Chapter 17 Sixteen
Sixteen
Sophie
The news publication's decision to block out rooms was a smart move. It would save them money in the long run, since most guests would be too drunk to make it home, even if they weren’t driving themselves. The last thing the publication wanted was lawsuits.
“Tom and I will take care of the luggage,” Marilyn said. “Just stop by our room later to get your bags. James, I want you in there and mingling by the time I get down. Sophie, you go with him.”
Before either of them could protest, Marilyn shoved her husband in the direction of the front desk.
Sophie turned to James, who stared at her again.
She caught his gaze lingering five times since leaving the car, and fire lapped down her spine. She placed her hands on her hips. “What?”
He parted his lips, staring at her, entranced. “Beautiful doesn’t cover it. You’re perfect.”
Her breath hitched. “Thanks.”
She blinked as he offered his arm. Should she take it? Would it make them seem too much like a couple?
Oh, to hell with it.
She curled her hand around his bicep, fingers clenching the soft material of the classic suit, fitting perfectly to his body. The silver cufflinks and watch he’d chosen flashed in the light.
As a couple bustled past, he tugged her closer against him. But once the space cleared, he kept her by his side.
She could step away; she should step away. But him in that suit, and his previous gestures, both big and small …
Why would I want to?
“You have no idea what that dress is doing to me,” he murmured.
Her lips quirked as she bent to examine the frosted glass seat map. “Whatever it is, you'd better hold the reins on it. I love that suit on you, but it won’t be doing you any favors.”
The tailored, inky material was far from revealing, yet James drew the calculated eye of more than a few individuals.
“Your dress … that’s an Oscar De La Renta original, isn’t it? Did my card buy that?” he asked.
“No. We’re at table three, by the way.”
They stepped into the ballroom, her evergreen-tipped grasp tightening on his bicep.
“Then how—”
“Second-hand store that didn’t know what they had.” She flashed a wicked grin. “But your card did buy the accessories and shoes. Along with another five sets of both.”
“Just five?” He guided them to the table.
“I would’ve bought the entire store. But I don’t think I can fit it all in
my apartment.”
He clucked his tongue. “How rude.”
“Isn’t it?” She smiled. “By the way, that’s the man Marilyn wanted you to talk to.”
James followed Sophie’s finger to a wiry man already nursing a glass of liquor and nodded curtly.
She forced herself away from him, and the absence of his body heat was immediate. Raw desire to clutch James’s arm seared through her, and she grasped the back of her chair.
No, stay here. He’s got things to do.
But warmth coated her back, and a pair of hands rested beside hers.
She looked behind her shoulder and her breath stole away from her lungs as she took him in, standing much closer to her than he’d ever voluntarily dared to in a public setting.
“They’re not back yet.” James pulled out Sophie’s chair. “I can stay a little longer.”
“But—”
He sat in his own seat and shook his head. “It’s fine. I’m pretty sure most people haven’t even gotten here yet.”
She sighed and crossed her arms. “It doesn’t matter. You shouldn’t stay with me.”
“But what if I want to?”
She tilted her head. “Why?”
He smiled. “Because you’re more interesting than anyone else in this room.”
More people than she anticipated populated the room. As the night wore on, throngs of young influencers and VIPs crowded the bar and dance floor.
What was worse was the press bottlenecking foot traffic as they took pictures of guests, the decor on the tables and ceiling, and the live band playing instrumental versions of jazz-crooner songs.
With the crowd so potent, she lost sight of James in a flock of heirs and heiresses.
Not that she kept an eye on him for anything other than work. Or at least that was what she told herself.
Her phone buzzed in her hand.
Oliver: How’s the party?
Chloe: And how’s James?
Sophie let out a sigh and started walking as she tapped in her answer.
It’s fine and idk i lost him. Chlo, don’t you have a date with Luc tonight?
Chloe: He’s in the bathroom
Taylor: Wdym you lost him?’
Sophie didn’t respond as she looked around. Even with her heels, she still strained her neck to see over the crowd of people.
Someone bumped into her shoulder, and she stumbled forward, catching herself before falling over.
Slipping her phone into her clutch, she continued to push through the crowd. Her head swiveled left and right before her gaze caught him, talking with someone at the bar.
She recognized the woman as she drew closer.
Selena was a popular lifestyle influencer on Instagram who recently launched her own brand of athleisure wear, and always garnered thousands of likes on her posts.
James’s name died on Sophie’s lips as she made her way up to them and glimpsed Selena’s hand on his arm. Her eyes glimmered and she wore a massive smile on her face.
On the other hand, tension racked James’s body. Contrary to his polite smile, tautness pulled at his shoulders and lined his stance.
Heat flared in Sophie’s chest as she approached, terrifying her. The last time that happened, chaos reigned within weeks. She’d opened her heart, and it took years to patch the cracks.
But with James … her heart always squeezed, and her stomach always flopped uselessly down onto the pavement.
And she didn’t regret it one bit.
“Hi,” she said. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Oh, hi,” Selena said. “I don’t believe we’ve met. You are?”
Sophie introduced herself, stepping closer to James, but still keeping a reasonable modicum of space between them.
A smile remained pasted on Selena’s face as she nodded, but a sliver of doubt and alarm had crept into her eyes.
Sophie’s gaze cut to James. He had visibly relaxed and looked at her as if she had created the universe itself.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, no.
He couldn’t look at her like that. Not when there were too many cameras for comfort.
But … Selena was going to keep flirting with him if Sophie didn’t do anything, and she couldn’t let that happen.
“James.” Her hand rested against the small of his back—lightly, delicately, and so easily that it scared her. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Selena’s gaze flicked toward the intimate contact, and her mouth tugged into a thin line.
Satisfaction bloomed in Sophie’s stomach.
“We were in the middle of something,” Selena supplied. Although her tone was friendly enough, nothing but venom coursed underneath.
Sophie smiled cooly and her hand curled a little more on James’s suit, bunching the fabric. The heat pressed firmly into her skin, lighting it up.
“I’m sure, but my boss wants to speak to him.” She shrugged. “Business calls.”
“You heard her,” James said, taking a step toward her. He subtly increased the contact, taking her wrist in his hand. Against her skin, his thumb moved up and down. “Let’s go.”
She glanced down subtly, but with the crowds, the touch appeared undetectable. And yet, it seared all the same.
Her blood roared as her body flashed hot and cold at the same time.
Desperation to keep her hand in James’s tugged at her gut, combating with years of professional training and reminders.
No, this is too much.
She moved to step away, but before she could, Selena’s head moved.
Her gaze dipped to where James and Sophie touched. “I thought you said you weren’t seeing anyone.”
Panic rent through Sophie, erasing all her jealous urges.
Her mom didn’t know about Sophie’s plan to make amends for all those years, but all of it would go down the drain in this one moment.
And James …
He cleared his throat and released her, taking a step closer to Selena. He pulled out his phone and tapped around.
“I’m assuming you have Chase?” he asked Selena. “I can wire you one hundred thousand for starters, but the rest will come later. I imagine this total will be sufficient?”
Sophie craned her neck and blanched at the note scrawling across his screen.
Two million dollars.
It was a mere blip in his account, but … the cavalier attitude was startling.
“Do we have an understanding?” he murmured.
A smile fanned out on Selena’s rosy lips, and her sharp green eyes met his. “You’re really willing to give me this much for my silence?”
“No.” A strange expression clouded his eyes. “I’m willing to pay much more.”
A landslide tumbled through Sophie’s heart and she stumbled back a step.
Selena’s perfect lips formed an ‘O’, and something gave way in her piercing gaze.
“You don’t need to buy me off,” she said. “I won’t say anything. Enjoy the party.”
Striding off, she left nothing but aching silence behind her, somehow louder than
the party sweeping back in.
Sophie cleared her throat. “There you go again.”
He turned to face her, brow arched. “Excuse me?”
Opening her mouth to shoot him a response, she froze, thinking better of it.
It was no secret that Covey was in attendance. They had helped out enough people in the room that their name had begun to circulate.
It was also no secret that she was Marilyn’s right-hand woman, or that James was currently a client. The last thing they wanted was to get into a fight in the middle of a publicized party.
Grabbing his wrist, she dragged him toward the nearest exit and out onto the patio.
An unusually balmy night caressed her face, perforated by horns and car engines.
Closing the door, she shut out the noise of the party and sighed, stepping up to grip the cold stone of the rail.
She stared out at the city. “Thank you, but … you’re buying off problems again.”
A cloying breeze brushed her face, and she turned, the rail digging into her back.
He scrutinized her, the flush of golden city lights gilded half his face while the other was thrown into shadow by a nearby building. “Are you telling me you’d rather I didn’t do anything before?”