Chapter Twenty Imani
I can still taste him.
It’s maddening the way the memory of him lingers on my lips. I’ve reapplied my lipstick twice, downed half a glass of champagne while getting ready, and still, the ghost of Asher’s mouth against mine refuses to leave my mind.
I tell myself to focus as I step into the lift, heart thudding a little too loudly beneath the silk of my dress as we head down to the reception. I have a job tonight.
Flirt.
Smile.
Remind everyone that Asher and I are a non-starter. And that everyone includes me too.
The cocktail hour is already in full swing by the time I make it downstairs.
I have to hand it them, the Vouvalis Resort staff have really outdone themselves with this location.
The reception room gleams like a jewellery box: soft amber lighting spilling across marble floors, waiters gliding between clusters of people with trays of crystal flutes, and the scent of champagne and expensive perfume hangs heavy in the air.
I straighten my shoulders, paste on a smile, and scan the room for a suitable flirtation candidate. Someone pretty, charming, and absolutely harmless. Someone I can bat my eyelashes at and laugh with for five minutes without feeling my pulse jump the way it does around Asher.
But before I can even take two steps into the throng of the crowd, a voice rings out over the buzz of conversation. It’s warm, teasing, and entirely too loud.
‘Hi, future sister-in-law!’
I turn, mortification rooting me to the spot, and find myself standing directly in front of Teddy Vouvalis.
The middle Vouvalis boy is grinning like an unruly kid who’s just dropped a match into a crate full of fireworks.
His crisp, linen shirt is open just enough to hint at tanned skin and an expensive watch glinting at his wrist. He looks like the human embodiment of a yacht party.
He’s holding a cocktail in one hand and waving the other enthusiastically like we’re old friends and not two people who have never said one word to each other.
‘You,’ he says, grinning wildly, ‘are a very hard lady to pin down.’
‘Hello,’ I manage, forcing polite warmth into my voice. ‘It’s nice to finally meet you, Theodore.’
At that, Teddy rolls his eyes and snorts. ‘No point in being so formal – we’re practically family now, right?’
My smile stiffens, freezing in place. ‘I—’ I start, but Teddy waves a dismissive hand, already sliding into my personal space like it’s second nature.
He places a gentle hand on my elbow and guides me through the sea of people.
We weave between laughter and perfume clouds until the sound dulls behind us, replaced by the quiet murmur of muted conversation in a tucked-away corner near the balcony doors.
Teddy leans one shoulder against the wall and appraises me. ‘You know,’ he starts, conversationally, ‘you two have everyone very convinced.’
My heart trips. ‘Excuse me? I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
If my lie is as obvious as I think it is, Teddy doesn’t seem to care.
In fact, his grin only widens. ‘You and my brother. The whole “mutual loathing” thing. I won’t lie.
It’s pretty good. Pretty convincing even.
’ He frowns and makes a show of tapping his chin thoughtfully. ‘But there’s something off about it.’
‘Off?’ I repeat flatly.
‘Mmhm.’ His tone is teasing, but the look in his eyes is calculated.
I get the distinct impression that Teddy Vouvalis isn’t someone to underestimate.
‘I was watching you two earlier, when you arrived, and the thing is—’ He pauses and swirls around his cocktail for what I’m assuming is supposed to be dramatic effect.
I’m beginning to think that everything Teddy does is for dramatic effect.
‘The thing is, Asher doesn’t look at people he hates the way he looks at you. ’
I take a steadying sip of champagne. ‘You’re imagining things.’
‘Could be,’ Teddy says with a shrug. ‘But I’m not. There’s something there. You two have chemistry. I saw it.’
I force out a light laugh. ‘If that’s what you think chemistry is, I’m very concerned about your love life.’
Teddy snorts. ‘You two are both terrible liars. How can I be the only one who sees this? Or is everyone else just an idiot?’
I roll my eyes. ‘Believe whatever you want, Teddy. I’m not interested in your brother.’
‘Oh, I will,’ he says, all grin again, but the glint in his gaze doesn’t fade.
‘But you are interested in him. So let me give you a tip, since I like you.’ He drops his voice slightly and leans in further.
‘If you’re trying to convince the world that you and Asher are mortal enemies, you might want to stop looking at him like you’d rather be fucking him. ’
I nearly choke on my champagne. ‘I do not—’
He just laughs and holds up his glass in a mock toast. ‘Relax, future sister-in-law. Your secret’s safe with me. For now.’
I open my mouth to respond, to emphatically deny, deny, deny, but before I can get a single word out, a familiar voice cuts through the air behind me.
‘There you are.’
I turn just in time to see Sloane gliding towards us, every inch of her immaculate.
Her hair is swept into a half up-do, and her dress is a shimmering bronze slip that hugs and drapes her curves, catching the light every time she moves.
Heads actually turn as she passes by. She lifts a brow as she comes to stop beside me.
‘I thought you needed help zipping up?’ My cheeks warm.
‘I… figured it out,’ I say weakly.
Sloane looks unconvinced but she doesn’t have the chance to press the matter because Teddy’s eyes have widened like he’s just witnessed a divine intervention.
‘Well, hello,’ he says, straightening from his lazy lean against the wall. His grin transforms into one that could charm the devil himself. ‘And who might this vision be?’
Sloane stops beside me and spares Teddy a scathing once-over. ‘A vision who isn’t interested,’ she says, not missing a beat.
He laughs, unbothered. ‘That’s what they all say at first.’
‘They also keep saying it afterwards,’ she replies coolly, plucking a champagne flute from a passing tray. ‘And during. And forever.’
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
Teddy looks delighted. ‘You’re funny.’
‘I’m not trying to be,’ she says, taking a slow sip of her drink.
‘Even better,’ he says, leaning in slightly, as though her disinterest is a challenge. ‘The name’s Teddy, by the way. Asher’s superior and vastly more charming brother.’
She gives him another clearly unimpressed sideways glance. ‘I know who you are.’
‘And yet I don’t know who you are,’ Teddy says, shaking his head. ‘You’ll have to forgive me.’
‘Will I?’
I choke on a laugh, earning a quick side-eye from her that says don’t you dare encourage him.
‘I hope so.’ Teddy flashes her a smile that shows off a dimple I would bet money has probably caused at least three women to faint this month alone. ‘At least tell me your name so I know what to have engraved on my heart when you inevitably break it.’
She doesn’t even blink. ‘Sloane,’ she says flatly.
Teddy waits a beat for her to elaborate and say something else, but she doesn’t. This doesn’t seem to bother him though.
‘Beautiful and efficient,’ he says, looking at Sloane like she just hung the sun. ‘A rare combination. Tell me, Sloane,’ he practically purrs her name, ‘do you always look like this, or is tonight special?’
Her expression doesn’t flicker. ‘Depends. Do you always flirt this badly, or is that special?’
I nearly snort into my glass but manage to catch myself at the last second. Teddy’s eyes flick towards me, then back to Sloane, his unshakable grin still firmly in place.
‘Ouch,’ he says, pressing a hand to his chest. ‘But I forgive you. People usually get nicer once they fall in love with me.’
‘I don’t see that happening,’ Sloane says smoothly, scanning the crowd like she’s already bored. ‘Might want to focus your efforts elsewhere.’
Teddy laughs. ‘Challenge accepted.’
‘Not a challenge,’ she corrects, taking another sip of champagne. ‘A suggestion. You should take it.’
‘Ah,’ he says, unconcerned. ‘You’ll come around. They always do.’
‘I doubt that.’
‘Then maybe you’ll be my first exception.’
She sighs and mutters, ‘God give me strength,’ under her breath.
Teddy, clearly having the time of his life, gestures towards the bar across the room, where bottles of champagne and wine gleam under amber light. ‘Alright, alright, since I’ve been so thoroughly rejected, allow me to offer a peace treaty. Drinks? On me.’
Sloane tilts her head. ‘You do realise they’re free?’
‘My family are footing the bill,’ Teddy says with a shrug. ‘So technically, they are on me.’
I can’t help but laugh at his roundabout reasoning, and Sloane shoots me a withering glare.
‘Fine,’ she says finally. ‘Go. Bring back something strong enough to erase this conversation from my memory.’
Teddy salutes her with his glass. ‘Coming right up, Sloane.’ He turns and strolls towards the bar, moving like a man entirely certain of his charm.
The moment he’s out of earshot, Sloane lets out a long and dramatic exhale. ‘Fucking hell, he’s exhausting.’
‘Incredibly,’ I agree. ‘But you have to admit—’
‘Well, well,’ Emmy drawls, suddenly appearing at Sloane’s side like smoke. ‘I’ve been looking for you.’
Every muscle in my body tightens.
‘Emmy,’ I say evenly, lifting my chin. ‘Lovely to see you.’
‘Oh, I’m sure,’ she says sweetly. Her gaze flicks towards the bar, where Teddy is chatting animatedly with the bartender, his smile as blinding as ever. ‘It looked like you were getting quite cosy with Teddy Vouvalis just now.’
I shrug lightly and spot an opportunity to do some damage control. ‘He’s better company than Asher.’
Sloane snorts. ‘No, he isn’t.’
Emmy’s perfectly sculpted brows lift. ‘Oh?’ She turns her attention to Sloane, a calculating gleam in her eyes. ‘And how would you know, exactly?’
I glance between them and immediately recognise that glint in Emmy’s eye. It’s the one that means she’s found a new thread to pull.
Sloane’s expression doesn’t change, but I know her well enough to spot the flicker of irritation tightening her jaw. ‘I just do.’
Emmy smiles like a lion who’s just scented blood. ‘Interesting.’
Sloane’s mouth curves into a dangerous half-smile. ‘Not really.’
I can feel the tension stretching between them, and while they’re locked in some kind of silent power struggle, I let my gaze drift over Emmy’s shoulder.
That’s when I see him.
Asher.
He’s standing across the room, surrounded by a cluster of people I vaguely recognise.
A daughter of a duke, several athletes, a model or two, a son of a real estate mogul.
But standing beside him, and leaning in just a little too close, is a woman I don’t recognise.
She’s beautiful, of course. She’s got glossy brown hair, perfect full red lips, and a dress that looks stunning on her but was most definitely not made to sit down in.
She says something that makes him laugh and an unexpected wave of jealously hits me.
I force my eyes away, my throat tight. He’s doing exactly what we agreed to do. Flirt. Perform. Sell the illusion that there can never be anything between the two of us. I should be relieved that he’s playing his role so well.
But I’m not.
I drain the rest of my champagne and turn abruptly back to Sloane and Emmy, who are still circling each other like rival predators.
‘I’m going to get some air,’ I say, setting my empty glass on a passing tray before either Sloane or Emmy can respond.
But before I can slip away, Teddy reappears with two champagne flutes in hand, grin still firmly in place. ‘Did I miss something?’ he asks me in a hushed whisper, glancing between Sloane’s frosty expression and Emmy’s strained smile.
‘I’m not sure,’ I say truthfully. Whatever it is that’s going on between Sloane and Emmy has been simmering under the surface for a while now and maybe it’s all about to finally come out.
Teddy shrugs and then offers me one of the glasses. I take it automatically, grateful for the excuse to look away from the tension radiating between Sloane and Emmy.
Unfortunately, my traitorous gaze automatically drifts back across the room.
To him.
I let out an irritated sigh and Teddy follows my gaze. He’s quiet for a long moment, watching Asher and the woman with an expression that’s surprisingly thoughtful. Then he makes a soft, sad noise. ‘Well, that must suck for you.’
The words hit like a dart, and before I can stop myself, I forget to pretend I don’t know what he’s talking about.
‘Yeah,’ I breathe out.
Teddy looks at me for another moment, something flickering behind his easy grin. Sympathy, maybe? Then he clinks his glass lightly against mine.
‘Come on, future sister-in-law,’ he says brightly. ‘Let’s get you out of the blast radius.’
I let him lead me away, champagne fizzing on my tongue and jealousy burning in my chest.