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“I love it when you blush just as much today as when we first met,” he says against my ear with a grin before kissing me and making me want to insist he follow through on finding thatprivate room. Instead, I’m forced to maintain my composure as dinner is served.
The conversation flows comfortably, while Austin seems unbothered to be sitting across from Ethan. As dinner is wrapping up, Edwin stands to shake hands with two men who approach our table.
“Charles, Josh, thank you for coming this evening. How have you both been?” Edwin says.
I gasp, and my heart immediately jumps into my chest as I recognize Ian’s father, and I assume by family resemblance, Ian’s brother. Ethan told me they would be invited, but it’s still jarring as memories of that terrible night resurface. Especially now, with thoughts of Ian possibly tampering with my medication.
“Hey, are you okay? Don’t worry. They don’t condone what Ian did to you. Charles and Josh are here to support us.” Ethan puts his arm around my shoulders. I look at him and nod, immediately more relaxed, with his arm around me. “All my security staff have explicit directions to detain Ian if he shows up.” Charles and Josh make their way around the table. Ethan takes my hand as we stand to greet them, although all I really want to do in this moment is sink into a large hole.
“Congratulations, to you both. You look lovely, Olivia,” Charles says, “This is my son Josh.”
“Very nice to meet you, Olivia,” Josh says with a respectful smile.
“Thank you, it’s nice to meet you, Josh,” I manage to say, squeezing Ethan’s hand for support. I’m saved by the announcement that the first dance is about to begin, so Ethan excuses us and leads me to the dance floor. He cups my face in his hands, looking into my eyes.
“Are you okay?”
I nod and smile as he leans down to kiss me with gentle, tender lips. The lights are lowered as the music begins to play over the ballroom sound system. Ethan and I have a lovely first dance to Michael Bublé’s version of “When I Fall in Love,” ending perfectly with a grand dip and kiss, to which everyone applauds. At this point, other guests join the dance floor. Edwin comes over to tell Ethan there’s someone he wants them to speak with. It sounds like business, so I ask if he minds if I catch up with Chloe for a little bit.
“Sure, I’ll be back soon.” He gives me a quick kiss before walking away with his father. No one would ever know I have security surrounding me as I walk through the crowd to find Chloe, but I know they’re here, watching my every move.
“Hey, how’s your evening going?” Chloe asks.
“It’s going well, except for having to see Ian’s dad and brother just a little while ago.”
“Ugh.” Chloe rolls her eyes. “You would think maybe they could have given it a little more time and sat this one out.”
“Yeah, it’s okay, though. They were respectful and kind.”
“Josh is nothing like Ian. He’s actually a nice person.”
“That’s good to know. You look beautiful,” I say, changing the subject. “Are you having fun?”
“Yeah, you know me. I love a good party,” Chloe says, with a shimmy of her shoulders. “So, I take it Ethan was excited about the baby?”
“So excited, Chloe. We’re so happy.”
“I love it,” she says. “Oh, how did it go with Vanessa and Austin at the dinner table?”
“Tense, but fine. Speaking of Vanessa, where is she?” I look around, spotting Austin laughing with a group of guys by the bar, but Vanessa is nowhere to be found.
“Let’s go find her,” Chloe suggests, and we start walking through the crowd.
“There she is, and she’s not alone,” I say, spotting her with a tall, gorgeous man with short, clean-cut blonde hair. They look pretty cozy. “Who is that?” I ask. “I don’t recall meeting him.”
“I don’t know,” Chloe says, “let’s go find out.”
“I don’t know if we should interrupt,” I say, holding Chloe back.
“Yeah, Chloe. You wouldn’t want to do that when there’s someone far more interesting Olivia could talk to right here.”
I don’t have to turn around to know who it is. That sickening, dark voice will forever haunt me. I hold my breath and close my eyes as a hand is placed on my shoulder. I shake his hand off me as I turn around. Chloe turns and gasps when she sees who is responsible for stopping us. I want to scream, but all I can do is stand here wide-eyed and frozen.
“I would have dressed more appropriately,” Ian says, “but it seems I wouldn’t have been welcome in my usual party attire. I had to borrow this on my way in,” he says with a slimy smile, referring to the chef’s uniform he’s wearing. He looks me up and down. “You do make one fucking sexy Luna, Olivia.”
I look across the room to see Ethan talking and laughing with his father and a few other men, but he’s not looking in my direction. Nick suddenly bursts through a group of people, pushing his way through the crowd. He grabs Ian’s arms, pinning them behind his back.
“Time to go, fucker,” Nick growls. “Are you both okay?” he asks over Ian’s shoulder.
