“Oh, fuck me,” Mason had sighed as something behind me caught his eye.
Of course I had to turn around to see what all the fuss was about, but as soon as I did, I wished I hadn’t.
“Well, as I live and breathe … Noah Crawford,” the familiar sound of my ex’s voice cooed. She was trying way too hard to sound sultry, and it didn’t suit her—at all. She might have looked good, but I wouldn’t know because all I could see was her bent over while her asshole was being plugged from behind repeatedly by David’s cock.
“Well, as I suffocate myself and hope to die … Julie Frost,” I replied in a bored tone.
“Aw, play nice, Noah, and I just might give you a second chance by the time the night is through.” As if I was ever going to go back down that road again.
“Fuck you,” I said simply, and turned my back on her.
“That’s the plan.”
She sounded so sure that shit was going to happen that all I could do was scoff and finish off my champagne. I was going to need something stronger to get through the night. “Who was stupid enough to bring a whore like you to something this classy anyway?”
“Watch your mouth, Crawford. That’s my date you’re insulting,” David approached our little clan and slipped his arms around Julie’s waist from behind. “Told you my date was a real looker.”
I would have wagered my left nut that what he expected to gain from that little donkey punch of a move was one hell of a reaction out of me, one that would be explosive and detrimental to my position in the company. He expected me to lose it in the middle of a room filled with not only employees but clients—both current and prospective—not to mention board members. It was a good plan, but one that didn’t stand a chance of working when a bitch like Julie Frost was involved. No way was I giving him the satisfaction. So I gritted my teeth and forced a smile.
“You’re looking good tonight, David. Where’d you get the tux? Backstabber’s Emporium?” I asked. To their credit, Brad and Mason did their best to cover their laughs.
“Very witty. Did you come up with that all on your own, or did your girlfriend help you? Oh, wait, that’s right. Your girlfriend is with me.” David’s obnoxious laugh made me clench all my muscles to keep from knocking him the fuck out. “I’m going to the bar to get a real drink. Want to come, babe?”
“No, thank you. I think I’m going to hang out here for a bit and talk about old times with Noah.” Julie kept her eyes glued to me. Not that I was looking at her in turn; I could just feel her eyes undressing me. Yeah, so not going down that road again. She’d had her chance, and blew it out her ass—literally.
Daniel and Vanessa joined our assemblage, effectively ending our little tête-à-tête and sending me catapulting into the deep, dark bottomless pit in which I found myself trapped.
“Patrick,” my aunt sang in her motherly tone. She practically glided over to me and wrapped her arms around me for a hug. “Such a sight for sore eyes.”
“Aunt Vanessa.” I smiled broadly when she pulled back. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Where else would I be? You know how your uncle is about these things,” she said as she looked up at Daniel adoringly.
“Patrick,” he greeted me, adding a nod and a friendly clap on the shoulder before shooting a glance toward Julie. “I hope you’re behaving yourself tonight.”
Yeah, they knew about the fuckery that had gone down between us, but they were big on taking the high road. I nodded with an innocent smile. “Absolutely.”
Julie wrapped her arm around mine and leaned into my side. “Patrick and I were just about to reminisce about the good old days.” The bitch was laying it on thick, even calling me by my middle name as if she was part of my family, which she goddamn wasn’t.
“Wonder what’s taking the girls so long?” Mason spoke up, doing his best to change the subject.
Fuck.
If Delaine came out and caught sight of Julie hanging all over me … I shuddered at the thought of the outcome. Especially if the way she’d reacted to Fernanda was any indication. We’d be lucky if the entire building wasn’t left in a pile of rubble and ash by the time she was done going all fire-breathing Godzilla on the place.
That was about the time Delaine emerged from the bathroom with Lexi and Polly. Instigators by nature, those two, which didn’t bode well for me.
They were laughing at first, until they looked up. Judging by the ferocious expression on Delaine’s face, I had every reason to panic. So I did, but inwardly, because to show weakness would only make matters worse. I could do nothing but watch and wait as Lexi and Polly left Delaine’s side and continued on their path, giving Julie the evil eye the whole way, but my million-dollar baby didn’t follow. Instead she …
Oh, hell, no!
Lanie
I set my eyes on my target: Noah Patrick. My mind was focused, my determination was set, and my girls were looking perky and round. He was mine and I wasn’t about to let that whore sink her talons into him. Julie had had her chance, and she’d blown it. It was time she realized what she’d given up, and I hoped Noah wouldn’t be stupid enough to go back down that road again.
“Lanie, wait!” Polly said in a hurried whisper as she ran up from behind and pulled me back. “Daniel is there.”
“So?”
“Julie is Everett’s daughter, as in Dr. Everett Frost.” She bobbed her head and rolled her hands, encouraging me to get the point. “Julie’s father is one of Daniel’s closest colleagues, not to mention a longtime family friend. You can’t just barge in, grab Everett’s daughter by her hair, and beat the shit out of her right in front of Daniel.”