There.
Now she was utterly exquisite.
The string of diamonds circled her elegant neck, accentuating her collarbones, and a large teardrop sapphire that was the size of a quarter hung just above her breasts.
“Perfect,” I told her, and she couldn’t stop touching the large jewel hanging against her skin.
“For a man who doesn’t do relationships, you’re really good at spoiling your woman.”
My face scrunched up at her words. We weren’t in a relationship. Not in the way she was thinking. I didn’t know what we were, but it wasn’t that. This wasn’t going to lead to marriage and kids in a suburban home outside the city.
“Time to go, Cinderella, don’t want you to turn into a pumpkin.” I held out my hand to help her up and then led her to grab a coat so she didn’t freeze to death on the way to the event at the planetarium.
The drive was quiet, and we stood for pictures together once inside. Esme was tense the whole time, not used to the attention and all of the lights flashing, but she handled it well, smiling at the appropriate times, all while trying to rush through the area. I wasn’t fond of the process myself, but since I was being awarded something tonight I needed to give them what they wanted.
It made the world trust that I was on their side. Once my plans became reality, that trust would all work in my favor.
We were stopped by many people once inside the large room with the elegant glass ceiling. Too bad the light from the city was too bright to see the stars that were usually breathtaking in the darkness.
Esme’s whole body sagged when she spotted her friends in the distance.
“Go,” I leaned in to tell her, while I talked to a man whose name I’d already forgotten.
Draco, Rose, and Phillip all stood by their table and were chatting when Esme came over. Rose hugged her tightly, and then started squealing about her dress and jewelry. They both looked beautiful—Rose was in a yellow dress that was sheer along her arms and flowed down to her toes. When she turned to talk to her brother, I could see there was no back to that dress.
Phillip looked strangely out of sorts, not with his usual confident swagger.
Then my eyes collided with Draco’s. Instead of the sneer my body wanted to react with, I gave him a smirk. I was in control of this game, and he was waiting for me to mess up. The brute wouldn’t have any issue strangling the life out of me right here in front of everyone, if he was allowed. But he wasn’t. I was too important for him to act out his desires.
Moving my gaze away from him like he was nothing, I faked giving my attention to the man in front of me that was still talking even though it was obvious I didn’t care about a word he said.
I excused myself when it was time for us to be seated. Esme was already walking over to me, and together we sat with some famous person, his wife, and the director of the hospital we worked at, plus his wife.
Esme chatted with everyone, keeping up pleasantries while we ate, and I kept my talking short. I wasn’t known for being particularly loquacious anyway.
I was called up to the stage to accept Seahill’s Man of the Year award, and I took the crystal sculpture and said thank you before walking off the stage.
The music began again, and people started to move to the dance floor. I was willing to do anything to get out of sitting at that table again, listening to those people go on about their lives, knowing it was all fake.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Esme
Without any words exchanged between us, Dorian all but tossed his shiny award on the table and took my hand gently, wanting me to follow his lead.
He led us to the dance floor, where people were starting to swirl around like something out of a fairy-tale story.
He spun me out before pulling me back to his chest.
I wasn’t a dancer, but I followed his movements, and we were floating across the floor with ease. I laughed, mostly at myself.
“Not too shabby.” I was surprised that I hadn’t tripped yet or stomped on his foot.
My eyes had been on him since he stood in my doorway earlier. Dorian was a god in a suit. Never thought I’d be attracted to a guy in a tux, but I was willing to say to hell with my words earlier about not wanting to mess anything up for his cock tonight.
“Not too shabby at all,” I commented to myself with a half smile, and I closed my eyes for a moment, basking in this feeling of being with him, no other thoughts of what else was happening around us.
The music slowed down, and he pulled me closer, our movements decreased. He wasn’t done dancing with me yet.
