Beautiful Entourage (23 page)

I returned the smile but it didn’t reach my eyes. I drank almost the entire thing with a single gulp.

Rhett escorted me through the crowd. “Anyone you want to talk to?”

“Not even a little bit.”

“There you are.” My father’s voice was heard over the quiet sounds of conversation.

I growled quietly enough that no one heard me.

“Rhett, I want to introduce you to someone,” Dad said.

Seriously? He forced me to come but he wasn’t even going to acknowledge me? Now I didn’t feel bad for wishing he were dead.

Rhett pulled me with him until we reached my father. “Good evening, sir.  How are you?”

“Well.” He clapped Rhett on the shoulder and gave him a smile.

He never smiled at me.

As soon as Rhett shook his hand, his arm returned to my waist.

“Bill, this is Aspen’s boyfriend, Rhett,” Dad said. “He’s a fine young man.”

“How do you do?” Bill shook his hand.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Rhett said politely.

Bill was my uncle but he pretended like I didn’t exist, just like my father did.

Fucking asshole.

Rhett engaged them in conversation, still holding me close. He discussed working for GMC, which was a lie, and discussed stocks, politics, and wealth like he was holding a cigar and drinking brandy. Like everyone, Dad and Bill were fond of him.

And I just stood there.

Bill waved my aunt over. “Dear, come meet Rhett.”

Aunt Nancy came to his side. She looked at me with absolutely no warmth in her eyes then turned to Rhett. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. We’ve already heard so much about you.”

“The pleasure is mine,” Rhett said politely. “You have a beautiful home. It reminds me of my family’s estate in Vermont.”

“That’s wonderful,” she said. “What do they do?”

“We have a few wineries here and in Australia,” Rhett answered.

How did he lie on his feet like that? He really was a trained master.

“I’m fine, by the way.” The words slipped out before I could stop them. I just blurted what I was thinking.

“I was just going to ask, dear.” Aunt Nancy gave me a fake smile. “So…how did you two meet?”

“A coffee shop,” I said.

Rhett gave me a fond look. “I saw her and knew right then and there.”

“Knew what?” Aunt Nancy asked.

“That she was the one.” He turned back to Aunt Nancy and gave her a serious look.

I’d faint if Rhett said that to me and meant it.

Aunt Nancy had a skeptical look on her face. Her lips were pressed tightly together, almost in disapproval, and when she sipped her champagne, she barely drank it. She eyed Rhett like he wasn’t real then shifted her questioning gaze to me.

I knew what she was thinking.
How could she land a guy like him?

Rhett leaned in and rubbed his nose against mine, affection he’d never given me before. “She turned me down a few times but I wore her down. I wasn’t going to give up.”

Aunt Nancy coughed into her glass and almost choked. “Excuse me.”

I forced myself not to roll my eyes. Was it that shocking someone like Rhett could like me? I hated John for how he ruined my life. My family used to respect me but now they viewed me as some stupid and pathetic girl that no man wanted. If I saw him here tonight, I’d struggle not to kick him right in the danglers.

“You okay, dear?” Uncle Bill asked.

“I’m fine.” She dabbed her mouth with a napkin.

Uncle Bill patted her back gently.

Could we go now?

“We’re so excited to have our two daughters married off,” Aunt Nancy said, giving me a particular look. “Isabella will be married in just a few months and now Marie.”

“How wonderful,” Dad said. “Isn’t it?” He turned to me, silently commanding me to be polite and act like I was okay even though I was drowning inside.

“Truly wonderful,” I forced myself to say.

“Hopefully we’ll be next,” Rhett said, moving his head against mine.

This party would break my soul if Rhett weren’t here to protect me. I’d be there all alone, and people would gossip more. At least it was better to have them question how I got Rhett than to rip me apart for being alone. “Yeah.” I flashed him a fake smile.

“I’d love to have you as a son-in-law,” Dad said. “You’re a wonderful young man.”

“Thank you, sir,” Rhett said gracefully.

Dad was clearly pleased how the night was going. Rhett was a hit and everyone liked him. Of course, no one understood how a gorgeous man like him could end up with a troll like me, but it was still going well.

“Excuse us,” Aunt Nancy said. “We need to mingle.”

Please do.
I yanked on Rhett’s arm, telling him I needed a drink.

Rhett guided me away and grabbed me another glass. “Why does your family treat you like that? It’s appalling.”

I took a long drink and didn’t answer. I looked across the crowd and spotted a circle of girls with short dresses and styled hair. Heels were on their feet, and they were all looking at me, either dogging me or laughing at me. When I recognized Isabella, I wanted to hightail it out of there.

Rhett caught my look and followed my gaze. “Who are they?”

“Let’s go somewhere else.” I pulled him into the crowd with me.

We migrated to a nearby table then sat down, blocked from view by the crowd. If Isabella were there, John wasn’t far behind. I could be fake to anyone, but being fake to him would be impossible.

Rhett was quiet, his eyes distant.

Maybe he was angry. Maybe he wanted to leave as much as I did.

I wouldn’t blame him if he did. I sipped my drink, thankful I felt a small burn in my stomach from the alcohol.

“I know her from somewhere…” Rhett’s voice came out quiet.

“Sorry?”

“That girl,” he said. “I know her.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. If he slept with Isabella, I’d throw myself over a cliff. I could never get past that even if Rhett did want something from me. “The blonde girl in the middle?”

“No, the brunette on the right.” He rubbed his chin while he thought for a long time. Then he snapped his fingers. “She hired me a few months ago. That’s where I know her from. I knew I recognized her.”

My eyes widened and my heart fell into my stomach. “Are you sure?”

“Definitely. She wanted to make her ex jealous.”

I covered my face and almost broke down. “Ohmygod…”

“What?” he asked with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Rhett always exhibited his intelligence but right now it was lacking. “Don’t you get it? Since she hired you, she’ll know I hired you. Then everyone will know this is all a scam. My father will find out and…god, this is humiliating.”

His eyes widened in realization then he rubbed the back of his neck. “Wait, hold on.”

“What?” I said in a defeated voice.

“She won’t say anything.”

“Why the hell wouldn’t she? She would love another reason to humiliate me.”

“If she says I hired you, she’d have to admit she hired me.” He said it with a smile. “She wouldn’t confess that secret just to expose you. It would be too embarrassing.”

I relaxed a little. “But she still might…”

“I doubt she will,” he said. “From what I remember, she cared about image more than anything else. It’s unlikely she would risk public shame like that. It’ll be okay, Aspen.”

I was still anxious.

He pulled me close to him. “Just relax.”

“Easier said than done.”

“I’m here. Remember that.” He squeezed my hand. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

How did he make me fall for him at a time like this?

“Just think about that monster sundae,” he said. “And I’ll give you my cherry—like always.”

An involuntary smile formed on my lips.

Marie approached our table wearing a white dress. Her hair was curly and her engagement ring flashed in the light. “You actually came?” She put her hands on her hips and gave me a fake, high school smile. “It looks like I owe Janet twenty bucks.”

Why did my life suck so much?
“Hello, Marie,” I said coldly. “It’s nice to see you.”

“Yeah, you too,” she said quickly.

“And congratulations.” Disdain was in my voice even though I smiled while I spoke.

Marie turned her eyes on Rhett. “When people told me you brought a hot boyfriend, I couldn’t believe it. I still don’t.”

Rhett pulled me closer to him. “And when Aspen agreed to be mine, I almost didn’t believe it. I still don’t.” He intertwined our fingers together and acted like he absolutely adored me.

Marie eyed my dress. “JCPenny’s?” Disapproval was in her voice.

“Target,” I said without shame. Everyone wore designer gowns but I was happy wearing something I loved, whether it was cheap or expensive.

“You already give people enough reason to make fun of you. Don’t give them more ammo.” She laughed loudly, like what she said was hilarious.

I was close to exploding. I wanted to stand on the table and tell every single person there to go fuck themselves. What happened with John wasn’t my fault. I was a good person and didn’t deserve to be treated like shit. I wanted to slap that smug look off her face.

“John is here,” she said with an evil smile. “Make sure you stop by and say hi.” Then she turned on her heel and strutted away.

That was it. I couldn’t take it anymore. This treatment had finally broken me. I just needed to get out. I needed somewhere to hide. I needed somewhere I could scream. Why did she have to mention John, especially in front of Rhett? I jumped from my seat then took off, heading into the house where I could find the nearest bathroom so I could cry behind a closed door. I couldn’t make it to the car and I couldn’t drive anyway.

“Aspen.” Rhett’s voice came behind me.

I ignored him and kept going. I made it inside the house and moved past waiters on my way to the bathroom. When I reached it, I turned the knob. But it was locked.

Fuck.

“Someone’s in here,” a snooty voice said.

I headed down the hall then entered the first room I could find. I walked inside then began to shut the door.

Rhett squeezed in before I could close it. He shut the door behind him. He stared at me with sad eyes, like he was about to cry as much as I was.

“Don’t look at me.” I turned around and faced the other way, feeling the tears break free. I felt even worse for crying since my father forbade me from doing it. It felt like I was doing something innately wrong. My chest heaved with pain and I couldn’t stop it.

Rhett grabbed me then forced me into his chest. He pulled me close and held me, letting me cry on his shoulder. His hand moved through my hair and held me while I released every drop I had. “You’re a wonderful person and you don’t deserve this—at all.”

I held him tightly, taking advantage of the comfort he was giving me.

“You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met. How they don’t see that is beyond me.” He continued to rub me gently. “Don’t let them hurt you like this. There’s no reason you should feel this terrible.”

I closed my eyes and breathed hard, trying to control my reckless emotions. I needed to gather myself and pretend everything was okay. All I had to do was get through this. Then I would go to my father and force him to step down so I didn’t have to jump through hoops anymore. I could finally be free.

I pulled away from him then wiped my tears away. I fixed my makeup then steadied my breathing.

“Guess.” Rhett cupped my face while he looked into my eyes.

I knew what he meant. “D2.”

A smile upturned his lips. “No.”

“E5.”

He shook his head.

Then I realized what it was. “A1.”

“You’ve sunk my battleship.”

I chuckled lightly then fixed the rest of my makeup.

“There’s my girl,” he whispered.

“I feel better now.” I blinked my eyes several times. “Does it look like I’ve been crying?”

“A little.” He used the pad of his thumb to touch up my makeup. Then he used the edge of his sleeve to dab away the extra moisture. “No one will be able to tell.”

“Thanks…”

“Let’s just sit by ourselves and have a good time together. We’ll take off as soon as dinner is over.”

“Sounds like a plan.” I moved to the door when I heard voices outside. It sounded like there was a line for the bathroom.

Isabella’s voice was heard. “Aspen is a walking disaster. Mom said she looks sick.”

“Purple is not her color,” another girl said, one I didn’t recognize.

“I can’t believe she even showed up,” Isabella said. “I’d be humiliated if my fiancé up and left me because I was terrible in bed then hooked up with my cousin. She’s such a loser.”

I closed my eyes and cringed. If I heard it, so did Rhett. I didn’t want him to know. His opinion was the only one I really cared about, and now he would look down on me like everyone else. He would never want to be with me, not when he knew another man left me because sex with me was so boring. God, this night couldn’t get any worse.