Book 4 - Heiress vs Rockstar

Tim

He straightened his tie, fighting the urge to loosen it. Last time he'd been at a black-tie event, he had Alba Richmond-Orsay on his arm. When he confirmed his participation for this year, he thought he'd be there with Isabella. He slammed closed the car door and walked to entrance. He slowed down for the photographers. He stood in front of the Small Miracles banner until they got all the publicity shots they needed.

When he entered the ballroom, he was greeted by a tall woman with serious eyes who led him to his table.

He recognized Adeline St. Croix a few tables away, and he scanned the room for her husband. Paul Cesara was far from one of his favorite people in the world, but he worked with his law firm for many years, and their relationship had improved greatly once Vy started her first year at Salona.

He was beginning to find the evening bearable when he caught a familiar shape out of the corner of his eye, but when he turned his head, he didn't see anyone he knew. His first instinct was that it was Alba. If Alba was there, she'd outshine everyone else.

He almost forgot about it, when, a few minutes later, he heard a very familiar voice.

"The University has a long tradition of offering scholarships to underprivileged children."

Alice.

His hand tightened around the champagne flute, and he set it down to avoid breaking it. Adrenaline flooded his system. He wished he could wrap his hand around her throat instead of the glass. Instead of crawling under a rock and dying, that little monster was attending parties. He circled around so that he could observe her from a distance.

The little snake had shed her skin. He'd always seen her in jeans and with minimal makeup. The tight fit dress and the elegant updo made her look older. Any hesitation he still had about hating her was obliterated by her look. She might be Vy's age, but she looked more mature. She was a fully grown woman who had to deal with the consequences of her actions.

She was talking to a thin woman he didn't know and a man who looked a lot like Alba's husband, Basil Sinclair. He could move on to another conversation and leave her alone for the night. He hadn't expected to meet her and he didn't have a plan for her, but he couldn't stay away. Before he knew he could change his mind, he was already near her group.

His presence was noted immediately, and the older woman addressed him directly.

"Mr. Carter, we are honored by your presence. My name is Leonie de Montrachet."

He didn't know her, but he recognized name. Her demeanor spoke of old money and influence. Alice's reaction was so subtle, he would have missed it if he hadn't been focused on her. She cringed.

He took Leonie's hand and bowed his head slightly. This sort of old-fashioned politeness worked well on the upper classes. He turned to Alice, giving her the option to pretend they didn't know each other.

"Good evening, Mr. Carter," she said.

"Please, call me Tim. We know each other too well."

"How do you know each other?" the man standing next to Alice asked.

The young man's voice didn't betray any emotion other than a mild curiosity.

"Our Music rooms are next door to each other," she said, but the man's curiosity turned into confusion. "On Sing," she added. "Mr. Carter, this is Christian Sinclair."

He shook the young man's hand looking at Alice.

"Calling me Mr. Carter only makes me want to bend you over my knee and spank your bottom red all the more."

She didn't even flinch. And neither did the others. He was surrounded by masks.

"You seem to know each other very well," Christian Sinclair said nonchalantly.

Affected nonchalance or real indifference? Tim was impressed that he couldn't tell which was true. So this was the Sinclair who was going into politics.

"Oh, you could say that she knows very intimate details about me," he said.

Christian raised an eyebrow and a vaguely amused smile played on his lips. The man was going to be an excellent politician. He offered Alice his hand and bowed slightly.

"My lady, may I have this dance?"

She accepted his hand gracefully and they floated to the dance floor.