Page 27 of Watching Her

“Yeah, and you landed in jail because of it.”

He nursed his drink. “I did discover one ingenue who intrigued me.”

“Ingenue? I was right. You are recruiting for one of your hundreds of television stations you own.”

“I never discount an opportunity. She has an incredible voice, sultry yet raspy. You should hear her narration skills. She has a way of bringing a smutty book to life as I’ve never heard before.”

“Smutty books?” I asked, laughing. “I learn something new about you every day.” I noticed Xander’s entrance, the man already approached by a few patrons. I had to admit I was impressed with the turnout. There were hundreds of people enjoying the festivities. With what was being spent on the lavish ball, I should hope the event would be considered one of the finest of the year.

For whatever reason, I was in a shitty mood. Perhaps because I’d yet to discover everything I wanted regarding Penelope.

“You should open a book every once in a while. Maybe Xander could provide you with recommendations. Don’t look now, but vultures with claws are making their way toward us.”

The part of the job I had no interest in. Acting as if I gave a damn. Only the wealthiest and most influential guests had been invited. Unfortunately, among the guest list were several individuals who’d never be on my Christmas card list.

“Be nice,” I told him. “Try and remember why we are here.”

“The blonde is right up Xander’s alley,” Sebastian said under his breath. “I could see her strapped to a table covered in welts.”

“Child’s play,” I countered, using his words on purpose. Xander did have truly sadistic tastes.

“Well, well,” the blonde began, her look of disdain falling on my shoulders. We’d had our run-ins before, including that she’d once been my ex-wife’s best friend.

“Charmaine. I wasn’t aware your husband allowed you off your leash.” Sebastian wasn’t usually so petty, but the woman did bring out the worst in men.

“Play nice, Char,” the other woman cooed. “We’re here for a good cause.”

Charmaine rolled her eyes. “If you mean padding the bank accounts of Triton’s board members, you would be correct, Margaret.”

Sebastian was amused while for some reason, her accusations annoyed me more than they should. Rumors of impropriety plagued every charity. However, I knew Charmaine well enough to know she’d arrived at the event for one reason. Playing a game of deception.

In an uncharacteristic move, I was at the point of offering a reply when I noticed a woman wandering into the room by herself. That in and of itself wasn’t unusual. However, her attire immediately caught my attention.

Instead of wearing the typical Tom Ford Black Peak tuxedo or a shimmering Chanel long dress, the girl was wearing a flaming red, rhinestone glinted can-can dress. Thoughts of Moulin Rouge came to mind.

Her attire alone was reason enough for everyone to notice her arrival, but that’s not what captured my attention or that of one too many predators lurking close to the entrance.

With her long, dark hair in thick, sweeping curls, black stilettos accentuating her shapely legs, and the way the dress’s material offered a sweet taste of the gifts underneath, she was stunning. Even that wasn’t what drew and kept my attention.

The room didn’t just quiet down; the energy shifted. It was as if a sudden, silent current passed through the crowd, pulling every eye toward the double doors. Bathed in the warm glow as provided by the specialized accent lighting, she moved with an effortless grace that made the rest of the bustling room blur into the background.

While the bold hue caught the light with every step taken, it was her smile—calm, self-assured, and completely unbothered by the dozens of stares—that truly commanded the space.

“Nothing to say for yourself and your beloved charity, Christian?”

Charmaine was trying very hard to ruffle my feathers. “Fascinating, Charmaine, which is why I find it curious you put a bid in on the painting in the far corner of the room.” I lifted my gaze toward her briefly, which would be the last time for the evening.

I’d surprised her. While she tried to hide her embarrassment of bidding on the painting I’d gifted the charity by hiding behind her glass, I could see fury in her eyes. “Nice try, Christian, but you and I know it’s called a silent auction for a reason.”

Sebastian was thoroughly amused, perhaps eager for me to lose my cool. I’d learned from years of handling issues how to maintain a calm presence during the most difficult of situations. Only in the shadows did I handle my permanent response.

I smiled from being able to unnerve her. “If you’ll excuse me, there are some people I need to speak with.” Before walking away, I closed the distance with Charmaine, lowering my head so she would be the only person capable of hearing a more pointed reply. “Be careful, Charmaine. Your jealousy is showing. You had an opportunity to be the subject of my desires as depicted in my painting. Yet if I seem to recall, you refused.”

“Because you’re a prick,” she hissed.

“I thought you were about to call me a scoundrel.” I laughed and walked away, Xander catching me a few seconds later. While no one else would know my prize was nervous, I could tell by the way she was clutching her small purse that the lovely Penelope was riddled with anxiety.

Her beauty continued to capture and keep my rapt attention.