Chapter 8
“Do you need me to pick you up afterwards?” Daisy asked as she drove through the late evening traffic towards the charity fundraiser. “I don’t mind waiting in the car.”
Elias smoothed out a wrinkle in his three-hundred-dollar suit and tossed her a sideways smile. “No, you don’t need too. The company has arranged a hotel room for the night. It will be a late one. The last band doesn’t perform until eleven.” He patted her knee. “Go out to dinner with your friends or crash at my place. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Elias had returned home Sunday night to his favourite six-pack of beer cooling in the fridge and a naughty DVD on top of his player in the bedroom. Whenever they fought, Daisy was always diplomatic, practically on her knees begging for forgiveness. She was terribly predictable that way, so Elias took pleasure knowing she would do anything to get him back.
“I expect you to send a million selfies with Teddy Rollins tonight,” Daisy said, glancing at herself in the rearview mirror. “I’m devastated I won’t be able to meet him.” She inspected her makeup-free face with an evident look of self-loathing. She dropped her hand from her cheeks and turned to him. “Will Ms. Wolfe be attending tonight?”
“Of course she will be,” Elias said. “She organised the event.”
Daisy dragged her bottom lip through her teeth. “Elias, please . . .” She stopped herself before saying the words he knew she was thinking. Please behave. Please don’t drink too much. Please don’t cheat on me.
“I’ll call you when I’m in my hotel room,” he promised, leaning forward to press a soft kiss on her mouth. “I’ll text you if it’s not too late, okay?” He could feel the self-doubt rolling off Daisy in waves as he opened the car door and exited into the crisp night. He leaned into the open window. “I’ll see you later, baby.”
Daisy lingered for a moment, her mouth partially open as if she wanted to say something. She swallowed and then said, “Have fun. I’ll be thinking of you.”
Elias remained in the carpark until Daisy’s backlights vanished in the dark. It didn’t surprise him she was jealous of not attending tonight, partially because she wouldn’t meet Teddy and, partially because he would be with Ava unsupervised. Her childishness angered him because if she couldn’t trust him, what else did they have?
He entered the hotel lobby. Other guests pooled in the reception area, elaborately and purposely dressed in the colours of the fundraiser—black and gold. They glittered under the chandeliers dangling from the ceiling. A cherry-red Mercedes—the grand prize of the raffle—was stationed in the centre of the room cordoned off by velvet rope. Elias had spent two weeks persuading the local dealership owner to donate the car for a good cause. Flashing his ticket at the door, he walked into the grandly lit ballroom, adorned with golden banners and balloons. A band belted out a popular pop song on the stage that stretched the length of the ballroom, built for the occasion. Round tables filled the room, already occupied by excited guests sipping on beer and champagne.
Elias spotted Ava in the centre of the room, corralled by a group of businessmen. She was dressed in a figure-hugging teal gown and black high heels, her fiery red hair pinned back neatly. A diamond necklace dripped around her neck. She looked exquisite. As he drew closer, he could see why Ava had drawn the crowd. Teddy Rollins was attached to her arm. He embodied the idyllic Hollywood movie star—tall and brooding, mouthful of perfect, white teeth, strong jawline, and honey-coloured hair. He was better looking in the flesh, seducing everyone around him with a flashing smile.
Elias contemplated either speaking to the MC waiting for him backstage or introducing himself to the movie star. It seemed Ava made the decision for him, spotting him through the crowd.
“Elias! Oh, there you are,” she called out, shooting her hand in the air. “Come over here and meet our very generous host committee.”
He plastered on a friendly smile and sidled up to Ava. She slipped her arm across his shoulders and introduced him to the wealthy business owners, donors and of course, Teddy who donated thousands of dollars towards the fundraiser.
“Nice to meet you, mate,” Teddy said, shaking Elias’s hand firmly. “Ava’s told me a lot about you.” His smile was blinding, and Elias averted his gaze to the man’s lingering hand on Ava’s lower back. They were practically glued to the hip.
“You too. Congratulations on the Best Actor Oscar win,” he replied. “I’m sure it’s a great honour.”
“It definitely strokes your ego, mate,” Teddy said with a laugh. “The film industry is full of people ready to make you feel like the big man. Nothing can beat that feeling of superiority.”
“Teddy keeps his Oscar locked in a cabinet in his bedroom,” Ava intervened, glancing at the bewitched committee around her. “I’ve seen it before. It’s not as big as it looks on television.”
“Not what you wanna hear from a woman, am I right, gents?” Teddy threw his head back and laughed. Like a pack of hyenas, the circle joined him in the joke. “I need a drink,” he announced. “I heard the Pameer Hotel has a spectacular Shiraz.” He dropped his arm from Ava’s waist and sauntered off towards the bar, followed by his little cohort of admirers.
“He’s exactly what I pictured him to be like,” Elias mused as he watched Teddy slip onto a bar stool. “Quite the charmer.” It didn’t take long for the actor to be completely surrounded by young, beautiful women.
“Yes, he is. Even worse in bed,” Ava responded. Her eyes glistened with mischief when Elias’s jaw dropped open. “Oh, come on, Elias. I’m only playing.” She squeezed his arm. “You’re so uptight all the time. You need to loosen up, honey.” She plucked two glasses of champagne from a waiter walking by and handed a flute to Elias.
“Toast with me. Tonight, we mark a new era for the company. In the first hour, we’ve raised fifty thousand dollars and people are still sober! When the prizes were wheeled onto stage, they went crazy. The Tiffany necklace has been drawn, so has the Paris holiday.” She glanced behind her to the wrapped boxes of prizes on the stage, under the watchful eye of a security guard. Smart phones, jewellery, designer hand bags, cameras, and tablets had been donated by local businesses and industry leaders.
“Did you end up increasing the ticket price for the car?” Elias asked. “Liam told me you were discussing it.”
“Yes, I’ve raised it to five thousand dollars,” Ava replied proudly. “It’s pocket money for these people. The rich love raffles and it’s going to a good cause.” She took a sip of her champagne, her emerald gaze lingering over the glass rim. “You’ve done well, Elias. I’m amazed at what you’ve managed to do in a short time. Some of these people are the most wealthiest and influential in Sydney. Well done.”
“It was a joint effort.” Liam materialised beside Ava dressed in a black designer suit and polished dress shoes. His dark hair was brushed off his wide forehead in a sideways part, making him look even more like a secret agent.
“Liam, when did you get here?”
“Thirty minutes ago. Been at the bar drinking away my sobriety.”
Elias watched Ava’s shoulders stiffen as Liam leaned in to kiss her cheek. Her gaze snapped to his, almost begging, an unspoken plea to intervene. Liam’s arm found its way around her waist, pinning her to him.
“Would you like another drink, Liam?” Elias asked, jerking his thumb towards the bar. “I was going to get a beer and sit at our table before the show starts. Ava’s busy greeting the guests anyway, so why don’t you join me?”
Liam glanced at Ava with uncertainty. “Are you sure you can handle everyone by yourself? I have the list of guests in my head. I know who’s coming and who’s not.”
“No, I can manage by myself, Liam,” Ava replied, slipping from his touch. “Go have a beer with Elias. I’ve got the rounds to do.” Practically pushing him away, Ava was momentarily distracted when the prime minister and his wife entered the room. Before she left to greet them, Ava flashed Elias an indistinct—yet grateful—smile.
~ ~ ~
Elias downed his sixth shot of whiskey for the night and grimaced as the alcohol burned down his throat. Rarely a big drinker, he greedily accepted every glass placed in front of him, so it didn’t take long for the floor to start spinning.
Liam sat beside him, his chin perched in one hand, eyelids heavy with intoxication. Empty beer bottles filled the space in front of him. Stationed in his chair for the past hour, he’d kept an eagle eye on Ava as she laughed, drank, and ate with guests. Any time Elias spotted her through the crowd, she had a wineglass in her hand, given to her by an admirer. In her skin-tight, curve-enhancing gown, she’d inadvertently become the star of the evening, like a bride on her wedding day. All eyes were on her.
Elias dug his mobile from his pocket and re-read the two text messages Daisy had sent him earlier in the night. He hadn’t bothered to reply, not in the mood to talk to her. He couldn’t bring himself to reward Daisy for her jealousy. He knew Ava cast a long shadow in their relationship but Elias was a loyal, one-woman kind of man. Always would be.
“You’re brooding, mate.”
“Huh?” Elias’s gaze snapped to Liam.
A fresh, perspiring beer hung inches from his lips, given to him by a waiter doing the rounds. “You look pissed about something,” he added before taking a swig.
Elias shook his head, reaching for his own drink. “I’m not pissed.”
“Come on, I know the look. Daisy’s angry at you because you didn’t bring her tonight. Is that right?”
Ava sauntered across Elias’s line of sight and she threw him another one of her subtle smirks. It was small, but still there. It gave him the confidence and reassurance he needed to slip his phone back into his pocket and enjoy the night. “Daisy wanted to know when I’m coming home.”
Liam leaned across the table drunkenly and pointed a wobbly finger at him. “You’re an honest man so you would never make the first move. But what would you do if she did?”
“What are you talking about?”
Liam jerked his chin in Ava’s direction. “They don’t call her a man-eater for nothing. She will chew you up and spit you out.”
Defiantly, Elias crossed his arms over his chest. “Never going to happen.”
“Ha! There is so much sexual tension between you two I can practically cut it with a knife.”
“You’re drunk, Liam.” Elias yanked the beer out of the man’s hand. “Why do I have to keep telling people my relationship with Ava is purely professional? I will never go there, nor will she.”
“You keep telling yourself that, mate. I was married to the woman for six years. Not even a wedding ring stopped her.” Liam scowled, his eyes narrowing as he stared hard across the room. “Once you get a few drinks into ’er, she will do anything—or anyone.”
Elias blew out a burst of hot air and mumbled, “Maybe I should’ve stayed home.”
“Nah, you’re my drinking buddy. Are you staying at the hotel tonight or catching the train home?”
Elias had considered going home and confronting Daisy, but cruelly decided she should think of him being in the company of a drunken Ava Wolfe. “I’m staying on the fifth floor. It’s just me and the bed tonight. Alone.”
The big screen above the stage displayed a live counter of money being donated, clicking over to one hundred thousand dollars when Elias ordered another shot. Populating the ballroom, the guests drank port from crystal glasses, ate caviar and lobster, and enjoyed showing off their raffle wins to their friends. A lot of money had gone into keeping the rich happy for one night and Elias hoped Blue Tail’s generosity would ripple across elite society. The company needed it. Ava needed it.
He studied her as she stood by the bar, encircled by a ring of tipsy businessmen. He was sober enough to see she was enjoying the male attention—purring like a kitten as the men piled more free drinks into her. Her gaze flicked upwards and fixed with his. Something flashed in her eyes and it was enough for Elias to get out of his chair and walk towards the bar.
The ring broke when he approached, completely shattering when he forced his place next to Ava, slipping the sherry from her fingers. “I think you’ve had enough,” he said. “The Mercedes’s about to be drawn. You’re the one drawing the ticket, remember?”
“You can do that,” she replied, curling her arm around his shoulders, her warm breath tickling his cheek. “Everyone in this room paid handsomely to see some hottie give away the car. The model I hired pulled out at the last minute and you’re the hottest guy here. You do it.”
Elias bit his tongue. Ava was drunker than he thought. He steered her through the crowd and pulled out a chair for her at their table. Liam was gone, leaving behind an array of empty beer bottles in his wake. “Have you eaten tonight?” Elias asked, pushing a plate of cheese and crackers towards Ava. “I’ve only seen you drink.”
“I was mingling,” she argued. “The room is full of potential advertisers. I haven’t seen you do any socializing.”
“That’s your forte,” he retorted, preparing a cracker for himself. As he ate, the MC appeared by the left wing of the stage and waved him over. Elias turned to Ava. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Where are you going?”
“Just stay here. Don’t accept any more drinks.” He walked through the crowds and met with the MC hanging back in the shadows. “Is everything all right?”
“Ms. Wolfe’s due on stage in ten minutes,” the MC exclaimed, his round cheeks flushed red. “We’re drawing the ticket for the car and we need to get her prepped.”
Behind the curtains, Elias could see the curvaceous silhouette of the Mercedes as it waited off stage, driven in from the foyer. “Pop the mic pack on me. I’m going up instead of Ava.”
“What? You’re not on the itinerary.”
“Things change, just like business. These people will understand. They came here for the car, anyway.” Elias pointed in the direction of the crew running around backstage. “Who do I speak to for the mic setup?”