“How would I know you don’t like caviar. People seem to love it.”
He shook his head and narrowed his eyes at me. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
I shook my head and tried to suppress the laughter. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“Liar.” The lightness in his voice told me he wasn’t really annoyed.
“So, where to next?” he asked and took my hand again. The gesture felt natural and I loved the contact.
“Let’s hide in the dining room until they serve dinner. We’ll have to sit through a few speeches before they serve the food, then we can make a quick getaway.”
He nodded and we swerved around guests as we walked to the other end of the room. The door was open and a few guests had already made their way inside. Rows of tables lined the front of a stage, each table adorned with nametags. The seating plan was a masterpiece in itself, every person placed strategically around the room. Because God forbid someone sat next to a person they could actually have an intelligent conversation with. The only topic anyone would be talking about tonight was the campaign.
My mother was a master at networking and manipulation. I knew how these things worked, having sat through many identical dinners.
I found my name on a table close to the stage and cringed. One of my mother’s closest supporters was allocated the seat next to mine. David had just come back from D.C. His political ambitions rivaled my mother’s and they supported each other with their campaigns. He had come back to make sure my mother won. In turn she would be in D.C. for his next campaign. They both wanted to get into the senate and my mother had the money and David the connections.
Leighton was seated on my other side. I stole a name tag off the table next to us and turned it over and wrote Mason’s name on it.
I balled up David’s name tag and threw it under the table and put my newly created one in its place. Mason watched me, silently taking in the decorations.
“Just when I thought I’ve seen it all, I walk into a house that has a room with an actual stage,” he murmured.
“Yeah, that was an addition my mother made a few years ago.” I cringed at what Mason must think of my family.
We took our seats and watched more and more people trickle inside. A bell rang soon after we sat down, signaling the start of the speeches. My mother appeared on the side of the stage, Leighton and David behind her. Her advisor Leon was handing her his notes while running a fluff roller over her suit. My cousin Zeke was standing off to the side talking on his phone. I knew my uncle and aunt were here somewhere, as was my other cousin Rosie, Zeke’s sister.
It felt like Groundhog Day; her routine the same every single time. I also knew all the speeches, as did most of the people here tonight. But I guess they weren’t here to listen to her talk but to show their support.
“Ma’am, you’re needed at the podium,” one of my mother’s lackeys, who was standing behind my chair, said.
I was biting my lip, the only sign that I was anything but calm. I took my time getting up, making sure to smooth out non-existent wrinkles once I was standing. I locked eyes with Mason who was watching me, looking ready to take me away if I said the word. But I wouldn’t ever ask that of him. I’d already painted a big enough target on his back.
I put a hand on his shoulder. “This shouldn’t take long.”
Before he had a chance to respond, I walked to the stage. I joined the group and lifted my chin. I only had to do this one more time, and I could wash my hands of this farce.
My mother didn’t acknowledge me, neither did Zeke. But since my cousin and I had been at odds since we were kids, it wasn’t surprising.
We followed a composed Clementine Connor onto the stage and took our assigned places. We had done this so many times before, that nobody faltered; it looked like a choreographed performance.
My mother started her speech and I tuned out, the only way to stay awake during these things. I had once nodded off, not having slept well the night before. The wrath that rained down on me from that little slip up was one I would never forget. Lucky for me, we weren’t sitting down this time so there was no chance of my eyes closing. At least I hoped not.
I looked up when a murmur went through the room and noticed everyone was staring at me, including my mother.
“Stella, are you coming?” she prompted, and I looked at her outstretched hand, realizing she wanted me to join her. That one was new. It made my stomach clench and bile rose in my throat.
If she was changing up the script, she had an ace up her sleeve. This wouldn’t mean anything good for me.
David appeared next to me and took my arm, escorting me to the front of the stage. The strangeness continued when my mother smiled at me and put her arm around my shoulders. What. The. Hell.
“Here they are,” my mother said and I watched her, confused as to where this was going. She was still smiling her fake smile. “As many of you know, my daughter and David are friends. They have always had a special bond, and since he has come back to town their romance has rekindled. I’m proud to officially welcome David to our family.” My eyes went wide, and I was sure they were going to pop out of my head. Unless my head was going to explode first.
I tried to step away from my mother and David, but his hold was unrelenting. “May I introduce to you the future Mrs. Sterling,” my mother announced, finally letting me go, only for me to end up in a tight hug from David.
My heart dropped and my mouth went dry. What the hell indeed? Was he out of his mind?
“Just go with it,” David whispered into my ear before he kissed me. He was lucky I was stunned speechless and immobile, or I would have kicked him in the balls right after I bit off his tongue that sneaked out.
