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“That wasn’t what it looked like,” I repeat.

“It’s none of my business.” She shrugs me off and walks out of my office without a backward glance.

Well, that wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

The magazine party is bustling. Crowds of people, celebrities and socialites flood the building. My eyes dart around the room, waiting for Gabriella to arrive.

“Are you sure you don’t need a chair?” Jack asks Ria, and she rolls her eyes.

“No, just like the other three times you asked me. I appreciate the concern, but if I need a seat, I’ll tell you.”

Ria is now very pregnant, and I too have been wondering how she balances on those heels with that bump.

“I just want to make sure you’re okay, sweetheart,” Jack says softly.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Cassidy. She’s wearing bright red lipstick and a short silver dress that barely covers her ass.

“Hey, handsome. Fancy seeing you here,” she purrs.

“Well, seeing as I saw you earlier, and I confirmed I was attending. It shouldn’t be that much of a shock to you.”

I take a sip of my cola, still very much on the sober train, so I’m shocked when I see her holding a glass of wine. “I thought you were sober.” I eye the glass and notice it’s nearly gone.

“Pills, sweetie, not the Lord’s juice.” She throws back the wine and I roll my eyes. If she is going to hang around me all night, this evening is going to be long.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?”

“Hey, I’m Cassidy.” She introduces herself and they all look at me with recognition in their eyes. Yes, this is the Cassidy, the Cassidy who overdosed in our club and I had to perform CPR on yes, that Cassidy.

“It’s nice to meet you, Cassidy” Ria says warmly. Thank god for her and her sweet nature because I am ready to drag Cassidy out of here and throw her in a cab.

“Where’s Ali?” Cassidy asks.

“She’s backstage getting ready,” Harry answers.

“Oooh, are you the boyfriend?” Her eyes roam up and down Harry’s body, her tongue peeking out her mouth and running along her bottom lip.

“Lucky, Ali.” Harry gives her a disapproving look and then his eyes widen at something over my shoulder.

“Holy shit, is that Gabby?” I turn to look, and fuck, it is.

My jaw almost hits the floor. She’s wearing her YSL heels, the strapless red dress she wore when we were in LA, and her hair is out in full, the curls bouncing as she walks. I grin to myself, imaging peeling her out of that dress later tonight the way I did before, her heels wrapped around my head as I devour her, but my grin soon fades when I see that two steps behind her is that prick she calls a boyfriend.

They reach us and Gabriella stands beside me, Patrick to her side, his arm wrapping around her. She glances at me as if awaiting my reaction. I stand there, unmoving and but then Cassidy’s arm comes up around my waist and Gabriella’s eyes flicker to where her hand rests.

She then leans into Patrick’s touch, which ignites a fire inside me and I’m ready to fly for the guy, but instead, I pull Cassidyinto my side. Yes, it’s a dick move, but it was that or punch Patrick.

Oh, it’s going to be a fun evening.

Chapter Fifty

Gabriella

Cassidy James, is he serious? Of all the women he could get involved with, he chooses her? Do I have a right to be pissed, no. But am I? Hell yeah. Here was me thinking we could rekindle something once I shake Patrick. I was going to tell him everything, how my relationship with Patrick is fake, but if he is entertaining her, then I’m not sure how we can ever find a way back together. I know I am being unfair here, but there’s nothing going on between me and Patrick, absolutely zilch. I wouldn’t piss on the man if he were on fire, but I get that Brad doesn’t know that.

Ugh, this is a fucking mess.

Patrick took me by surprise when I pulled up in my cab and he was standing outside waiting, declaring he was attending as mydate. I didn’t have it in me to argue, and knowing Brad would be here with Cassidy, I thought, why not, let’s add to the chaos.