Ishouldn’t be on edge like this. Chett isn’t on the guest list, but Harley’s been gone a long time. The conversations at this luncheon skew heavy on hockey, and it was obvious she was nodding to be polite.
We’ll have to give her a crash course.
My clever fake girlfriend should easily keep up.
I check my watch again.
Fuck it, I’m going to find her.
As I part the crowd, guests who hadn’t seen me until now make it a point to come and greet me. After patting a few shoulders and shaking hands, I step into the restaurant and head towards the bathrooms.
When I turn the corner, I freeze.
My eyes drop to the floor and I catch a glimpse of dainty toes painted in red and strappy nude-colored heels I’m familiar with. My gaze scans the back of the tall man hovering over Harley. His height and width hide her from view. Given the texture of his hair, no way that’s Chett.
Who is the fucker, then?
I eat up the floor underneath me until I’m standing right behind him.
I tap him on the back.
He turns around, and my face falls.
Heat creeps into my ears, my heart pounding at the sight of a man I haven’t seen since Nana’s funeral.
What the fuck is he doing here?
“Kazi,” my father says, “how are you?”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
My gaze slides to Harley.
Her mouth stretches into a thin line.
I shoot her a questioning frown.
She rolls her eyes.
What did he tell her?
I return my focus to my father. “You received an invitation to this event?”
“Bessie Johnson invited me as her date.”
“Who?”
“She’s a golf equipment empire heiress who happened to be vacationing in Bangkok and renting the villa next to mine.” He smirks. “We becamefastfriends.”
“I bet.”
“When she needed a plus one for this event, we hopped on a private jet a couple days ago and landed in New York yesterday.”
Had I not bumped into you at this event, I would’ve never known you were in the city. Typical.
“I know what you must be thinking,” my father says.
I doubt it.
