Chapter 13 #2
Fury builds inside me, and suddenly, I want nothing more than to wipe that stupid pity smile off his face.
“No need to worry about me. I’m dating someone too,” I blurt out, plastering a proud smile on my face.
“In fact, here he is right now.” I catch Callum’s gaze and beckon him to join us.
“Hi, honey,” I say, taking his hand as he comes closer.
All the while, I send him as many signals as I can with my eyes, hoping he’ll manage to decode them.
“Everything all right?” Callum asks with a confused frown.
“Wait. You’re dating Callum Murray?” Trevor’s eyebrows shoot to the roof, his jaw a little loose.
“I am,” I say, beaming up at Callum and praying he won’t blow my cover. “We wanted to keep our relationship private. You know how crazy the media can be with celebrities.” I lower my voice, since the media are in fact milling among us.
Trevor instantly tenses, and I suppress a smirk. His ego was always his greatest enemy.
“Callum, this is Trevor, my ex-boyfriend, his fiancée Julie, and Daniel and Farid from Brentworth Capital.”
We chat for a few more minutes, and the tightness in my chest loosens.
I’m a lot more at ease with Callum here.
Especially since Trevor is getting more irritated by the minute.
What did he think? That I wouldn’t ever manage to find someone after him?
Well, technically he’d be right, but it’s not like I’ve been actively looking, either.
“All right,” I say, placing a hand on Callum’s chest. “We’d better go. Plenty of people to talk to, you know.”
We share a round of polite goodbyes, then turn to leave their group.
“Hold on,” Trevor says, his voice cutting through the ballroom. “We should immortalise this moment. That is, if you're capable of having your picture taken without smashing the camera, Murray?”
I freeze, then slowly turn around. What has gotten into him?
Callum tenses next to me, his eyes settling on Trevor.
And even if I'm not on the receiving end of his glare, I still feel it full force, my forearms erupting in tiny goosebumps. I glance up at him, but he doesn’t say anything.
He just wraps an arm around me as Trevor waves over a photographer.
The six of us pose together, Callum’s arm anchoring me in the moment.
His embrace is surprisingly warm and comforting—everything I need right now.
Finally, we say goodnight and part ways. With a hand on my lower back, Callum shepherds me to the secluded corridor near the toilets.
“What the heck was that?” he whisper-yells once we’re alone.
“I’m sorry,” I peep, my voice rising an octave. “I panicked, and I tend to say stupid stuff when I’m taken by surprise.” I fidget with the fabric of my dress. “I had no idea his dad was an investor, or that there was even a remote chance Trevor would be here.”
His eyes narrow. “Even if you’d known, how would that have changed anything?”
“I would have been prepared! My ‘boyfriend’ would have been away for work, or home sick with the flu. See? I can do this. But not when I'm slapped in the face by my ex and the woman he impregnated while we were still together!”
At that, his whole expression shifts. Callum’s jaw clenches, and he turns his head sharply toward the ballroom. “He did what?”
“Please, don't,” I say quickly.
“You don’t even know what I’m about to do,” he grumbles, but the way he’s balling his fists gives me a pretty good idea.
“Yes, I do. You’re going to go over there and rough him up for cheating on me.”
His brow arches. “Rough him up?”
“What?” I smile softly. “Isn’t that what you were thinking?”
“Actually, I had something a bit more violent in mind.”
I place a hand gently on his arm to ground him. “He’s not worth it. Trust me.”
He exhales hard through his nose. “So, what? I’m supposed to just let him walk away after what he did? What a piece of—”
“Please.” I place my hand over his mouth this time. “Let’s just forget it, okay? I don’t need to relive that part of my life.”
He stares back at me, then leans against the wall. “Fine.”
I nudge him gently. “So, how many cameras have you broken, exactly?”
The corner of his lip lifts. “Oh, and I have to relive that? Doesn’t seem fair.” He sighs. “Quite a few. But never on purpose. I just shoved them out of my face. If you want my opinion, they dropped their gear just to have a story to twist.”
I wince. “Sorry.”
“I still paid them back and then some. It’s not a big deal. But Millie, I’m the one who’s sorry. What that guy did…he’s—you didn’t deserve that.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “And thanks for not blowing my cover out there. It was embarrassing enough as it was.”
“If anyone should be embarrassed, it’s him. And I think he was. Did you see the way he reacted when you called me over?”
I grin. “Probably because he was jealous I managed to land someone like you.”
He cocks his head, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I shrug, a little too casually. “Trevor’s addicted to money and status. And you clearly win in that department.”
Callum smirks. “Oh, I thought it was because I’m so much better looking than him.”
I blink. “Wait, did I grab the wrong Regent? I feel like I’m talking to Archie right now.”
He laughs, raking a hand through his hair. “Aye, I think he might be rubbing off on me.”
I bite my lip. “But yeah... that too.”