Chapter 29
AUSTIN
The car pulled up to the swankiest hotel in New York City. A valet was there to open the back door within seconds. I stepped out, nodded once, and practically rushed up the stairs with my feet barely touching the red carpet lined with paparazzi.
I didn’t want to be photographed alone. That would make headlines. It would just piss Cash off even more. I was still waiting for my dad to call me into his study and tell me I was officially disowned. I wasn’t sure why it hadn’t happened already.
Pausing for pictures on the red carpet would only remind him that I was very single. At least I wasn’t on the prowl.
Employees of the hotel dressed in all black pointed the way to the ballroom. I walked in and sighed. Another gala. I couldn’t remember how many galas I had attended in my life. They were all the same.
Guests in tuxedos and gowns milled around with champagne flutes. The soft murmur of conversation mixed with a string quartet playing something classical. The overwhelming smell of expensive perfume and cologne filled my senses.
The decorations were all black and white with splashes of silver. It was all very tasteful. Very decadent. Expensive champagne. Fancy appetizers.
I fucking hated these events.
But at least the booze was top shelf, and I could write a check at the end of the night knowing it was going to ocean conservation or whatever cause we were pretending to care about.
I spotted my brothers immediately—kind of hard to miss when there were four of them clustered together like a Bancroft convention.
Cash stood in the center of the group looking severe in his tuxedo.
Kent and his wife, Sylvie, were there too, along with Zayn and Isaac.
I assumed their wives were around somewhere.
My brothers were rarely away from their wives.
Kent noticed me first. His face broke into a genuine smile as I approached, and Sylvie immediately pulled me into a hug.
“Austin! It’s so good to see you.” She looked stunning in a deep blue gown, her hair swept up elegantly. “We were hoping you’d come.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I lied smoothly. “You look incredible, Sylvie.”
“Flatterer.” But she was pleased. Kent shook my hand, pulling me in for one of those half-hug things men do at formal events.
“Good to see you, brother,” Kent said. “Fair warning—give Cash a wide berth tonight. He’s in a mood.”
I glanced over at Cash, who was studiously not looking at me while having what appeared to be a very intense conversation with one of our cousins. “When isn’t he in a mood?”
“He’s especially not impressed with you.” Kent paused, choosing his words carefully. “The situation with Melody. The photos. The breakup. All of it.”
“Of course he isn’t.” I grabbed another champagne flute from a passing waiter. “Cash is never impressed with anything I do.”
“Austin—”
“It’s fine, Kent. Really.” I took a drink. “I’ve already accepted that I’m probably getting cut off. So be it. I’ve been living on borrowed time anyway.”
Kent’s expression was troubled, but Sylvie squeezed my arm sympathetically. “For what it’s worth, I think you’ve been doing good work lately.”
I smiled. I liked her. I liked her family. If only I could have something like that. I understood why Kent bailed on New York and moved upstate to be a farmer or whatever it was he was doing up there. It was definitely a simpler life.
“Thanks, Sylvie.”
“Incoming,” Kent muttered.
“Cash?” I asked. “You should probably move out of the way. I would hate for you to get blood splatter all over you.”
“Not Cash,” Kent said in a tone that told me exactly who it was.
Fuck. I turned to see our father approaching, his silver hair gleaming under the chandeliers. Armand Bancroft in a tuxedo was an imposing sight. He was in the elderly category, but the way he held himself would make anyone second-guess the age on his driver’s license.
He was six feet of old money and older expectations, moving through the crowd like he owned the place. He didn’t own this particular hotel, but he owned enough property to have that air of power that followed him wherever he went.
He shook Kent’s hand, kissed Sylvie’s cheek, then turned to me.
His hand landed on my shoulder. The look he gave me told me I was probably attending my last gala.
I would have to sell the Ferrari and move out of the hotel and find an actual penthouse to buy or maybe a townhome.
Hell, maybe I would move back to Vancouver.
Life as I knew it was over.
“Dad.”
“I’d like to have a word before the evening gets underway.”
Every muscle in my body tensed. “I’m actually good. Nothing to talk about.”
“There’s plenty to talk about.”
“I think you mean you want to talk and I’m expected to listen.”
I’m pushing it. I know I am, but if I’m going down, no use in kissing ass. I’ll burn it all down as I crash.
“You’re burning bridges you might need later,” my father warned.
“I’m fine with burning bridges. Most of them were built on bullshit anyway.” I took another drink. “Besides, you’ve got plenty of other sons to be proud of. Cash is right there, successfully meeting all your expectations. Why don’t you go talk to him about bridge maintenance?”
“Austin—”
“It’s fine, Dad. Really. I’m the black sheep, the disappointment, the one who will never quite measure up. I’ve accepted it. Shouldn’t that make you happy? I’m finally staying in my lane.”
Dad stared at me evenly, his expression unreadable.
Kent and Sylvie had gone very quiet beside us.
Kent and I were very much alike. He had been the one on the verge of being disowned a few months ago.
He had gone up against our father and somehow he managed to come through just fine.
That’s how I found myself back in the fold, so to speak.
I wasn’t actually in the fold. I was still on the outskirts, and honestly, I was good with that.
But now it looked like I was going to be living the life of a regular heir instead of a Bancroft heir. The difference? A few hundred million dollars. So was I going to be poor? Not even a little, but Bancroft rich was not the same as regular rich.
I told Kent, when he asked me for advice all those months ago, that he would be okay. I will be okay too.
I could see Dad calculating his next words. He wouldn’t make a scene, but he was definitely thinking about grabbing me by the ear and dragging me into a dark hallway to deliver one of his lectures.
Sylvie gasped. “Wow. She’s gorgeous.”
The words cut through the tension. I turned to follow her gaze, looking toward the grand entrance. And my heart stopped.
A woman stood there, framed in the doorway.
She wore a gown that seemed to shimmer. Not quite gold, not quite champagne, something in between that caught the light and made her glow.
The dress highlighted her curves before flowing out in soft folds of silk.
Her hair fell in waves around her shoulders, dark and glossy.
Ruby earrings caught the light, matching her lips, which were painted that deep rose color I’d been dreaming about.
She looked uncertain. Out of place. Like she was considering turning around and leaving. I couldn’t move. I stared at her. It wasn’t just me staring at her.
The woman knew how to make an entrance. Although, judging by the nervousness on her face, she wasn’t used to making an entrance. She was panicking. Searching.
For me?
Her eyes found mine across the ballroom. And the smile that broke across her face nearly knocked me on my ass. My girl. Melody was here.
I didn’t think. Didn’t consider the optics or what my family would think or what anyone would say. I just moved.
I crossed the ballroom in what felt like two strides, aware of heads turning, conversations stopping, phones coming out. But I didn’t care about any of it. I only cared about getting to her.
She walked toward me looking a bit like a fawn in heels that made her legs look endless. I knew she wasn’t fond of heels. But damn, she looked good in them. I stopped in front of her, catching both her hands in mine before she could second-guess whatever impulse had brought her here.
“What are you doing here?” It wasn’t exactly a friendly greeting. I was just so surprised to see her.
Surprised in a good way. I was afraid to hope she was there for me, but I desperately hoped that was the case.
“Being stupid and impulsive,” she whispered. I could see her nerves now, the way her hands trembled slightly in mine. “It didn’t sit right with me.”
“What?” I asked with confusion.
“I couldn’t let you walk into this night with your family alone. After what you did for me, I owe you this much.”
“Thank you. I know you didn’t have to and you probably don’t want to see me, but you have no idea how grateful I am to see you right now.”
She took a deep breath. “I’m willing to try again.”
My heart was pounding so hard against my ribcage it was actually painful. It was making it difficult to breathe. “You’re sure?”
“No.” She laughed, but it was nervous. “I’m terrified, actually. But you deserve someone in your corner like you were in mine.”
I nodded, still dumbfounded she was standing in front of me.
“But if you embarrass me again,” she added quickly, “I will let Cleo off her leash, and she will ruin you. Her creative talents can be scary sometimes.”
I laughed with relief and joy and disbelief all mixing together. “Noted. Cleo is terrifying. Message received. I think she mentioned something about neutering me. I’d rather not find out if she was serious.”
“I’m serious, Austin. Cleo is a pitbull on a leash, but I can be pretty vicious too.”
“I know you are.” I squeezed her hands. “I’m not going to embarrass you again. I swear. I’m going to do everything in my power to deserve you.”
“That’s a tall order.”
“Good thing I like a challenge.”
She smiled then, just for me. I had to resist the urge to kiss her right there in front of everyone.
Instead, I released one of her hands and offered her my arm. “Ready to make an entrance?”
“I think we already did.” She glanced around, noticing for the first time how many people were watching us. “Oh man. Everyone’s staring.”
“Let them stare.” I covered her hand with mine where it rested on my arm. “I’ve got the most beautiful woman in the room on my arm. They should be staring.”
“Smooth talker.”
“I’m a Bancroft. It’s in the DNA.”
We started across the ballroom together. I felt every eye follow us. Heard the whispers starting. Saw phones being raised to capture the moment. But for once, I didn’t care about the optics or the gossip or what people would say.
Melody was here. She’d come for me.
My family was exactly where I’d left them, though now they were all staring at us with varying expressions. Sylvie looked delighted. Kent looked amused. Cash looked like he was having a stroke. And my father’s expression was inscrutable.
“Everyone,” I said as we approached. “This is Melody. Melody, this is a very small part of my family. Kent and his wife, Sylvie. My brother Cash. And you’ve met my father, the charmer. I have a few other brothers and their wives running around that I’m sure you’ll meet soon.”
“It’s lovely to meet you all,” Melody said. I was impressed by how steady her voice was despite the nerves I could feel in the hand gripping my arm.
Kent was grinning like an idiot. He was loving this. I looked at Sylvie, who was also beaming. Kent slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him.
I wanted that. I wanted what Sylvie and Kent had. He was willing to nearly bankrupt himself to make her happy because he loved her.
Would I be willing to do that?