Janet’s face erupted into a wide grin. “Oh, Emmerson, they look beautiful. They match the sample table you did up the other day exactly.”
That sample table was what she had shared a photo of. Or at least part of it, anyway. My little Emme, always wanting to be in control somehow. No wonder she made such a good wedding planner.
She took my hand and led me through two large double doors, and I swore we stepped into another world when we walked into the ballroom.
“Holy shit,” I whispered as I looked around. “You did this, Emme?”
She took in the entirety of the room with her eyes as she nodded. “Yes, I came up with the design layout.”
Soft white fabric was draped across the ceiling of the ballroom, with elegant chandlers sprinkled throughout. White tables were decorated with large and small hurricane lamps, which held white candles and a spray of what looked like blue snow inside. The chairs had white covers on them with blue sashes that matched the shade in the hurricane lamps. The larger tables housed small potted trees in the middle with the hurricane lamps on both sides. Fine crystal glasses and silver flatware dressed each table. Scattered throughout the room were large candleholders with pearl strands that mimicked the sway of the fabric above.
Turning to look down at her, I was awestruck by the look on Emmerson’s face. It was one of pride, yet she seemed…lost to it all. As if she was in a place that made her utterly happy. She looked so beautiful I had to look away from her in order to catch my breath and calm my rapid heartbeat.
“This is stunning, sweetheart.”
Her head turned and she looked at me, her eyes sparkling a little more than normal. She should be damn proud of herself; she had done an amazing job.
“Thank you. It turned out so much better than I thought it would.”
Waiters and waitresses were walking to each table and filling up the glasses with water, while other people walked around each table to make sure everything was set up correctly.
“Look at the stage,” Emmerson said with a giggle.
I followed where she was looking and groaned. “That’s where it’s going to happen, huh?”
She faced me. God, she looked so beautiful tonight. It was hard not to stare at her, to tell her how she left me speechless every time I looked at her.
Lifting one hand, she pointed at me. “You better bring in more money than Janet’s brother.”
I drew in my brows. “Why, Emmerson Wallace, are you being competitive?”
Her hands went to her hips. “Yes! She brought in her hot brother at the last minute. And he’s an actor!”
A surge of jealousy ripped through me. “You think he’s hot?” I asked as I looked back over toward the doors, where the dick was standing right outside.
“Of course he’s hot.”
“But he’s…he’s…” My voice trailed off as Emmerson tilted her head and regarded me with a confused expression.
I clenched my fists at my sides, wanting to issue a stupid demand that she wasn’t allowed to say other guys were hot. At least not in my presence. Before I could say something so utterly insane, someone came rushing up to us.
It was a woman dressed in an elegant silver gown. She looked to be about my age, maybe a year or two older. She was pretty. Not anywhere close to being as beautiful as Emmerson, but she was certainly easy on the eyes. Maybe ol’ Nick would catch her attention.
“Emmerson! It looks beautiful in here. You have done such an amazing job. I cannot even begin to thank you for all the hard work and time you’ve put into this.”
Emmerson beamed, “I’m so glad you’re happy with it, Claire.” Emmerson took my arm and drew me closer to her. “Claire Castings, this is Landon Lewis. Claire is a very close and personal friend of the Worthington family. She’s here to represent the family since they were unable to make it this year.”
I reached for Claire’s offered hand and shook it. I could tell immediately she wasn’t a committee member. Not with the diamonds that draped down her ears, across her neck, and on each wrist. Not to mention the giant rock that sat on her right hand. The woman was covered in thousands of dollars’ worth of jewels, and she had that look about her. The one that said she had more money than she knew what to do with.
“So, you’re the one,” Claire said as she openly looked me up and down with an expression that said she was undressing me in her mind.
“I’m sorry, the one?” I asked.
“In the auction. You’re much more handsome in person. I may have to break the rules and bid on you myself.”
I laughed, but I had a feeling she was serious. I glanced over at Emmerson, and the look she gave Claire should have dropped the woman to the ground. If there was one thing Emmerson didn’t like, it was people who didn’t play by the rules.
“Well, let’s not break any rules tonight,” I stated with an uncomfortable chuckle.
A sinful smile spread over the woman’s face before she leaned in closer to me and said, “Well, unfortunately, when I see something I want, I tend to make it mine. Rules be damned.”
That caused me to jerk my head back at the same time Emmerson huffed, loud enough that Claire looked at her. The woman raised a single brow at Emmerson, but before she could say anything, Emmerson beat her to the punch.
“If you’ll excuse us, Claire, it appears people are starting to arrive. And I see our parents.”
Emmerson nearly ripped my arm out of the socket when she jerked me away from Claire and started to march off.
“We’ll catch up later. I’m sitting at your table!” Claire called out.
I could practically feel Emmerson vibrating with anger. “That little bitch!”
“What?” I asked with a startled laugh.
She took a quick glance over her shoulder at Claire, scowling at the woman.
“Do you not like her?” I asked.
Emmerson’s eyes jerked up to mine. “What?”
“Claire. Do you not like her?”
“Not after tonight, I don’t.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread over my face. Was Emmerson jealous that another woman was showing interest in me?
This night just got a whole helluva lot more interesting.
Emmerson
THE CHARITY BALL was going as planned. The food was divine and the liquor was flowing. That meant the auction should bring in a good amount of money on top of the one-thousand-dollar-per-plate price of admission.
The evening would have been perfect, had Claire Castings not changed the seating chart and planted her ass at our table.
Claire and her date, Doug, were somehow seated at our table, which had originally only been meant for our family. But with Noah unable to attend, we had two open seats, and I never even thought of filling them with fake names. I wouldn’t make that mistake ever again. Claire was flirting nonstop with Landon, even though Doug sat right next to her, acting oblivious to his date’s open fascination with my date.
“Claire, what is it you do for a living?” Addie asked.
Claire took a drink of her wine and asked, “Do?”
I could almost feel Hailey roll her eyes, but I didn’t dare look at her.
Hailey cleared her throat. She gave Claire the fakest smile I’d ever seen grace her beautiful face. “You know, a job? Or is that something foreign to you?”