14
“Aren’t you stunning, as always?” Parker greeted Alexandra with a hug when she walked into the ballroom two weeks later. “I think your win has you glowing.” She smiled.
Alexandra laughed; Parker was probably right. Since she’d nailed the Williams case, the company was able to proceed with going public. She couldn’t believe it, and this all but sealed the deal for her to become partner. She won the case, and she probably won the office she craved. Franklin had left her alone, and she got the results of her DNA test that morning. Negative. Whatever crazy idea she had about her father being alive were put to rest. Thank God. She was even having sex on the regular, even though no one knew about it.
She’d seen Roman several times since she discovered why he wanted the house but it felt stilted, their earlier banter thrown to the wayside for sex only. The trial period was coming to a close fast, and she’d agreed to sell him the house when it was over. It was unsettling, since she’d been honest with him and he’d lied to her. She missed their old relationship. He’d been her constant companion prior to her discovering his true intentions and something more seemed to be brewing before she discovered his deception. It was a lie of omission, but it didn’t matter when she realized his true intent. He still continued to send her little gifts to her desk, generally of the X-rated variety, even though she wasn’t talking to him. She gained a new set of kettle balls, a pink pair of handcuffs, and the same kind of vibrator he used on her sometimes.
Since I’m not with you, the note said sneakily. They were almost a couple, but not. Although sometimes at night, when she had lay there after a sweaty round of sex, she’d reach for his hand and he’d take it, communicating without words. It had somehow become more, but how do you take something based on lust and create a lasting relationship? Did she even want to after what she found out? A foundation built with sand, full of empty promises, sexual gratification, and lies, thrived at night so you didn’t have to face what you did in the daylight.
“Thank you.” She smiled. “You two look gorgeous yourselves.” She hugged Parker’s fiancé Anthony, dashing in a three-piece suit, standing beside Parker so they looked like a pair of brunette dolls. Ready to play in Barbie’s funhouse, where all the wealthy, privileged people hung out, ignoring the gilded cage it represented. She took in the grandeur of the event, all there to celebrate her grandfather, amused at the opulence and money people tended to throw at these affairs, knowing they had so many skeletons in their own closet it would take a forklift to dig them out.
She’d spoken to no one about what she learned of her father, wanting to get through the event before she breeched it with her mother. She laughed at the hypocrisy because nothing mattered as long as appearances were maintained. It was the same with Roman’s club. Half these people were members, she’d seen some of them herself, but no one would let on they’d been spread-eagle having a threesome the night before.
“How are you?” Parker inquired after Anthony left to talk to some clients from work. “Gran and Papa said you should be a shoe-in for partner, and Mom has been walking around like they offered her the promotion.”
“I know.” She squeezed Parker’s hand in excitement, the most emotion she’d be able to feel at this shindig. “Right now, it’s just a waiting game. I still have five months before they make a decision, but Henry pretty much told me the other day I have it.”
“I knew you could do it,” Parker gushed. “Dad would be so proud.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. Months before, she would have gotten emotional when talking about her father with her sister, but she couldn’t find it in herself to cry for a man who’d become an enigma. “But enough about me, what’s going on with the wedding?” After failing to find a venue Parker decided to have a destination wedding with only twelve guests in the Dominican Republic. There would be little preparation on their end because the resort took care of most of the details. It bummed Alexandra since she’d always dreamed of helping her sister plan a fairy-tale wedding. Her current schedule meant she wasn’t getting married anytime soon, so she wanted to live vicariously through Parker.
“Amazing,” she said. “I am relaxed, and the resort has made the process as smooth as possible. All I have to do on this end is pick out my dress, as well as yours.”
“When did you want to go?” Alexandra took two champagne flutes from the passing waiter, giving one to her sister before taking a sip of her own.
“Next month.” She shrugged. “As long as we make sure there is enough time for alterations.”
“No problem,” she told her. “I’m so happy for you and Anthony. You guys are made for each other, and I’m so excited my big sister is getting her piece of happiness.”
“Thank you.” Parker threw her arm around Alexandra’s shoulders, kissing her cheek again. “Now my little sister needs to take her own advice and find someone for herself.”
“Parker, you know I have—” Alexandra began.
“Work,” Parker interrupted. “But I’m sick of that excuse. You’ve always been so focused on work it’s been unnatural. You’ve allowed it to consume you. I wish some man had broken your heart. At least then there’d be a chance someone could come along and show you men aren’t dogs and piece it back together, but not you. Dad would be proud of you with whatever career path you chose; there’s no reason to be obsessed with him.”
“I know that.” And after she discovered the new information she couldn’t fully commit herself to a legacy she couldn’t agree.
“Do you? You’re so busy trying to fill Dad’s shoes, you’ve forgotten what it’s like to have a life of your own. I loved Dad, too, but he wasn’t the perfect guy you created in your mind.”
“I have a life,” she objected, ignoring Parker’s comments about her father.
Parker stepped back, scanning the crowd. “When was the last time you had a date?”
“That’s none of your business,” Alexandra mumbled. She couldn’t remember, and since Roman and she weren’t technically dating, she couldn’t even use him as an answer.
“I thought so,” she told her, “which is the reason I agreed to this.”
Alexandra narrowed her eyes, “Agreed to what?” Parker refused to answer, instead holding her arms out for their grandmother, who was staring at Alexandra with a calculated gleam in her eyes.
Cagey old goat, she thought, taking in the entourage that seemed to follow her. She hugged her grandfather before greeting Blair and Derrick. Her mother was last, holding on to her longer than normal. They’d spoken a couple times since their disagreement, but Alexandra hadn’t brought it up again.
All the hellos were issued to people she knew, leaving the handsome man who stood off to the side for last. He was stunning, one of those guys you’d think were sculpted from a Greek statue. She noted the blond hair that hang in shaggy waves, the blue eyes, chiseled cheekbones, and the lips that looked like they could do some damage, suddenly turned up in a smirk. Clearly someone else knew what was going on here, she thought, returning the expression. This could be fun. Not.
“Alexandra, darling.” Her grandmother smothered her with affection, palming her face and examining her like a drill sergeant. “You look stunning.” She leaned in to whisper. “Come meet Brandon. He’s one of the new engineers who works at your grandfather’s company.”
“An engineer, huh?” She grinned, shaking his hand.
“Not the most attractive of professions,” he admitted, the blush creeping up his cheeks.
“Well, you know what they say about engineers.”
He blinked a couple of times, confusion and trepidation setting in his face. “No, I don’t. What do they say?”