“It was lovely meeting your lady friend. Her education is very impressive.”
I reallyhatewhen people talk about me right in front of my freaking face, and this is suddenly like a repeat of my first day of work whenColindid that.
Colin hold my waist closer to his side. “Yes,everythingabout her is very impressive.”
Ursula dips her chin again. “Indeed. If you’ll both excuse me.”
With that, she saunters back to her squad that is so saturated with wealth that I’m surprised there’s any room left for oxygen.
I turn directly to Colin, and he’s holding me close enough to his side that we’re nearly chest to chest. “That bitch told me she didn’t know who you were.”
“Well.” He lifts one shoulder. “Some of these people are pieces of shit.”
I bring my face even closer to his and lower my voice. “Youdesertedme just like you said youwouldn’t.”
Colin’s brows knit together, and he moistens his lips with the tip of his tongue. “I know. I’m really sorry. I had to talk to—”
“You know what?Save it. I already know yourwordis meaningless, and I already know better than to depend onanyoneforanything, least of allyou.” I gesture with my head toward the DeRouens and their cohorts. “Despite the fact thatshecame over here specifically to intimidate and humiliate me, I handled her just fine on my own. I don’t needanythingfrom you except for my half of the commission. Although, I still wouldn’t put it past you to not give me that, because,again, your word is shit. And if you fuck me overlike that, I’ll still be just fine.”
“Elle.” His voice drops to that warm timbre that I hate to admit doesthingsto me. “Look at me.”
“Iam,” I snap, my eyes searing his.
One of his hands leaves its place on my waist to stroke across my forehead and cup the nape of my neck. “I’m sorry.” Thumb tracing the line of my jaw. “I’m sorry.” Fingers tucking my hair behind my ear, and nobody’s everapologizedto me foranything. Not my mom for letting me take the abuse for her mistakes with my dad. Not my dad, who’s responsible for the single most traumatic thing that ever happened to me. Not evenColinbefore now for humiliating me every day for the past six months. “I’m sorry.”
There’s something in his crystalline blue eyes that makes them look even more limpid beyond their distinctive color. Almost like he actuallyisremorseful for leaving me hanging like that.
Before I can ponder it too long, I catch sight of a stunning, ebony-haired young woman across the courtyard, who is straight-up staring at Colin and me. The resemblance to Mrs. Reyes’ high cheekbones and thick, elegant black eyebrows is obvious enough that I know the young woman is her daughter. The lack of a ring on her finger indicates that thishasto be Liliana. And the look on her face kind of makes me hate myselfandColin.
The expression isn’t that of a little girl with a crush. It’s that of a woman in love. And I’m the girl he brought here to be adeterrentfrom her.
For all intents and purposes, he’s using me to break her heart and crush her dreams.
I meet Colin’s gaze again. “What is wrong with you?”
He shakes his head. “I just needed to—”
“Imean,” I quietly hiss, “there’s a beautiful young woman right across the room staring at us with heartbreak written all over her face. I know exactly who she is. So what’s so bad about her that you had to bring me here like this?”
His eyes widen slightly as he appears to fight the urge to look. “Liliana’s over there?”
“Yes.”
Colin presses his eyes shut for a second before looking at me again with that same clarity. “I just…don’t. I don’t feel what she feels. I never have. I can’t force something like that. I have always tried to be kind about this, but she just doesn’t get it. She’s like a little sister to me, and I justdon’t.” His Adam’s apple bobs as he looks at me earnestly. “I have felt what I know she feels, and circumstances destroyed the hope it gave me, so I understand, and that’s why I needed you to be here. This is the only way to let her down as gently as possible. Iknowyou think I’m the world’s biggest asshole, but I swear to God, I’m trying to do the right thing.”
Over his shoulder, Liliana gives a subtle, indignant flip of her long, dark eyelashes and shakes her head as she turns away to retrieve a glass of champagne.
I lift my brows as I look back at Colin. “It just seems cruel.”
“Lifeis cruel, Elle.” His hand brushes my hair away from my face again. “I know now that you know that. If me turning her down is the worst thing that ever happens to her, she’s even more fortunate than the obvious.” He jerks his chin at the courtyard. “I love this family more than I can say, but they aren’t exactly acquainted with real hardship. She’ll be okay.”
Standing in the middle of an engagement party weekend that probably has a price tag worth millions, I can’t even try to argue with that.
I offer a single nod, but say nothing.
“Okay.” Colin pauses as he uses his knuckles to tilt my chin upward. “Now, go to your happy place, Elle. Because all these people saw us fighting just now, and I’m going to kiss you like we’re making up.”
I gulp.
