Just as I am about to answer, Tessa comes in wearing a stunning slim-fitted dress, and it is shimmering. Not in a tacky showgirl-in-Las Vegas sort of way. No, it fits her body like a glove, and sequins catch bits of light, making the dress look like she is covered in diamonds.
“Hi, everyone,” Tessa says with a huge smile on her face. She steps to the other side of the table between Cliff and Elizabeth with a folder in her hand.
She throws her bouncy hair over her shoulder and stares directly at Roman. I feel like someone turned down the thermostat. A chill runs down my spine. Something is wrong. My hand lands onto Roman’s thigh, trying to steady myself.
“I am so sorry for being late. I had to pick up a very important guest. Come in, honey,” Tessa says.
Not a lot of women take my breath away, but Anushka has the ability to do that to most people.
“Anushka,” I whisper, watching the dazzling woman stride into the room in a red strapless satin dress.
The table drops quiet; all are stunned by Anushka.
“Oh, shit,” Tillie mutters.
When her icy blue eyes meet mine, she smiles brightly. That’s another thing; Anushka is unbelievably nice.
She rushes toward me. “Noelle?”
I push back my chair and stand, awaiting her hug. “Hi, honey.”
Anushka pulls me in “Hi lovey. What are you doing here? I got hired by Tessa. I’m here to meet an Ollie-.”
Before she can say more, I turn to her. “This is Roman Voss.”
I hope she gets the hint. Anushka’s eyes widen as the confusion settles over her face.
“What are you doing here, Elle?”
“I will tell you what she is doing here.” Tessa walks down the side of the table, stopping by Liam. “I thought it only right that the family meet the woman Roman originally intended to bring. Since there is some confusion.”
Roman stands slowly. “Tessa, this is not the way.”
She shrugs. “No, Roman, it is. Remember when I came in to talk to you?”
“When I rejected you,” Roman sneers.
Liam looks between Roman and Tessa.
“Potato, potahto. You left your laptop open with the contract. So I read it, and now I think everyone should as well.”
Cliff wipes his mouth and stands. “What is going on?”
“I don’t want anyone else to be misled by Roman’s relationship before the wedding…or his lack of.” She smirks.
Anushka’s hands become cold. “I think you have something wrong.”
Tessa shakes her head. “Oh no, I read the contract. You should too.”
She opens her file and rests a stack of papers on Liam’s side. “Take one and pass it around.”
Elizabeth frowns as she reads the papers. “What is this?”
Roman’s fist clenches at his side. “Tessa, that is enough.”
“No, it’s not. You hired a prostitute to pretend to be your fiancée.”
Anushka steps forward. “She is not a prostitute. She is a coordinator.”
