* * *
The sink was full of dishes. The servers were helping her keep on top of the flow of dirty plates and glasses, but she insisted on doing the bulk of the work herself. It kept her mind off the betrayal that had just blindsided her.
At Alana's words, the tray had almost slipped from her hands and she'd barely caught it, setting it down hard on the nearest table, causing the champagne flutes to come together in a melodic tinkle that thankfully hadn't resulted in a spill. Lila had barreled down the hallway, her shoulder pressed against the antique wallpaper, only straightening herself to avoid the paintings framed at clockwork intervals. Mainly portraits, but a few landscapes. All wildly expensive.
Stumbling into the bathroom at last, she'd locked the door behind her and turned around, her breath leaving her body in a whoosh. The lavish surroundings held her still in awe for a moment, slowing down the rapid rise and fall of her chest.
The walls glowed golden, the swirls raising slightly off the slick surface of the period-appropriate wallpaper. The gold was accented by white marble floors and countertops, veins of light grey weaving through stone that reminded Lila of frothy cream. The gold and white were married to a rich green the color of olives. Everything was bathed in the faux gas glow of a elaborate fixture hanging overhead.
Lila collapsed onto what looked like a giant green and gold pincushion, the only piece of furniture in the hallway bathroom. Even the toilet rated its own room, hidden away behind doors hung with antique mirrors. Tall mirrors adorned most of the walls and the door she'd come through.
Lila sat and stared at herself. Her cheeks were flushed, a bright red against the white of her uniform top. Her eyes were too wide, and she wondered if she could see the slight tick of the muscle under her left eyebrow. It often started jumping when she was nervous or surprised. Her eyebrow looked still in the mirror, despite her otherwise shocked expression.
What kind of a jerk makes moves on the woman hired to cater his engagement party? Apparently a tall, dark, and dangerous jerk. Emphasis on dangerous. She'd opened herself up to a guy's advances and once again, all she had to show for it was humiliation.
She'd seen the willowy model on his arm, the prettily poised princess of perfection. It had just highlighted for Lila what a dream world she'd been living in. Guys like Alexander Drake didn't end up with girls like Lila. They married supermodels. But evidently they didn't mind slumming it with fat chicks.
Running her wrists under the cool water flowing from a faucet shaped like a golden swan had finally allowed her to calm herself enough to make a discrete exit from the bathroom and return to the kitchen. Where she'd stayed put, putting all of her focus on her job and thinking very hard about not thinking about anything else. The servers had scurried in and out, leaving with full trays and returning with empty ones, and Lila kept everything running smoothly. Everything but herself. She felt like a tempest inside, but she refused to let anything show.
Lila dumped another stack of plates into the hot water and sighed when one cracked. Perfect. That's what this evening was supposed to be. Instead it was perfectly shitty.
"I wanna talk to you."
The familiar voice came from behind her and she jumped, not having heard him approach.
"I'm busy," she said, not turning around.
"Take a break."
"No."
Strong hands were on her shoulders, pulling her away from the sink and over to an uninhabited region of the kitchen.
Lila eyed the servers over Alex's shoulder, but they were ignoring them.
"Look at me," he demanded, but Lila shook her head, crossing her hands over her chest and staring down at the floor.
His hand on her chin pushed her face up to meet his gaze. His steel gray eyes were cloudy, their depths dark with emotion.
Lila felt her eyes start filling with tears and bit her lip in the hopes of stopping them from falling.
"I'm sorry." His voice was soft, chastened. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. But once I saw you, I couldn't help myself."
"Sure," Lila bit out, "I understand. A quick fling before settling down to married life. Who could blame you?"
"It wasn't like that." The fingers on her shoulders tightened, for a moment painfully, until she winced and he released her. "You know it wasn't like that."
"Then what was it like?" She didn't want to torture herself, but she needed to hear his answer.
Alex let out a breath and ran a hand through his dark hair. "I never intended--"
"Alex!" The shrill voice rose over the clatter of the kitchen and sent an unpleasant chill down Lila's spine. The soon-to-be Mrs. Drake was picking her way through the mess, heading toward them.
Lila hurriedly wiped her hands across her eyes, trying to blank out her face. Her efforts weren't enough, it seemed, as Alana stared at her with a puzzled look. "What's going on here, Alex?"
"Just talking to the caterer," he said, and Lila felt an icy wind blow through her chest. Can't forget, I'm the hired help, she reminded herself bitterly.
"What did you say to upset her? She's almost crying."
Lila stepped back. "I'm fine," she said, trying on a smile that must have failed as miserably as her attempt to hide her tears.
"What's going on?" Alana's face became hard. Her words let them know her suspicions were alerted.
"Nothing," Alex said, putting an arm around the model's waist and turning her away. "Don't worry about it. Why don't you head back to the party? I'll be there shortly."
"Everyone's left," she told him, looking back to burn Lila with a hot stare. "I wanted to talk to you about how we're going to release the photos from tonight."
"Sure. I'll be in directly," he said, pushing her toward the door.
"I'll wait." She crossed her arms and dug in her heels, staring back in Lila's direction.
Alex sighed and turned away from his fiancée. Lila returned to the sink, turning the hot water up to scalding to draw her attention away from the situation.
Alex reached her side. "I'm sorry," he said, for her ears only.
"No problem, Mr. Drake." She wouldn't let him see how badly he'd hurt her. Not now, not in front of his fiancée.
"I told you to call me Alex," he growled, and her features tightened, prompting him to swear quietly. "This isn't over."
"I'm afraid it is. You'll receive my bill soon."
"Lila--"
"Alex!" This from Alana. It was obvious his fiancée wasn't used to waiting. Alex turned back to her and together they left the kitchen without a backwards glance. It wasn't until she heard the door swing shut that Lila finally let out the breath she was holding and collapsed against the sink.