“He’s only pretending to like her,” Sylvia cried while struggling against the men. “He’ll be calling me once this is through. You wait.”
Duke hurried to speak over her, glad she no longer had access to a mic. “Think we forgot to put a cap on the champagne bar tonight, folks,” he said as the tension tightened around his neck. Sparse laughter rose over the chattering hum of the crowd.
Heart hammering, anger revving, Duke glanced at the spot where the Benton’s table stood, but the brightness of the spotlight kept him from seeing Vivi or anyone else seated there.
His palms went hot and damp as he eyed his lines. He’d have to read them word for word in order to make it through.
“Getting back to the purpose of tonight’s event, I’m proud to introduce this year’s…”
To say he was ruffled as he read off his lines was a gross understatement. Duke had enough adrenaline to take down ten men twice his size and then some.
At last, the crowd began to clap, an act that made Duke realize he’d finished his lines.
Mr. Dunkle was at his side next, reading off Sylvia’s lines with a flourish.
The cameraman gave them a nod once Dunkle was done, and Duke felt the host’s shoulders drop.
“Tell me that did not just happen on our live segment,” the man said.
Duke only shook his head as the severity of the incident seeped in. “I wish I could.” He shot a look toward the Benton’s table. The spotlight had dimmed, allowing the sight to come into full view. Still, it didn’t look like their table at all. Viv was missing, and so were Kat, Betzy, and Camila. James, Zander, and Sawyer stood huddled beside the table in conversation.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Duke said to Dunkle with a nod.
“Oh, sure, sure,” he heard him saying from behind.
Duke was already halfway down the stairs and darting through the crowd of glistening gowns and tailor-made suits.
“Where is she?” he asked as he joined the cluster of men.
“She took off,” Sawyer said.
“The girls went after her,” James added.
Duke moved to bolt out of the room but Zander put a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s just…give them a little time.”
“Why?” Duke asked, looking from his brothers to Sawyer for an answer.
“Because women are better at this stuff than we are,” Zander assured. “They’ll be able to calm her down.”
Duke shook his head. “I should be able to do that too. None of this was my fault.”
James and Zander looked at one another.
“Hey,” Sawyer said with a shrug. “I agree. There was nothing you could have done.”
His brothers didn’t look so convinced. “You had the floor,” James said. “You should have told everyone watching that Sylvia was crazy and that youarein love with Vivia.”
Zander seconded the notion with a nod. “It would have put it at rest right then.”
What?This was absurd. “I was trying to ignore her.” Anger exploded like a bomb in his chest. Duke clenched his fist and looked for something to deck. Who cared if he had to replace a table or chair? He needed a good release.
“I could barely even think up there,” he spat. “I’m lucky I didn’t yank the mic from her and make even more of a scene. Heck, she could’ve gotten violent.”
“You’re scared of a woman?” someone mumbled from behind. Duke glanced over his shoulder to see they’d attracted a small audience.
“Only women like that,” James answered for him.
Sawyer shot the bystander a look. “Mind your own business.”
