Her breath catches, her eyes searching mine for something I’m desperate to give her. “Nitro—”
“Mr. Blackwell?”
I freeze.
Every single muscle in my body goes rigid.
No.
No, no, no, no.
I turn slowly, and standing behind me is Richard Stockton, one of the senior board members from Blackwell Entertainment Group. He’s wearing an expensive suit and a confused expression, clearly not expecting to see me here.
“Sorry, I think you have me confused,” I say carefully, my mind racing through a thousand different explanations and coming up empty. I widen my eyes at Richard to try to get him to follow along.
“Ah. I see I have you mixed up with someone else. I apologize… have a good night.”
Marley’s hand on my arm tightens, but she smiles widely. “It happens to the best of us, Richard,” she repeats softly.
I close my eyes briefly, thanking every possible god out there that Richard followed my lead.I’ll have to remember to thank him later.
Richard, bless him, seems to realize he’s stepped into something delicate. “I should go find my niece. Good to see you, Marley. Enjoy your evening.” He nods at Marley, then disappears back into the crowd.
“Mr. Blackwell,” Marley says, and this time her voice is curious. “Isn’t that the name of the man who runs the company I’m interviewing for tomorrow?”
I turn to face her, trying to keep my cool.
“Yeah… so strange,” I play it off as if it’s nothing.
A look of hesitation, like she is slowly putting the pieces together, crosses her mind, and she goes to speak, but before she can open her mouth, Derek’s voice cuts through the moment like a knife.
“Well, well, well… Marley Wren and her mysterious boyfriend.” He stands a few feet away, drink in hand, that smug expression I want to punch off his face is firmly in place. “You two make quite the couple. Though I have to say, Damon, is it? That’s an interesting name. What kind of parents name their kid Damon? Isn’t that kind of vampire-ish?”
I let out a small huff. “The kind of parents who knew their son would grow up to be stronger and too much for small men to handle,” I reply evenly, stepping slightly in front of Marley.
Derek’s smile turns sharp. “Small men. Right.” His eyes flick to Marley, and something cruel enters his expression. “You know, Marley, I have to admit I’m impressed. You’ve certainly traded up in the looks department. Though I wonder… does he know about all your little insecurities? Does he know you cry in the bathroom at work? Does he know—”
“I’d be careful where you go with this conversation next, Derek,” I interrupt, my voice dropping to a register that makes Derek take an involuntary step back. “Because whatever you’re about to say will determine whether you leave this gala on your own two feet or in an ambulance.”
Around us, conversations have stopped. People begin to stare. Derek opens his mouth, then closes it, some survival instinct finally kicking in. But he can’t resist one last jab. “Just tryingto look out for an old friend. Wouldn’t want her to get hurt…again.”
“The only person here who’s ever hurt her isyou,” I say flatly. “And if you come near her again, we’re going to have averydifferent conversation and outcome. One that involves significantly less talking and significantly more dental work.Understand?”
Derek’s face goes purple with rage and humiliation. His girlfriend tugs at his arm, trying to pull him away from the scene he’s created. After a long, tense moment, he lets her lead him back into the crowd.
I turn to Marley, but she’s not looking at me. She’s staring at the floor, her arms wrapped around herself. She’s shutting down right in front of me.
“Marley—”
“I need some air,” she says quietly. “I just… I need a minute.” She walks away before I can stop her, heading toward the terrace doors, and I’m left standing in the middle of a gala full of strangers, watching the best thing that’s ever happened to me slip through my fingers.
And I deserve every second of this for embarrassing her.
Chapter Seventeen
MARLEY
I need a moment away from the perfection.
