The young woman straightened up, her fine, young face carrying a hefty weight of knowledge within it.Wow.She’s beautiful. Sharp, angular features to match Danica’s, and clever amber eyes. They looked like a match already.
“I have not had the pleasure, no.” Danica introduced herself before turning to Alicia. “This is Alicia Colbert. My girlfriend.” Her eyes flitted toward her father when she spoke.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Alicia said, trying to keep her voice level.
The young woman, Natsuko, replied first. “Thank you,” she said. “This is my first time in Chicago, although my father has been here several times before. It’s a beautiful city, yes?”
“One of the most beautiful in the world.” Russell gestured to his daughter and another empty spot a few paces away. “Excuse us, but I need to speak with my daughter for a moment. Alone.” That was directed more at Alicia than the Matsudas.
Danica reluctantly released Alicia and went with her father to a corner. Alicia remained where she was abandoned, shifting her weight and clearing her throat alongside a well-to-do father and daughter. The father took a phone call and spoke in rapid-fire Japanese that Alicia didn’t have a hope of understanding. The daughter checked her watch.
“Is it your first time in America?” Alicia’s attempt at petty conversation was… bad.
Natsuko forced a smile. “No. I’ve been many times before. I studied at Brown.”
“Oh.” Alicia slightly turned. So much for that.
“…The Matsudas are one of the richest families in Japan. They have ties to the emperor, for fuck’s sake,” Russell said only a few feet away. Did he know that Alicia could hear him? Probably. Hewanted her to hear. “You’d be a fool not to speak with Natsuko later this week. I’ve already arranged a lunch between you and her.”
“To talk business, of course,” Danica glibly replied.
“Of course, to speak business! When you’re done sharing your portfolios, you can ask her out to the opera. Take her home and fuck her for all I care, but don’t let her father find out.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“What is there to pretend about? She’s a beautiful woman. You love beautiful women. With any luck, you two can be married by the end of next year. Maybe sooner if you get rid of the hangers-on.”
Natsuko sighed. Alicia flushed with extreme embarrassment on her companion’s behalf.
“I prefer not to talk about people that way,” Danica said. “Besides, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I consider Ms. Colbert my girlfriend. I have no intention of letting her go anytime soon. In fact, I was hoping we could have dinner so you could get to know her better.”
“Don’t waste my time with that nonsense. Don’t waste that young lady’s time, either. I know she’s having fun with you, and you think you’re having fun with her, but it’s time to stop playing around and settle down, Danica. You can find a mistress once the deed is done, but you need to keep up appearances until the first child is born. That’s how it’s done.”
“Perhaps in your day, but times have changed. People actually marry for love now.”
“Don’t begin to tell me that you’re in love with that slut.”
Whatever Danica tersely said in response… Alicia couldn’t hear it. She was too gobsmacked that her ears shut down to all Moreau voices.
Natsuko took a step toward her. “I’m sorry. This is terribly awkward, isn’t it?” Mr. Matsuda returned, hand touching hisdaughter’s elbow and saying something in Japanese. Natsuko waved him off. “Excuse us. My father wants to go sit down, and I cannot blame him.”
“I’m so sorry,” Alicia mouthed at her.
“It’s fine. Mr. Moreau is from another time. It’s not so different in my family. But at least my father doesn’t call me a slut.” Natsuko took her father’s arm and strolled toward the ballroom. “Good luck, Ms. Colbert. No hard feelings.”
What did that mean?
“Come on.” Danica appeared, yanking Alicia’s arm toward the ballroom as well. “I hear they’re serving supper soon.”
The ballroom was filled with circular dining tables, each one draped in soft, ivory fabric and bedecked with golden candlesticks and dining ware. Seats were assigned. Somehow, Alicia was not surprised to find them sitting next to the Matsudas. The silver lining was that Russell’s name was nowhere on their table for six. Danica pulled out Alicia’s chair for her while exchanging renewed greetings with the Matsudas. They were cordial, at best.
“Well, well,” came a voice from the other side of the table. “See, you’re still within the circle, Ms… Cullen, was it?”
Alicia sat down. “Colbert.”
“Right, right.” The woman folded her arms on the table, her red dress boosting her breasts up like two inflated balloons. “Cullens are from some book. Good book, too, if I remember correctly. Loved the sex.”
The masculine person beside her responded. “You’re thinking ofFifty Shades, dear.”
