I turned to her, but before I could offer to pull her chair out and put on a show of chivalry, she pulled it out herself and sat down in a huff. I sat down beside her, sandwiching her between me and her father, who seemed to shoot her a warning look. She looked wildly uncomfortable. Despite working together the past week, this was probably the closest we had ever been and for a long amount of time. I felt the heat radiating off her, the smell of her sweet perfume tickling my senses. The tension between our bodies was palpable. For me, it was purely sexual. For her, purely dislike.
If we had to sit through a stuffy dinner together, I was going to have my fun. I had been on my best behavior all night, but now I could get away with saying whatever I wanted and it only being for her to hear. I had every intention of riling her up.
“That’s quite a dress,” I said.
She rolled her eyes and took a sip of champagne.
“Not one for compliments?”
“Not from you,” she muttered.
The waiters in their white uniforms approached the table, each placing the first course in front of us. Caviar on intricately garnished plates. I reached for my fork and took a bite, savoring the taste on my tongue.
“Not hungry?” I asked, seeing Gabriella still sitting rigidly and making no move to eat.
“Lost my appetite.”
“That’s too bad. It’s quite the spread.” I shrugged.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” she said, turning slightly toward me and narrowing her gaze. Up close, I could see the two freckles that almost kissed just below her left eye. My gaze fell there momentarily before looking up.
She raised a perfectly arched brow as she waited for my answer.
“Enjoying what? The caviar, the open bar, or your father’s shining praise?”
“You’re unbearable.” She shook her head.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Everyone seems to like me.”
Except for that Mr. Monopoly fellow.
“That’s because they don’tknowyou.”
“And you do?” I tilted my head
“I know enough to know you don’t belong here. You don’t deserve this.” She waved her hand, gesturing around the room.
“Honey, if you deserved it, you’d have it. Take it up with the big guy.” I nodded toward her father, who was deep in conversation with the man next to him.
Gabriella clenched her jaw and took another sip of champagne, her fingers turning white as they held the stem of the glass.
“Yes. Drink up. That will help your feelings of disappointment,” I sneered. I knew it was an asshole thing to say as soon as the words left my mouth.
Without looking at me, Gabriella set her champagne glass down on the table loudly, causing a few people to jump in their chairs. She pushed away from the table, swiftly picking up her gown and walking away with an apologetic “excuse me” to the table.
Fuck. I had gone too far.
Chapter 11
Gabriella
I wasn’t sure if I was about to cry or throw something. Or both. Chandler had been irritating me all night, inserting himself in every single conversation like a kid not wanting to be left out. It was almost laughable, if it wasn’t so annoying. Clearly his ego couldn’t handle the fact that he was an outsider to this party, and I was a lived in guest. It had been satisfying watching him squirm slightly, especially when Mr. Rosenthrap didn’t hide his doubt.
Maybe that was why he decided to double down on the whiskey and start being a dick. But just now, at the table, he had pushed me too far. I was seeing red as I walked out of the party and down a hallway to find some sort of room to escape to. I just needed a minute away from him. He was suffocating me by always being right there, using his charm, and looking so irritatingly good. It didn’t excuse the fact that he had just made me feel like a damn fool.
A fool for believing that I deserved the position I had been promised, when it was so clear that my father didn’t have the same thought. I was sure he would have something to say about my sudden outburst at the table just now. It probably didn’t reflect well on him, and that would mostly be what he cared about, which just pissed me off more. Sometimes, I just wanted to feel like his daughter and not his employee.
I continued walking down the hallway until I found a small room with a temporary exhibit on display. The lights were turned down low, as the rest of the museum was closed, aside from the grand ballroom that it had been transformed into. I quickly stepped inside, the swish of my dress the only sound aside from the dull sounds of soft jazz and chatter coming from the party.
