As we walked in to a smattering of applause, Eli knocked his shoulder against mine. “You should just film your side of everything with me. We could release it on my site.” He grinned and winked.
“This has nothing to do with wanting to top your record views from my first video?” I asked snidely.
“Nope,” Eli said. He was a champion at giving me the blank face, and I had to wonder how he’d learned to do that so well.
Madam Winters glided toward us in a red evening gown that could easily have come from a runway in Paris, her hair in a fancy updo that had to have taken about three hairstylists to accomplish. I was surprised, the same way I had been the last time I’d seen her, when she swept over and brushed a kiss to my cheek.
“Ross, we do miss you. I’m so glad you chose our venue to host Eli’s party. Imagine my shock when Darcy said who’d called. And to invite us as well.” She moved along and treated Lane to a kiss. She brushed her fingertips along his jawline in a way that made me squirm a little because he was my Mister, but Lane simply gave her a sweet smile and gently hugged her.
“I miss this place. I was only too happy to suggest the ballroom.”
She giggled and then whispered something in his ear that had him smirking as he glanced at me, and I stilled at the fire in his eyes. It was like a punch to the gut. Usually when I was on the receiving end of that look, I was on my knees and his cock was out.
Across the way I noticed Vane dancing with Jaxson near the musicians in a clear section of the glossy wooden floor, and at a small table near them, clutching an empty champagne flute, was Mark, his eyes burning a hole in me. We hadn’t talked very much in person since our initial meeting where I’d asked him a few questions about being a PA. Mark being Mark, however, he’d been nice enough to answer about a thousand-and-one phone calls and text messages when I’d needed someone to talk through some aspect of my job—and didn’t want to look too stupid in front of Eli. Mark hadn’t changed at all, and he’d been endlessly patient, the same steady man I remembered from the campaign trail.
My heart squeezed. I gave Lane a smile and nodded toward Mark. My Mister wasn’t paying much attention to me at the moment, because he was already caught up in a whispered conversation with Madam Winters, so I went off in Mark’s direction. Eli swung away from me, filming everyone at the party, no doubt to use as clips later in his thank-you video to his YouTube subscribers for having reached ten million views on a video in less than a week. I hadn’t realized it at the time, but that one video meant my salary was secure for the year, and then some. It was a nice feeling to know I’d helped make someone else’s life easier—and my own, too.
Mark rose as I reached him, and when I hesitated, he stepped in and gave me a fast hug that took me by surprise. He’d never been overly assertive, but I also wasn’t his boss anymore. Maybe things had changed between us more than I’d realized. “Glad you could make it.”
“Congratulations. I only came here, to this place, to tell you that.” He glared around at the rest of the room, and I glanced in the random directions he glowered, only seeing happy people having a good time. Madam Winters gave me a gracious smile when I caught her eye. I swung back around to look at Mark.
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t believe you would do this here,” he said far too loud with his teeth clenched. “After everything? Aren’t you upset about what they did to you?”
“About what?”
“This place,” he said, voice rising in a way that had me flinching. I stuffed my hands into my pockets. “This place ruined your entire life. Why would you celebrate here?” He was close to yelling by the time he was done, and my heart lodged itself in my throat. I glanced at the empty glasses on the table. His last champagne flute was lined up neatly next to about six others.Oh no.
“This place didn’t do anything, Mark. That was all me and my poor choices.” I reached for his hand, and he let me take it but then shook me off.
“Truer words. You’re class up one side and down the other, Ross Midberry.” I turned at the genteel Southern voice, surprised to have Madam Winters at my elbow. Her red lips were pursed as she took in Mark, and I floundered.
“He has no idea aboutanything. Truly. He’s upset for me. He’s a good friend.” I knew her reputation and couldn’t speak fast enough. I sucked in a deep breath to continue, and she placed a finger across my lips.
“Oh, I know about this place.” Mark ran a hand through his red hair, and I finally noticed he’d straightened his wild curls. It made me sad, in a way. His hair had been the one area of his life where he’d let loose, and now that was tamed as well. “I know if it wasn’t for the way you were dragged down into theworstparts of New Gothenburg, you’d still be mayor. My mayor. You would be the man I helped make.” Mark’s voice was raw, and there was a glassy gleam in his eyes that made me think if it wouldn’t embarrass him, he’d be in tears.
“Oh, a little kingmaker? Is that what we have here? Do you truly feel that way about me and my establishment?” Madam Winters asked, her words whip sharp, and my blood froze in my veins. There was a quick intake of breath from behind me, and I glanced back and caught Lane’s wide eyes.
“Yes! People taking the easy way out to make money ruined Ross. He worked hard to be mayor.” Mark swayed but swatted at me when I reached out to steady him.
“No, Mark, I didn’t,” I murmured. “You worked hard, and I coasted on your man hours. You deserve to be mad about this, and I’m sorry. I didn’t think when I invited you here tonight. You’re my friend, maybe one of the few real ones I have, and I wanted you to celebrate with me. Most of these people are Eli’s friends and local foodies. I don’t know them. You’re one of four people here for me.” I wanted to go on but didn’t have anything else to say that would escape past the lump in my throat.
Mark swallowed hard, and I hoped that expensive champagne wasn’t about to make a reappearance. He pinned me in place with a glare. “I’m sorry I couldn’t support you the way I should, but I just see this as one big farce. You aretoo good for these people.” Mark hissed those last few words, and I wanted to melt through the floor as he gestured wildly and almost jammed his finger up Darcy Winters’s nose. He’d managed to sneak up on our group and had the same haughty expression his mother wore at the moment.
Madam Winters stepped forward, and Lane went to grab her by the elbow, but then checked himself at the last second and crossed his arms as he shared an alarmed look with me.
Mark tilted his chin and smoothed down his suit jacket. “I know who you are, Ms. Winters,” he said quietly. “And I’m sorry if you heard that. I didn’t… I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“But you mean it.” She smiled, and I was kind of surprised she wasn’t having someone haul him outside to toss him on his ass. I’d seen a thing or two in my days here at the Courtesan, and not much would’ve shocked me.
Mark nodded. “Yes, I do mean every word. Ross lost everything because of a….” His cheeks pinked up as he stared at Lane.
“Careful what you say about my boyfriend,” I growled out, disturbed by how I’d gone from okay with getting ripped a new one to furious. Yell at me, sure, but not Lane.
“Because of a what?” Madam Winters asked, gracefully dancing closer to him as if we were all having a friendly chat. “Because of a man who cared enough about Ross to bring him physical pleasure? What does it matter that there was a cash exchange?”
Mark’s nostrils flared and he jerked his arm away from the light hold Madam Winters had on it. “Because nothing good comes without hard work,” Mark muttered stubbornly. “Anyonecan spread their legs.”
