’ve heard the rumors. Fiona’s telling everyone who will listen that they’re practically engaged. Don’t think I don’t see the maneuvering going on around me. You’re trying to steal what’s mine and put Declan back in charge.”
Olivia lost the thread of the conversation as a boulder lodged in her stomach. Declan and the icy beauty were getting married? She set down her fork, sure she would choke if she tried to force another bite past her tight throat.
The salad plates were cleared, and Olivia used the transition to escape. “If you’ll excuse me a moment.” She wasn’t sure where she was going. The bathroom was probably as good a place as any to hide while she got her emotions under control. As she made her way across the room, her senses flared to life, and she knew she was being watched.
Detouring to the bar, she ordered another drink, even though she still had a full one left at her seat. From that vantage point, she scanned the room but couldn’t find anything out of place or anyone paying her special attention.
So why did she feel like her skin was on fire? Almost as if drawn by a magnet, her eyes rose to the landing at the top of the stairs.
Mouthwatering in what was obviously a tailored tuxedo over his muscular frame, Declan Bloom stood above the ballroom. His hands were braced on the railing, and even from that distance, she could see the anger in his face. Anger directed at her.