Chapter Twenty-Two
In theory, counting down the time in five minute increments seemed like a great idea, but after over four hours of having one of her three assistants give her the time, it seemed more like a countdown to Ryane’s ultimate failure.
Knight wasn’t coming.
No, her Knight would have come by nine, he would have taken her into his arms and strolled her to the middle of the dance floor for everyone to see them. He would have kissed her and told her his name, and she would then admit her identity.
Yes, her father would be angry at first, but he would understand when he saw the love in her eyes. He would realize in all this craziness she managed to find the one man for her.
Anyone else would look at this event, these surroundings and call it a success. The grand ballroom at the Crown Rose Hotel was a magnificent space with massive chandeliers giving off the ideal light to make everyone look their best, a dramatic staircase to give everyone the entrance they deserved, a gleaming wooden dance floor, and tables with gorgeous flower arrangements to make the whole place feel even more like a fairy tale.
“A little bubbly for the woman who makes my life sparkle.” Holding two glasses of champagne, Patrick came over. “I say we propose a toast.”
“What are we toasting?” She glanced up at the man. He deserved better. Along with everything else that was going to happen after midnight, after she swept up her pride, and was away from the crowd of people who showed up for her event, she promised herself she would take Patrick aside and tell him they didn’t have the right connection. Yes, she wanted to want him, but she didn’t have the ache, the pain, those all-consuming thoughts, and he should have someone that felt that way about him.
Honestly, after the clock struck the designated hour, she didn’t really know what her next steps were, she only knew that she was going to do it on her own, and if her father didn’t like it, then she would resign as Director of nothing and go live her life. She had money and now she knew she didn’t need it to be happy. If given the chance, she would have given everything up for a small cottage with the one man she wanted.
“Eleven twenty-seven,” Bobbie muttered under her breath as she walked by.
In thirty-three minutes the torture would be over.
“I say with all this focus on time we toast the top of the next hour.” Patrick winked and tapped his glass against hers.
It took every bit of her strength to put the glass to her lips, but she didn’t drink. All midnight would bring was everything she didn’t have. Her hand shook and she spilled a bit of the drink.
“Are you all right?” Patrick produced a handkerchief and helped dab up the liquid.
Maybe she should at least get one thing off her chest. “Patrick.” She downed the drink.
“I know.” He followed suit and finished off his champagne and put his arm around her.
“You do?” Unfortunately, her glass was empty.
“Yes.” He gazed down into her eyes. “You are upset over that land deal. I don’t want you to worry about that. The rest of the night will be magic and we will go to plan B tomorrow.”
Land deal? She had clean forgotten about the land deal.
“Ryane!” Her name was called in stereo.
Both she and Patrick turned and she gasped when she saw the twins from her father’s dating event coming toward her.
“We haven’t seen you in a while,” the first one said.
The other one stepped closer, too close, causing her to take a position slightly behind Patrick.
“While we’re sad you didn’t take us up on our offer, we do have something for you.” The second one opened his coat.
“Oh no.” Whatever was under his lapels, she didn’t want to see. She closed her eyes.
“Mother wanted us to personally deliver the papers to you on the sale of the Los Padres property.”
She opened her eyes to find the one twin holding out an envelope. “You own the property?”
“We do with my no-good stepbrother. Have you received his papers yet?” the first twin asked.
“Not that I know of.” All she knew about the deal, once she handed it over to acquisitions, was that two parties had to sign. “The papers could have been delivered to the office.”
“Well, it’s about time he did something right.” He shoved the envelope into her hand. “Now that we play in your league, how about we get rid of your friend and have a little celebratory drink?”
Off to one side, Bernadette waived at her and held up first two fingers, then three fingers and lastly seven fingers giving her the time.
“Ryane is busy at the moment, so why don’t I take those, and take you two fine gentlemen over to the bar for a bottle of our best champagne.” Patrick plucked the papers away and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I will return at midnight for you.”
The moment Patrick and company walked away, she darted toward the staircase. Whatever big event was happening at midnight would have to happen without her. She needed to spend those few minutes alone, drying her tears.
Knowing she wouldn’t be able to wait until midnight, she shoved her glass in the direction of a waiter, went to run up the staircase when she stopped, and tripped on her own two feet. “Knight.” She braced herself on the railing. He was here. Right here, and he was gorgeous.
With the most magnificent glass walking stick, and dressed like a handsome prince come to life in an embroidered tuxedo with tails, he made his way down the stairs.
Mesmerized, she put her hand to her chest in a vane attempt to calm her heart and held her breath, until at last, he reached her.
He joined her, stared into her eyes then took her hand and brought it to his lips.
Her entire body tingled. Her Knight, the man she loved, swooped in like the name she gave him, and was here to rescue her.
Without speaking, he bowed to her, and as if he already knew her fantasy, he took her to the center of the dance floor. She took his walking stick and handed it to the first person that walked by.
The music changed to one of those rock ballads, slow yet edgy, one that seemed suited to perfection for them, and the moment he took her in his arms, she knew she found her place in the universe. In order to make sure he was real, she pressed her palm to his face. “You’re here.”
“Where else would I be?” He held her tighter, pressed their bodies together. “The only place I can be is with you.”
“This was all I wanted.” She curled her arms around his neck.
They danced, swaying in time to the music, staring into each other’s eyes. The guests cleared the dance floor, stood along the edges, and allowed them to have the space all to themselves.
Everything disappeared into a delightful blur as Knight swayed her, a surreal magical moment like when one was in a beautiful dream.
The song continued and he dipped her back. The audience clapped.
“Seems as if they like the music.” He winked at her.
“Whatever they’re playing it fits us.” All she knew was she never wanted to let go of the man. With them here together, she had her life, she would explain everything to her father and Patrick, and she and Knight could be together.
“More than you know.” A low chuckle left his throat.
As the music ended, he lifted her to more applause. Face to face with nothing between them. Before they were no longer Knight and Petals, she went to kiss him.
“All night I have been waiting for what my daughter would do to make this night spectacular.” Her father came over and held his hand out to Knight. “Not in one million years did I think you would be her entertainment. I have to say I’m a fan.”
Her father was a fan? A fan of Knight? Her chest tightened and she held him tighter. “What do you mean?” she asked.
“Sir.” Knight shook her father’s hand.
The crowd that had stayed a safe distance away gathered around.
“Call me Robert, Robert Windsome.” With much gusto, he shook Knight’s hand. “Ryane really outdid herself. Is the rest of the band going to come?”
“Windsome?” Knight spat out her last name as if it were an accusation and turned to her.
“What band?” She searched his eyes for answers.
“What band?” Her father let out a round of laughter the likes of which she had never heard. “Did you just ask what band like you don’t know who this man is? You were dancing to his music.”
Rather than the welcomed heat that always accompanied her any time her Knight was around, a sick and sudden chill took over her. “Who are you?”
“Mr. Cinder.” Belinda tiptoed up to them with her other two assistants in tow and held out a paper and pen. “I was hoping we could have your autograph.”
“Your name is Cinder?” Somewhere that name twanged with a bit of familiarity.
“Nash Cinder.” He let go of her and signed his name. “Lead guitarist for Spectre.”
Spectre. Spectre. She knew that band. Sort of. They were famous, really famous until a horrible accident hurt their lead singer, killed one of them. She shook her head, trying to place this Nash.
“It’s eleven fifty-two.” Bobbie tapped her.
“As amazing as this is, Ryane, Patrick has a presentation in eight minutes and then Nash can play his song.” Her father put his arm around her.
“Are you counting down the minutes until you take over my land?” Knight or Nash, or whoever he was, glared at her.
She put her hand over her mouth. “What?”
“It’s my land your multi-billion dollar conglomerate wants to buy, Ryane.” He spoke through clenched teeth. “But something told me you knew that already. Perhaps it wasn’t magic after all.”
His words hit her, actually threatened to knock her down. “No, it wasn’t magic, it was all an illusion.” Unable to stand there one more second, she ran out. In the same amount of time it took for her world to be perfect, it shattered around her, leaving her with a man who wanted nothing more than to make her look bad, and no doubt played all his sultry tricks only to get her to up the price on his parcel. Everything in her life was fake.