Page 21 of Her Fiance’s Father

“Well, well, well, look who it is,” she hisses, grinding her teeth as she glares at me. It’s only now that I notice how snakelike she looks. “On your way back to spend the day with Robert?”

Something about the way she says his name makes my blood boil. Her tone is acidic, spiteful. Like she is actually jealous about me being with him.

Five minutes ago, I wouldn’t have even given her the time of day. But after suffering through that conversation with Kyle and almost having my nose broken, I’m on edge. So against my better judgment, I snap back.

“And if I was, why would you care? You had no problem cheating on him.”

Clarice’s eyes flare, and she scoffs, looking for a minute like she’s going to slap me. She steps closer, running her tongue across her lower lip. More snake vibes.

“You really think he wants you, don’t you?” she asks. I try to walk past her, but she steps in front of me, blocking my path. “That’s what I thought too. But you know what he wanted? Arm candy. That’s it.”

“Clarice—”

“Just a hot young girl to have on his arm, to show off in public, take to events. But most importantly, so he can one-up the other guys.”

I turn away, rolling my eyes. It’s clear she’s pissed off, but a tiny part of me wonders…is she making sense?

Famous actors, athletes, celebrities of all kinds—they all love to date young women. But I’ve never in my life, not even once, seen myself as arm candy. That’s for sure.

Clarice comes off as the kind of woman who could play that role with ease. In fact, she looks like she’d love to show up to Robert’s business events, even without him being there, just so she could have more eyes on her.

But me? I’ve always been more comfortable curled up in my room, hanging out with Deena or digging into one of my many cozy mystery novels. I don’t need the world to admire me to feel special. All I need is Robert.

“You think I’m lying.” Clarice sneers. “But why? Why would I make this up?”

“Sorry, I’m not a mind reader.”

“You’re not anything,” she jabs back, getting right up in my face. The scent of her perfume is overwhelming. Toxic. “You’re not a model, you’re not an actress, you’re not from a wealthy family. Do you even have a plan for your life?”

My heartbeat accelerates as she continues to throw more jibes at me. They’re like little pin pricks attacking me all over. I keep telling myself that she’s full of it. That I know Robert, and he would never feel this way about me.

But do I actually? I mean—how well do I really know him?

Despite the electric connection between us, we only met yesterday. I was engaged to Kyle for months, ever since I turned eighteen, and Robert never once made an effort to introduce himself to me. Thinking about it now, that seems…odd.

For the briefest of moments, a tiny surge of panic twists through me.

You let him come in you.

If what Clarice is saying is true, then I could end up carrying his child. And if he decides to abandon me for someone younger and hotter? Where will I be then?

My breathing grows faster, shallower. I have to get out of here now.

“Yes, I have a plan for my life,” I snap, pushing my way past Clarice. “It’s to never see you again.”

She shouts something after me as I quickly race through the foyer and outside. My mind is a typhoon of vulnerable thoughts, doom and despair as I speed back to Robert’s penthouse. I almost call Deena to talk the whole thing out with her, but just as I’m about to press her contact, I have a change of heart.

No, I need to talk to Robert first. I stuff my phone back in my purse.

The doorman nods to me as I pass, and I somehow manage to give him a smile back. But when I get on the elevator and press the button for the penthouse, I’m shaking. I just can’t get Clarice’s voice out of my head.

“You really think he wants you, don’t you?”

The elevator doesn’t move, and I realize how much of an idiot I am. Of course it isn’t going to move. It’s Robert’s penthouse. Not mine. It’s probably keyed to his face or his fingerprint or something.

My eyes start to well up with tears. I didn’t realize just how emotional I was until this moment.

My secret mission to get Kyle to spill his guts went well, but it had my adrenaline high. And then the confrontation with Clarice—not to mention getting smacked in the nose by the door—has me questioning everything that’s happened over the last two days. Just this simple little obstacle of not being able to get up to the penthouse has me about to burst.