Chapter 2
“Every exec here brought a secretary tonight,” I said, voice smooth as silk. “All of them young, eager, and very hardworking, I’d hate to think Mr. Ford plays favorites… with just one of them.”
Sophie stiffened immediately. Color drained from her face, and even her voice trembled with embarrassment.
“Ms. Lane, please don’t blame Mr. Ford it’s all my fault. I’ll return the gown right away.
Oh, how noble of her.
Like I was the jealous wife barging in on two star–crossed lovers.
I smiled, all teeth.
“Sophie, was it? You’re overthinking it. Thirteen gowns aren’t exactly a burden.”
“Xavier’s used to people doing whatever he wants, no questions asked. Maybe he forgot that handing a woman a dress–especially one like that—says a whole lot more than ‘good job.“”
“But you? You’re his personal assistant. You should’ve had more sense.“!
Sophie dropped her head, visibly rattled, murmuring a shaky apology over and over.
Xavier was the full package–looks, pedigree, empire.
His whole life, he’d been the golden boy, polished and unreachable.
Women worshiped him, but none had gotten close.
For years, he kept
ept his distance. Cold eyes, cool voice, guarded heart.
And yet, there had been nights so many nights–when he’d pull me into his arms and whisper against my skin that I was the only one who mattered.
But now, that warmth was gone.
I saw something in his eyes I hadn’t seen before–softness. And not for me.
Xavier gave a faint smile and pulled out a black AmEx card, handing it to the lead sales rep like he was buying a pack of gum.
Then he walked over, calm as ever, slipped an arm around my waist, and leaned in with practiced charm.
His breath brushed against my ear, hidden beneath the music.
“It’s just a dress, Avery. Didn’t realize it’d upset you this much. The girl got spooked, but if you get sick over this, that would worry
His tone was playful, almost teasing–trying to diffuse the entire situation like it was all some harmless misunderstanding.
I smiled too, lips curling with something colder. My fingers toyed with his tie, winding the silk slowly as I pulled him closer.
“Sophie’s into you,” I said, voice low and laced with amusement. “And you’re smart enough to know it.”
“I get it–you don’t care about the price. But whatever this was tonight? Let it be the first and last time.”
Around us, the other guests had no idea what was really going on.
To them, we looked like a couple flirting under crystal chandeliers, not two people drawing battle lines.
Someone whooped in the crowd. Laughter followed. A few phones lifted to snap photos.
With so many eyes on us, Xavier flushed. For the first time in years, his perfectly measured expression cracked.
He tugged at his tle, uneasy.
Chapter 2
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“Avery, not here,” he muttered. “What kind of example are we setting for the staff?”
“I’m telling you–Sophie and I? Strictly business. You’re imagining things.
I let out a soft scoff and dropped the tle, stepping back.
Publicly humiliating him would’ve been easy. But dragging myself down to her level?
Please. Not worth the dry–cleaning bill.
I let it go. For now.
Because despite the way they looked at each other, I didn’t have hard proof. Yet.
I took his arm and walked toward the stage with him, slipping right back into my role as the formidable Ms. Lane and Mrs. Ford.
Time for the annual recap speech.
Time to remind everyone who still ran the damn show.
As Taddressed the room, champagne flutes clinked and secretaries giggled in tight designer dresses.
The regional VPs‘ assistants–sharpened to perfection after years in corporate paraded their new couture gowns like trophies.
They made sure to walk past Sophie.
“Wow, Sophie, thank you for tonight. Without your little scandal, we never would’ve gotten to wear something so exclusive.”
“In Mr. Ford’s world, gifting a dress is like tossing candy to a kdd. You’re not… reading into it, are you?”
“Those eyes… that dimple… honestly, it’s eerle. No wonder he gave you a second glance.”
One by one, the snide comments landed like darts. Every smile on their faces was laced with warning
Sophie shrank beneath their attention, eyes downcast, fists clenched.
Then the tears came
She didn’t fight it. Didn’t talk back. Just turned and ran–red–eyed, humiliated, and broken.
She never came back for the rest of the gala.
Chapter 2
