“Whataboutme and Noah?” Riley’s eyes shimmered. “He did something so awful to you, thinking it’d get Vivian to what, fall in love with him? I – I’m not sure I can look at him the same way ever again.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. As much I’d liked getting to know Noah, my estimation of him had taken a massive hit.
“Don’t be,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m going to be fine. Go get your man.”
I gave her a hug. “I’ll call you.” Then I made my way through the party, my innards a jumble. What had started off as a glorious and victorious night had ended in a clusterfuck of horrendous proportions. My time in New York should have culminated in a high but was now a tangled mess. As I passed the pond, I had to swerve to avoid an inebriated gentleman I recognized from reality TV and my ankle twisted, sendingme stumbling into a couple grinding against each other by the edge of the pond, their faces inches apart.
“Ralf?” I gaped. “Vivian?” They broke apart, looking guilty. Despite my emotional turmoil I let out a laugh. “I’m guessing Baldemar’s taken himself off home then?”
Vivian tossed her hair defiantly. “Yes, but Ralf and I were just—”
“What’s your problem, Lucie?” Ralf slurred over her. “Can’t a man and a woman dance together anymore?”
“Hey Ralf, what was it that annoyed you about Elliot?” I wondered out loud. “The fact he’s more talented than you’ll ever be? Better looking? Better liked?”
“Oh yeah, I hear he’s out of a job now.” Ralf’s face twisted in derision. “He stuck around as RJ’s assistant for years, just hoping RJ would gift him with the opportunity of his dreams. Who does that? Who waits around like that? Losers, that’s who.” He guffawed, and Vivian joined in with a cackle that hurt my ears.
“Losers?” I said. “What, you mean like people who get their girlfriend to hack computers to steal work, those kind of losers?”
His face stilled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Or, the kind of person who thinks they are so charming, they can kiss their way into my good books?” I’d often wondered why he’d tried it on with me that day after the photocall, especially since I’d learned about his thing with Vivian. Had he hoped to upset Vivian? Or had his actions been driven by his wanton ambition? The attempted kiss had happened after the photocall, when he’d seen for himself the value of my project. “I’m talking about the kind of person who’d kiss me only to make his lover jealous,” I said. “Real winner behavior.”
“I thought she kissed you, Ralf.” Vivian said. “That’s what you told me.”
So shehadseen us that night at the gallery. “Or, maybeyou thought seducing me would get you closer to RJ so you could convince him to use your AI tech on the script?”
Ralf’s eyes shifted. “You’re crazy.”
“Yeah? Well you’re pathetic.” I didn’t bother to hide the disgust from my voice.“so desperate to live up to your dad’s legacy that you’ll lie and cheat your way to the top.”
“Ooh,” he said, swaying loosely. “This is a fascinating takedown. You’re a PA, Lucie. You get coffee and take minutes.” He jabbed a finger in my shoulder. “That’s all you’ll ever be.”
“Yeah, well, I’d rather be someone with integrity than whatever it is you are,” I shot back.
“Integrity? Ha.” He waved a hand in my face. “That’s a word losers use to make themselves feel better when their lives turn to shit.”
“Back off,” I warned.
Ralf stepped up to me and grinned toothily. “Make me.”
“Get away from me.” I pushed him, just gently enough to make him stagger over his own feet. But gravity is an unforgiving bitch, and his drunken momentum sent him toppling backwards.
He yelped, grabbed Vivian’s arm in panic. It was like watching a slow-motion movie as the two of them stumbled over the lip of the pool with a joint screech, sending a surprised duck flying over startled guests’ heads with indignant quacks. The duo flailed in the water, Vivian’s exquisite gown now coated in murk and smears of green. Guests near the pool paused their dancing to laugh and point; a couple of camera flashes even went off, much to Vivian’s fury.
“What is the meaning of this?” Michelle burst through the crowd, taking in the sight of a sodden Ralf and Vivian attempting to pull themselves out of the pond. “NYBG is gonna flip!”
At the sight of her distressed face, I was awash with guilt. “I can explain,” I said.
Michelle turned heated eyes on me. “You pushed them?”
My adrenaline gone, I nodded. “Yes but—”
“That guy was attacking her!” A woman next to me clad in black PVC lurched forward, slopping champagne down her outfit.
Michelle glared at Ralf, who was levering himself over the edge of the pond. “Seriously?”
“He was all up in her face,” another partygoer confirmed.
