"Did he find a new wife?" Kate asked.
Grant grimaced. "Every time I see Jack, that's all he complains about."
"At least he's not complaining about me," Carter remarked as he finished the last few bites of his dinner.
While they washed up and went to the living room to relax, Carter ignored the barrage of texts from his grandfather about his newest sugar baby.
"I can't believe him," Carter grumbled. "He's a dirty old man."
"I can't believe someone would accept money to be with him," Grant replied. They were lying on the floor, playing a video game.
"Don't you two have a company to run?"
"No," they said in unison.
Over the next week leading up to the foundation fundraiser, Grant emailed him information on the latest initiatives, the guest list, and his duties at the party.
"Encourage people to donate, but don't be crass about it. Explain our various initiatives and how we're helping," Grant drilled him over lunch in his office.
"Also, if you bring a date, it better be someone legitimate. Don't show up with one of your club girls."
He had a brief thought that he should bring Allie for laughs but knew his parents would have a fit.
Plus he didn't think she actually liked him. Maybe he was just another dumb marine for her to sleep with without it impacting her precious work. She didn't even want to let him come to her apartment.
His thoughts stewed in his head while he dressed in his tuxedo for the fundraiser.
He winked at his reflection.
"Looking good!" Kate said, standing in his doorway.
"I hate these functions," Carter said to her, following her to the car.
"Me, too, but it's my job."
"I'm not being paid anything at all to be there," Carter said with a sigh as they met Grant in the lobby.
The three of them arrived early at the event space.
"Carter!" his mother said happily when she saw him. "You've reviewed the guest list?"
He nodded.
"Wonderful. Just be your charming self! We want people to feel good about spending five figures on a ticket!"
Carter grabbed a drink off of a passing tray and positioned himself near the door. He felt miserable and wished Allie were here with him. She was so calm and aloof. She wouldn't have been intimidated by this party at all.
As the guests arrived, he tried to be charming. The event was well-known in his parents' upper-class circles. Several of their friends were there. A few people brought their adult children, who didn't look any happier than Carter was to be there.
"This is my daughter," one man said, introducing a pretty young woman. "Carter's been back from the Marines for a few months now. Out on the town, looking for a girlfriend, I hear. You could do worse than my daughter," the man joked.
His daughter looked appalled. "Dad," she hissed and led the man away.
It wasn't the first time that evening someone tried to introduce him to their single daughter. Carter tried to be as diplomatic as possible.
As the guest arrival trickled off, Carter grabbed a bruschetta from a passing tray and roamed around the room. He saw a familiar face in the crowd.
"Hi, Liz," Carter said.
