t I didn't mind. It was a welcome distraction from everything happening aroun

a fool-the moment he and Emile exchanged pleasantries, I knew he would be with her for the rest of the night.

another glass, sipping it tentatively

rly collided wit

teadying my arm befor

that felt almost dangerous. His suit fit too well, and

ttered lowly,

let go i

rather be anywhere bu

ss laugh. "I wonder

" he said smoothly. Then, af

d. I reall

d over his tongue like a joke. "That does

g me room to argue. And honestl

wns and tailored suits, slipping through the double doors that led to the terrace.

ne railing, looking at me with

't belon

a sip of my nearly finished

ightly, studying me.

You speak as if leaving is as si

n't

shaking my head. "Y

lp me un

. He was too confident, too self-assured. He wasn't just any regular guy attending a gala. N

ou?" I ask

"Someone who can o

cho

voice dropping to

pretending to be a good little wife...

t?" I s

ith me, and we make sure you never

eath

Or was this a test that Wilbet had put me

bet was

s wasn't smiling like some

feeling the warmth in my veins, giving myse

, Aziza,"

tightening around

ew my

n my chest. He was watching me, a hint of amusement i

ou know w

slightly. "I make it my busin

teresting made my stomach clench-l

re, straightening my shoulder

re a faded old bruise still linge

ee," he s

ow close we were, how public this was. Wilbet could

houl

man who ignores you and disrespects you by blatantly flirting with

lf to stay composed. "Wilbet is

s

I had given the wrong answer. And I hated t

ut whatever you're implying, I'm not in

so close I could catch a whiff of his

anything," he sai

ating the way my pulse quickened. Hating that

lls trouble. And that was the

aid quietly, "Have

ed back into the ballroom, ignoring

urging me to look back at him. But I refus

pected he was with Emile. They seemed to be having quite

know how ill-tempered he could be? Was he

ed rue

ith her. If he was, she would

ck toward t

still

te between his lips. He exhaled, the smoke curling

was neve

d my table. Go

at only cau

new-this wasn't the las