Chapter seventeen
“Wow, Rose, that wasintense. So much for sneaking out of there without being seen,” Violet said as she and I were seated at another restaurant on the other side of town.
“I know, I’m completely embarrassed. Did you see the way that other woman looked at me? I bet she’s the one Nathan is seeing,” I noted miserably.
“I don’t know, Rosie. The way he chased you outside, makes me think that there’s something going on with him.”
I sighed. “He probably just wanted to talk me into having sex with him again.”
Violet smiled. “And that’s a bad thing because...?”
“Violet!”
“Alright, alright. There are plenty of other men out there, you’ll find the right one for you.” Violet let out a low whistle. “Of course, it is going to be pretty hard to find another man as good-looking as that.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Thanks, but I think you’ve cheered me up enough. Let’s forget all about this and have a good night out.”
Violet held up her champagne glass. “You’re right. To a good night out.” We clinked glasses and drank to our toast.
***
THE NEXT MORNING, Iwoke up and groaned. I had a splitting headache. I’d stayed out way too late with my sister and we made way too many toasts. I remembered now why I wasn’t a big drinker.
“Good morning, Rosie,” Violet called happily as I walked into the kitchen.
I put my hand to my head. “Not so loud, my head is killing me.”
Violet laughed. “You’re a lightweight, sis. Last night was nothing.”
“Well, it was for me. I never drink.”
Violet laughed again. “You had fun though?”
“Yes, but I would have had fun without so much alcohol. Go and see Liam and the baby, I’m going back to bed.” I walked back into my room and as soon as my head hit the pillow I fell straight to sleep.
When I next woke up next, it was late in the afternoon. I walked out to the sitting room and found Violet relaxing while she watched television.
“Hey sleepyhead. You feeling any better?” she asked, clearly enjoying teasing me.
“Yes. Did you go and say hello to Liam?”
“Yes, and don’t worry, I gave him a piece of my mind,” Violet said, her tone sharp. “He’ll think twice about doing something that stupid again.”
I sighed. “I hope you’re right.”
“And I told him that if he’s going to rip off another handsome billionaire, then he better come to me, because I could quite easily become someone’s mistress,” Violet laughed, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
“Oh Violet...” I said, shaking my head. “I can’t believe you and I are related sometimes.”
Violet laughed. “Neither can I.” She stopped smiling and a serious look came over her face. “Did you know Nathan is still going to pay for Liam to go and see someone about his gambling problem? He even said he still has a job for him when he straightens himself out.”
I was surprised. I had expected Nathan to wash his hands of Liam as soon as he could. I didn’t think he’d want anything to do with me or my brother.
“Liam said that Nathan rang him this morning and gave him all the details for his treatment,” Violet continued.
“That’s good. I hope Liam takes it seriously.”
Violet smiled slightly. “Nathan asked about you too.”
“Oh?” I asked, casually raising one eyebrow. I was trying hard not to show just how much I cared.
“He asked how you were going and what you’d been doing with yourself. And don’t worry, Liam didn’t tell him that all you’ve been doing is hanging around here feeling sorry for yourself.”
I put my chin in the air. “I’m not feeling sorry for myself. And besides, look what happen when I did go out, I ran into Nathan.”
Violet sighed and shook her head disbelievingly. She picked a piece of paper up off the coffee table and handed it to me. “What’s this Christmas ball you’re invited to? I found this invitation on your fridge, hidden behind some take-away menus.”
I took the piece of paper off my sister and glanced at it. “I forgot about this. I got it weeks ago. My boss gets a few invitations every year to this swanky ball held on the twenty-third. This year he gave one to me.”
“So, are we going?”
“Who said I wanted to go with you?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at her again.
Violet smiled. “Because I’m your favourite sister.”
I looked at the invitation again and pondered it. “I don’t know if I even want to go.”
“Of course you want to go. You need to get on with your life, sis. It’s time you stopped mopping around here.”
I sighed, I knew my sister was right, but I was missing Nathan terribly. Everything I did reminded me of him and seeing Nathan the way I had the night before hadn’t helped. It had completely broken my heart to see Nathan with another woman so soon.
“Well, the ball is tomorrow night and I don’t have anything to wear,” I claimed, although even I heard how weak I sounded.
“That’s alright, we’ll go shopping first thing tomorrow morning.”
***
THE NEXT DAY, VIOLETand I went shopping. I loved having Violet around. I realised how much I missed her when she was working overseas. I didn’t have a lot of friends and my sister was the one person I could always turn to. It was hard not to be able to talk to her whenever I needed to. I had Charlotte of course, but I never felt that I could trouble her with my problems. I never wanted to upset Charlotte.
Later in the day I found myself out front of Diana’s lingerie shop. A feeling of sadness ran through me as I remembered the time I shopped there with Nathan.
“I need to get something to go under this evening dress,” Violet said and walked inside before I could object. I didn’t need anything else to remind me of Nathan.
I followed Violet inside and smiled at Diana standing behind the counter.
“Hello Rose. How are you?” Diana asked, smiling broadly.
“Very well, thanks Di. How are you?” I smiled.
“Good. Where is that boyfriend of yours?”
I smiled weakly. “Nathan and I aren’t together. We’re just friends.”
“Really? I saw the way he looked at you, sweetie, and I think he wants to be more than friends. It’s about time Nathan got himself into a real relationship, instead of all those floozy’s he’s always with in the society pages.”
Violet laughed. “Right on! Exactly what I was thinking.”
Diana nodded knowingly at Violet, then turned to me. “You know what happened with Nathan and his ex-fiancée?”
I nodded, my heart still hurt for him. “He told me.”
“Evil woman, that Kylie. We all warned him not to marry her,” Diana claimed. “I’ve known Nathan since he was just a few months old, and I’ve never seen him like he was when he found out that witch was cheating on him. He’s had that emotionless, vacant look on his face ever since. But the other week when he came in here with you, I saw some of that sparkle back in his eyes. Whatever you did, he looked alive again.” She reached over and patted me lightly on the arm. “Don’t give up on him, he’s a good man. Deep down he has a good, kind heart.” Diana smiled. “Alright, now, what can I do for you ladies today? This must be your sister, Rose. You two look a lot alike.”
Violet and Diana went about finding her what she needed to go under her evening gown while I sat and waited. Diana’s words rang over and over in my head. I had noticed a change in Nathan, especially while we were in Hawaii. I knew Nathan had been happy when he was with me and I had never been happier than when I was with him.
I quietly sighed to myself, my whole mind and body was exhausted. I decided that I wouldn’t let myself even think about Nathan tonight. I needed a night off.
***
“HOW DO I LOOK?” I ASKEDlater that night as I twirled around my bedroom in my new dress.
“Beautiful. That dress is amazing,” Violet smiled.
I looked down at my royal red evening gown. It was made of a soft silk that clung to every curve of my body, making me seem as curvaceous as Violet. My hair was pulled up high on my head revealing my slender neck and accentuating the low vee on the neckline of my dress. The dress was beaded around the bottom and fishtailed out, a touch that made me feel especially glamorous.
“What about me?” Violet asked, showing off her black satin dress. It dipped low in the back, almost completely revealing the fact that she was wearing a tiny black lace thong.
“You look amazing, Violet. You’re going to be beating the men off with a stick,” I teased.
“I hope so,” she said, her eyes twinkling cheekily.
Violet and I caught a taxi to the Sydney Casino where the Christmas Ball was being held. We walked through the casino and out to the ballroom where a man was standing at the door checking people’s invitations.
“Good evening, ladies, invitations please,” the man asked.
I turned to Violet. “You have the invitation,” I stated.
“No, I don’t. You do,” Violet answered.
“I told you to get it because I couldn’t fit anything else in my bag.”
“No you didn’t.”
“Yes, I did,” I argued putting my hands on my hips.
“I’m sorry ladies, but if you don’t have an invitation, you can’t come in,” the man said, looking annoyed that we were holding up the line.
“But we do have one, just not here,” I pleaded.
“Come on, you can let us in,” Violet smiled and she touched the man lightly on the arm.
He smiled and removed her hand. “No, I can’t.”
“You can let them in, it’s fine.” Came an all too familiar voice behind me. My heart sank, so much for having a night off.
“Ahh... sure, Mr Davenport.” The man quickly moved aside to let us in.
I turned around and saw Nathan standing there with the brunette woman from the restaurant. I flushed immediately at the sight of him. He looked so handsome. I know I stared at him for a minute, taking in his tall, muscled frame in his black suit and black shirt. He wasn’t wearing a tie and I could see a small amount of tanned chest and coarse chest hair. I had a flashback of that hair rubbing softly against my breasts during our lovemaking and it caused me to flush a deeper shade of scarlet red.
“I really do have an invitation,” I mumbled quietly, feeling beyond embarrassed. I felt like a schoolgirl being caught sneaking into the movies.
“Yeah, I just forgot it,” Violet added, shrugging one shoulder.
Nathan smiled, the amusement showing in his eyes. “I believe you, ladies.”
I forced a smile and turned and walked inside. I watched out of the corner of my eye as Violet gave Nathan a dirty look and she turned and followed me into the ballroom.
I made my way over to a quiet corner of the room and took a few deep breaths to try and calm myself.
“Are you all right, Rosie? You’re looking a little pale,” Violet asked, her concern showing on her face.
I moved so I was standing right in front of my sister, so I couldn’t be seen by the rest of the people in the room. “I can’t believe he’s here. Everywhere I go there he is, reminding me of how much he doesn’t want to be with me. It feels like a slap in the face, Violet, and he’s with that woman again. Did you see the smug look she gave me? She knows something went on with Nathan and I and she’s rubbing my face in it,” I ranted.
“Rose, just relax,” Violet soothed. “There’s probably five hundred people here, you won’t even see Nathan. Let’s just stick to the plan and have fun tonight.” Violet softly put her arm around my shoulders. “If he wants that other woman over you, then he’s crazy and not worth worrying about.”
I forced a smile. “You’re right, I deserve better.”
“Of course I’m right. Now, let’s find some men to sweep us off our feet as they twirl us around the dance floor. I haven’t danced with someone in ages.”
Violet took hold of my hand and we walked around the room until Violet spotted two handsome looking men standing by the edge of the dance floor.
“Hello gentleman,” Violet greeted them with a flirty smile.
“Hello,” they said in unison and both men stood up straighter and smiled back.
“I’m Violet and this is my sister, Rose. We need two handsome men to spin us around the dance floor for a while, are you both interested?”
“I’m Zayden and this is Emilio and we would love too,” answered one of the men. He was about six feet tall and had light blonde hair. He was good-looking in an athletic, surfer boy type of way. Without another word he grabbed Violet’s hand and led her out to the dance floor.
“I guess you’re dancing with me,” smiled Emilio. He was the same height as Zayden, but had dark black hair and striking green eyes. I smiled and wrapped my arm around his. I could feel his muscles though his tux sleeve. He had the look of someone who worked physically hard, like a builder or a farmer, and a laid-back look in his eyes like he didn’t have a care in the world. He was just what I needed.
Emilio took my arm and held me in a light waltz position and we started dancing slowly to the music.
“So Rose, what do you do with yourself?” he asked quietly as we danced to the slow song being played by the band.
“I’m a secretary for a small advertising firm in the city. What do you do?”
“During the week I’m a stockbroker, but on the weekends I’m a farmer. I have a small farm in a little town called Bowral, about an hour from here.”
I smiled. “I could tell you did something like farming, it suits you.”
“Really? I look like I belong on a farm?” Emilio asked, teasing me. He had a warm smile that instantly relaxed me.
I giggled. “I didn’t mean that, it’s just that you look like you work outdoors.”
“My sister always said that I belong outdoors on a farm.” He snorted playfully like a pig. “Although I don’t know why.”
I laughed. “I can’t imagine.”