Becca walked around the car. “You have a party? I forgot.”
“Sorry,” MaryAnn said. “I didn’t realized your schedule was tight.”
I smiled, but it was a sarcastic smile. “When isn’t my schedule tight?”
MaryAnn averted her eyes. “Sorry.”
“Yeah, okay,” I said. “I gotta go. You girls have fun.”
Becca hugged me. “It would be more fun if you could stay.”
MaryAnn stepped in beside me. “Are you sure you can’t be a little late?”
I laughed. “Only if I want to have my head decapitated.”
“Ugh, that mother of yours. We should get together and riot,” MaryAnn said.
“I would be up for that,” Liana said. I shot her a don’t-give-MaryAnn-any-ideas look. “What? It would be fun to defeat the evil queen.”
I flinched. Damn, I hated that nickname.
MaryAnn giggled. “Oh, it would.”
Becca stepped in, always knowing when to save the day or change subjects. “Well, take care.”
“Try and have some fun,” Liana said as I slipped into my car.
Waving, I backed out my car and drove away. I stepped on the gas, and turned the volume of the stereo loud and sang along, hoping my frustration would evaporate.
Thirty minutes later, I was on the other side of Washington, driving past the gates of Tracy Graham’s house. My mother loved Tracy, a rich girl, the daughter of a successful CEO of a large multinational, whose money always ended up in Peyton’s campaign fund.
I stopped the car before the steps leading to the front door. A valet opened my door and guided me to the host, before turning to my car and taking it away.
“Good evening, Miss McClain,” the host said, opening the front door for me. “Miss Graham is in the backyard with her guests.”
He led me through the foyer and then down a long corridor that opened to a solarium, and through French doors to a white porch.
Tracy, two other girls, and five guys were seated around a round fireplace, all dressed in suits and cocktail dresses, crystal flutes in their hands, and smiles on their faces. Too picture perfect.
“Charlotte!” Tracy squealed, flipping her long red hair. She stood to greet me. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too,” I said, then greeted the others. I knew everyone. It was hard not to when the elite preferred to hang around together all the time.
“I called the club earlier.” Tracy sat down and patted a spot on the sofa for me to sit. “They confirmed the VIP area is going to be waiting for us.”
“Great,” I said, forcing my voice to sound enthusiastic.
A second later, a waiter showed up with a flute for me and offered me some appetizers.
In the next fifteen minutes, Tracy told them about her latest shopping trip to Milan, and eleven more guests arrived. They all stayed where they were all night, seated as if they were nailed to the sofas and chairs, eating expensive finger food and sipping expensive champagne, keeping up polite conversation and trying to find out who had spent more money the last month.
I looked at the stars. The sky was the same one from above Liana, Becca, and MaryAnn’s heads. Maybe if I closed my eyes, I could pretend to be there with them.
Mason
I buttoned up my black shirt and shoved on my shoes with determination. I was going out and I was going to get Charlotte out of my mind.
Since seeing her at that damned ball five days ago, I had been thinking about her nonstop. I even thought about going to the Executive Mansion, hiding on the other side of the street, waiting for her to come out, and begging her to talk to me.
But why? I had promised myself I wouldn’t have another serious relationship. At least, not so soon. Besides, she was out of my league. I didn’t need to waste my time thinking about her. It would never work.
A knock rattled through my bedroom door.
“Come in,” I said.
David stuck his head inside. “Ready? We should be going if we don’t want to be late.”
I glanced at the mirror. My hair was a mess. But who cared? Girls liked it like that, and oh, I intended to get Charlotte out of my mind the same way I forgot Tamara—finding some other girl. Although, this time, I would make sure it was a one-night stand. I didn’t have the heart to suffer another betrayal or separation.
I grabbed my wallet from my nightstand and spied into it to make sure there was a condom. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
David’s colleague was having a birthday party at a club, and he assured me it was okay to come with. The place should be huge and would have lots of people anyway. Besides, I needed the distraction. Working at clubs and bars wasn’t the same as being at them as a customer. It would be a nice change.
We arrived at the club a little after ten, and it was crowded. The place was huge, all right, with several thematic rooms, long bars, a gallery upstairs, and large glass doors that led to an open balcony.
David introduced me to his friends, and soon we were immersed in the group, talking, laughing, and drinking.
The birthday girl, Allie, was pretty and laughed easily. Given an opportunity, I started a conversation with her.
“David is a good friend,” she said, batting her lashes at me. She was totally flirting. “I’ve known him for over four years.”
She flipped her blond hair and told me about the research she worked on with David. Not interested in this type of engineering, I slapped a smile on my face and nodded accordingly, encouraging the woman to keep talking. Although, I hoped she would give me an opening soon, or I wouldn’t be kissing anyone tonight.
Maybe if I got her drunk, she would be quieter and more sensual.
I pointed to her empty glass. “Want a refill?”
“Yes, please.”
I took the glass from her and weaved my way to the bar. She was having some cheap red drink with almost no alcohol. I asked the bartender to put more vodka in it this time.
With the drink in hand, I turned my back to the bar, but didn’t move. Why was I doing this again? Allie was pretty, but not my type. She was also talkative and too excited about her work. Maybe the alcohol would make her talk even more. I was sure I could get her into bed one way or another, but did I want to? Sure, sex was always great, but after Charlotte, it would be hard to top.
With a sigh, I tipped the bartender to send the drink to Allie, and then leaned against the bar. Without a care in the world, I scanned the crowd. It was easy being as tall as I was. Most people here seemed to be college students, or a little older, but there were a few people who appeared to be in their forties or fifties.
I shuddered, hoping I wasn’t this desperate to be laid at that age. Well, I hadn’t actually thought about it. I was so convinced staying alone was the best solution for heartbreak, but I didn’t consider I would really be alone. I had never imagined growing old alone, and right now, I still couldn’t.
However, I didn’t need to solve that tonight. Tonight, I just wanted to relax and enjoy my night out.
My gaze shifted to the VIP area on the second floor. Red velvet couches and champagnes on the tables. The women wore elegant dresses and too much jewelry. The men wore fancy shirts and probably designer jeans or slacks. Even from here, they emanated power and affluence. Ugh, rich people.
A redhead entered one of the reserved areas, raising her arms and cheering with the friends already there. She looked right at home. Then she stepped to the side and another girl appeared from behind her.
Charlotte.
My heartbeat went up a few notches.
How incredible she was in a tight, dark red dress. Her hair was pulled to the side and, when she whirled to greet a guy, I gasped, realizing why: the dress was backless. My fingers itched to touch her skin again. Christ. I glared at no one. If I was drooling over her from here, the men around her would be eating her alive.