Just then, I hear a clatter of champagne glasses crashing into the floor. I look around only to see a woman in a dark green dress helping the waiter up, and she is apologizing.
Some people are so clumsy. She lifts her head, and her hair drops away from her face. Hmm, she is cute. She stands up and looks down at her dress, and it’s covered in champagne. Someone hands her a towel. I almost laugh at how absurd this woman is.
“Hello?”
“Shit, sorry. I am watching, I think, the world’s clumsiest woman. Shit, she almost hit the bellboy.”
Cole snickers. “See anyone tall, blonde, and breathtakingly beautiful yet?”
My gaze searches the room. “Nope.”
As Cole continues talking, I see the tornado in the green dress walking toward me.
“Anushka is blonde, correct?” I ask. My heart beats faster. No, please don’t let it be her.
“Yup, the lightest blue eyes you would ever see.”
Just as I am about to ask more, the tornado stops in front of me. “Roman Voss?”
She has an accent. She called my name. She’s singing it.
“Who is that you’re talking to?” Cole asks.
“A mistake. Let me call you back.” I hang up and stand to have a better look at this woman.
I look down at her outstretched hands. “You’re late, and you are not Anushka.”
She smiles tightly and pushes her hair behind her ear. “Apologies. I agreed, but I am her stand-in only for the night. Hi, I am Noelle. I know I am—”
“That’s not what I asked for. You are not what I asked for.” Rage feels like it’s bubbling up inside of me. This was a fucking mistake. Telling a lie as big as this. What the hell do I do? I already told my family I am engaged. Fuck Liam for egging me, and now…
I feel a soft hand touch my arm. Its warmth penetrates my blazer. The smell of warm honey and vanilla surrounds me. I almost groan in delight.
“Hey there. You are mumbling to yourself,” Noelle says. I look down at her palm on my jacket, and everything in me feels…calm. What the hell?
I pull away and sit in the chair. She follows and sits in the chair in front of me. Thankfully, there is a table separating us.
“Okay, so I know I am not your choice. I am here to take notes for Anushka,” she says and pulls out her leather-bound folder and opens it. There is no pen in the little pen holder.
“Shit, where is my pen?” Noelle mumbles as she digs in her bag.
God, she was a mess. I could offer her the pen in my jacket, but what sense would that make? Everything about this situation is annoying the hell out of me. I am annoyed that she is late. I hatethat she is not the woman I asked for. And I fucking hate that I am here like a pathetic loser paying for an escort to act as my date.
She holds up a gold pen in the air. “Ha! I found it. Let’s go. Tell me about yourself.”
Her eyes are large and clear, almost cartoon-like. Cute nose, thick puckered lips. She is beautiful; she just needs fixing. Maybe she can work instead of Anushka. What am I even thinking?
“Would you like anything to drink? Madame? Sir?” The waiter stands beside us. I gesture for her to go first.
She reaches across the table, takes my empty glass, and brings it to her nose. With her eyes closed, she inhale.
“Right, we’d like to have another glass of Macallan Whiskey.” She sniffs again. “It smells like the Harmony collection. And water for me.”
Both the waiter and I stare at her in amazement.
“Sir?”
I nod to the waiter. “What she said.”
