Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Charades Is A Dangerous Game
Chiara
I’m no stranger to big events or being in the spotlight, but as we pull up to the entrance of the Law Gala, my stomach swoops like I’ve just been dropped from the highest point of a rollercoaster.
I don’t know if it’s the thought of being the center of attention after the way I was portrayed in that blog a few weeks back, or the knowledge that Raf is clearly pissed I’ve been avoiding him.
Either way, as I train my gaze on the red carpet we’ll soon walk as a couple, my nerves riot.
“You ready?” Raf asks, lightly squeezing my knee to bring my attention back to him.
“I was born ready,” I smirk.
His brows furrow like he can see through my bold-faced lies, but I don’t give him a chance to change his mind. We need to stick to this plan.
“Chop, chop! You’re not getting any younger,” I say, “And I have a glass of Champagne waiting for me.”
With a nod towards his driver who takes his cue to get out and open Raf’s door, I watch as he assuredly and elegantly unfolds his tall, strong body out of the car.
He looks regal as he does up one button on his tux jacket and adjusts the cuff of his shirt sleeves.
The driver closes the door, and I use the reprieve to take three deep breaths before Raf opens mine.
“Shall we, Miss Gigioliotti?” he asks, extending his hand to me, and I place my trembling one in his.
Instead of questioning me on it, he simply tucks my hand safely into the crook of his elbow and places his big warm hand over it, then leading me over to where Sophia is waiting with her parents so we can all make our way down together. After brief hellos, we’re given our cue to make our entrance.
“Let’s do this,” he murmurs, looking down at me warmly.
This fucking contradiction of man is going to be the death of me.
“Congratulations, girls!” I say as I clink glasses with Evie and Sophia. I spot Arabella and wave her over to join us.
“How did your red-carpet moment go with Raf?” she says with a sly grin.
“I nailed it,” I say, flipping my hair. “Raf’s acting skills could do with some work, but it was passable.”
The girls all giggle at my antics. This is my speciality, using humor to deflect. Truth is, Raf pulled me back from the edge of panic.
“I can’t believe you managed to convince him to be part of your plan to stay in New York. Well played,” says Sophia, looking over towards her brother who’s chatting with a group of men.
“You know me. I make it hard to say no,” I respond, following her line of sight to the sexiest man I’ve ever seen in a tux. I omit the fact it was actually Raf’s grand plan. The less they know, the better.
“I really does look magical in here,” I tell Evie, desperate for the attention to be on someone else. “Those floral arrangements are beautiful, and I just love the vintage glam theme you’ve gone for. You really do feel like you’re in a bygone era.”
Evie produced and styled the Law Gala with Marco’s mom, Elena. The en masse candlelight and ornate gold and crystal chandeliers suspended from above bathe the room in an ethereal golden light. It feels almost calming.
“Thank you! I couldn’t have done it without my bestie,” she says, winding her arm around Sophia for a quick hug.
“Everything is in place for the coverage of the event too,” says Arabella, taking a sip of her drink and exchanging a look with Sophia.
“Perfect,” she responds with a dip of her head and a nibble of her lip. I feel like they’re having a completely different conversation than their words suggest.
I give Arabella a What the hell was that about? look, and thankfully she takes the bait.
“I need to head to the ladies’ before we take our seats,” she says, placing her empty glass on a server’s tray.
“Yes. Me too,” I agree, draining the last of my drink and following suit.
“We’re sitting on table one,” says Sophia. “We’ll meet you back there.”
When Evie and Sophia are out of earshot, I turn to Arabella.
“What’s going on? I didn’t miss that cryptic conversation you just had with Sophia.”
“I promise you, it’s nothing for you to worry about,” she says, taking my hand. “You know how we were talking a few weeks back about wanting to be the masters of our own destiny. Getting out from under the thumb of overbearing men?”
I nod. I mean, that’s exactly what my red-carpet moment was about.
“Well, I’ve finally made a decision that’s going to set me on the right path,” she says.
“What do you mean?”
An announcement is made in the main hall asking everyone to start making their way to their tables for the start of dinner and formalities.
“There’s no time to get into the details now, but just know that it’s what I needed to do.” Her eyes swim with emotion and relief. “Fuck playing small to keep powerful men comfortable, Chiara. It’s time to break the cycle. Our future depends on it.”
Even if I don’t know what this decision of hers is, understanding passes between us. We hug before quickly using the bathroom and returning to our respective tables.
If I could relive that moment, I would’ve held her for longer.