Chapter 9
Gabriella
“I’d like you to accompany Mr. White to the charity gala on Friday,” said my father, taking a sip of wine before eating another bite of steak.
“You’re joking?” I asked, placing my silverware down and staring at him like he had just sprouted another head.
“Hardly. I need you to make introductions. You two need to look like a united front.”
“We are,” I lied, looking down at the peas on my plate and pushing them around with my fork.
“That’s not what I’ve heard.”
“So what? You’re spying on me?” I asked pointedly.
“Don’t be so dramatic, Gabriella.”
I hated when he said things like that. It made me feel weak.
It made me pick myself apart even more now that he had made Chandler CEO and not me.
Something I had still not gotten over in the past few miserable days of working together.
Every day, he showed me some new way of being a jerk, and looked annoyingly good while doing it. I hated him.
“We just don’t mesh.” I shrugged.
“You’ll get used to it. I know it’s weird having someone else in charge now, but it is what it is.”
Only because you made it that way, I thought to myself. I wanted to say it out loud. I still wanted to know why he had made the decision he did, but a part of me was scared to find out. Maybe I wasn’t good enough. The thought ate away at me as I took a small bite of steak.
“If your mother were here she’d tell us not to talk business at the dinner table,” he said, watching me chew.
He was right. On top of that, I was sure my mother would rather be here with us than going through the motions of taking care of her own mother and her ailing health. Perspective. Things could always be worse.
“I’ll do it,” I said softly.
“Good girl,” my father said, turning to give me a reassuring smile.
As I carefully placed the backing on my diamond stud, I heard a knock at the door of my apartment.
Curious, I picked up the long train of my ballgown and walked toward the door, the fabric swishing behind me.
I looked out the peephole and saw Juliet waving as if she knew I was looking out.
I opened the door and stood back, giving her room to enter even with the large skirt of my dress.
“Oh, my gosh,” she squealed as she walked in. “You look amazing.”
Her hands flew to her face as she walked around me like I was some sort of attraction at the Central Park Zoo. Her eyes flew from the train of my gown to my hair, taking every little detail in.
“You’re a modern-day princess,” she said, shaking her head.
“Hardly. But thank you. I’m still getting ready.” I nodded toward my bedroom and she followed behind me, careful not to step on my dress.
She plopped down on my made bed and crossed her legs in front of her. As I put in my other earring, I could see her looking at me with a satisfied expression on her face.
“What?” I asked, arching a brow.
“He’s going to shit his pants when he sees you,” said Juliet smugly.
“Who?” I turned to face her.
“You know who…”
“You mean the man who is trying to make my life a living hell?” I muttered.
“You’re going to give him hell tonight in this dress.”
I laughed, a flutter in my stomach forming at the thought.
I would be lying if I didn’t have him in mind when I had selected this dress at Barney’s yesterday.
I had spent the evening after work trying on dresses, trying to find the perfect one for the gala tonight.
If I had to be Chandler’s handler tonight, I wanted him to choke as I did so.
I turned and looked at myself in the mirror to see if there were any last touches I needed to make before calling my driver.
I tucked a lightly curled strand of hair behind my ear, the rest of it pulled up into an updo on top of my head, leaving my shoulders and neckline bare.
I smoothed the black gown, the satin slick against my hands.
It was stunning. From the heart-shaped, strapless neckline to the tapered waist to the dramatic skirt that jutted out. I did feel like a princess.
As much as I was dreading tonight, the dress made up for it.
I had once been so looking forward to this night, stepping into the gala as the new CEO and getting the praise I had once thought I deserved.
It was supposed to be my night, but I had come to realize that nothing is ever set in stone. I sighed at the thought.
“What is it?” asked Juliet warily.
“I thought tonight would be different. So different. But now I have to accompany the CEO, instead of being the CEO.”
Juliet scooched off the bed and put her arm around me, pulling me in close. “You will be. Keep your head up. Okay?”
I nodded, not quite believing her, but appreciating the faith my friend had in me.
“I should get going,” I said, glancing at the clock on my dresser.
“Knock ’em dead,” she said.
I took a deep breath before stepping out of the town car, bracing myself for the camera clicks and harsh flashes of light awaiting me on the red carpet that was laid outside the gala.
My driver opened the door and I plastered on a smile as I stepped out of the car.
Excited voices called my name, asking me to look this way and that.
I tried my best to appease their demands as I made my way up the red carpet, stopping to pose in front of the Harold Enterprises backdrop.
After several minutes, I thanked everyone and continued up the steps to the museum where the gala was being hosted. It towered above me, its stone pillars lit up by golden spotlights, as if the stairs were leading up to heaven.
And they just might be as I spotted Chandler standing at the top.
My breath caught as I took in the sight of him in a tux.
As if he wasn’t hot enough before, this trumped every custom suit he wore to the office.
His dark hair was shone under the lights, slicked to the side without one hair out of place.
As if feeling my gaze, he turned, and his green eyes landed on me.
It was like time stood still as I watched his eyes widen slightly, taking me all in. It was the first time I had seen him look unprepared. I hated how good it felt.
Walk, Gabriella. Walk, I reminded myself.
I tilted my chin up and continued up the stairs, feeling triumphant, even as my nerves ate away at me with each step that brought me closer to him.
My heart was pounding in my chest as the distance between us closed in, and I thought it might just stop working all together as he held his hand out to me to help me up the final few steps.
I hesitated before placing my hand in his, and then every party of me became hyper focused on his touch.
As I stepped up to the ledge, I gave him a quick nod of thanks before letting go of his hand, more reluctantly than I would have liked.
“Gabriella, you look beautiful, darling,” said my father, giving me a quick kiss on each cheek. “Doesn’t she, Mr. White?” He turned to Chandler with pride.
He cleared his throat nervously and I fought back a smile as he tried to find the words to answer.
“A vision, sir,” he said, his eyes still on me, his gaze soft.
I absorbed his words and they settled into me like a soundtrack I wanted to play over and over.
“Shall we?” asked my father, offering me his arm.
I nodded and took it, walking into the room with Chandler at my other side.
The museum had been completely transformed with fresh white roses and peonies draped over the crystal chandeliers that hung above.
The overhead lighting cast a soft, warm glow over the room, complimenting the lit candlesticks that sat sprawled across the tables.
A white and black tile dance floor sat in the center of the room, anchored by two bars and a jazz band playing on a small, white circular stage.
“You’ve outdone yourself this year, Dad,” I said, giving his arm a squeeze. “I wish mom were here to see it.”
“My last hurrah. I wish she could be here too, but she has to be with your grandmother,” he said before taking it all in himself. My mother was helping her own mother get settled into a nursing home in Pennsylvania. It was a feat as the woman was stubborn as hell and insisted she didn’t need help.
Soon, the three of us were surrounded by New York’s most prominent figures, all coming to give their congratulations to my father on his retirement and their congratulations to Chandler for taking his place.
It felt like I was the third wheel, but I held my ground, pretending like it wasn’t eating me up inside.
Of course, Chandler was eating it all up, schmoozing everyone who came up.
I was surprised to see he did possess a small ounce of charm.
Surprising, as I had never seen one hair of it in the office.
He really did know how to work people, laughing at their jokes and listening intently.
A real charmer. As if he’d been doing it his whole life.
It took everything in me to not roll my eyes.
I excused myself and made my way to the bar for a glass of champagne.
As I waited in line, I overheard the conversation of the two women in front of me.
They were probably my age, maybe a little older, dressed to the nines in their gowns and dripping in diamonds.
“Did you see the new CEO?” one asked, keeping her voice low.
“How could I miss him?”
“You know he’s the most eligible bachelor in all of New York. Women will be lining up to get their hands on him now that he’s in charge.”
“Sign me up.”
They both giggled to themselves before stepping up to the bar and ordering their drinks.
I felt like I was going to vomit. If only they knew how he really was.
A certified ass. His looks didn’t make up for who he was inside, though they sure tried.
If people could see how he really was, they wouldn’t think he was all that great.
Sure, he might look like sex on a stick, especially in a tux, but underneath all that, he was the devil.
I wanted to expose him, but I knew my father would never forgive me for it. I had to keep my head in the game.
I stepped up to the bar, watching the women cast their glances over at Chandler, who was still shmoozing.
I rolled my eyes and ordered a glass of champagne, thanking the bartender before walking back over to where Chandler and my father stood in the crowd.
I took a long sip of champagne. Mmm. If I was going to be here, I would need more of this.
“Ahh, there she is,” said my father as I approached.
“My girl. Isn’t she stunning?” he boasted to the people around him.
They all nodded in agreement, making me feel uncomfortable.
My father pulled me into the crook of his arm as he put his hand on Chandler’s shoulder.
He looked between the two of us, and I shifted my feet under the pride that swelled in him.
“My dream team,” he said proudly. “These two will go far.”
I almost spit out my champagne at the bald-faced lie, but instead I just pressed my lips into a smile and nodded.