Page 10

Olivia

S utton is beautiful at night. From the balcony of the skyrise, the city lights are a glittering reflection on the Drumstone river below. Gray clouds hang low tonight, the mist brushing past my fingers like a kiss as I hold my hand out.

The cold air is a welcome relief. This party is too crowded. Too bright. Women wear lemon yellow dresses of varying garish, and while many of the men wear black suits, they have matching golden ties or pocket squares. I wasn’t expecting tonight to be as busy as it is.

When Eleanor and Richard invited me, I assumed it would be nothing more than a small get-together with family and a few friends. But tonight feels more like an engagement party. Which they hadn’t told me about. I’m just not in the position to be arguing over a sticking point.

I lean against the railing, overlooking the party again. No matter how many parties I attend, I always feel like an impostor. It isn’t just the fact that everyone’s dressed in designer. Or that I don’t know these people. If anything, I know too many of them.

Maybe it’s the laughing. The drinking. Wealth and excess go hand-in-hand, and it’s one of the things I’ve always felt so far removed from. It creates the illusion of connection. But it’s all performance.

As I look around, I can’t stop the thought that drifts past:

Do I really want this for myself?

“Liv!”

My gaze snaps up to see Eleanor heading for me. Her fiery red hair is pinned into a crown at her temples, and tonight, she wears a white midi dress with a strappy pair of heels to match. She looks every bit like the future bride to be, and I smile in greeting.

“You look beautiful!”

She takes my hands, squeezing them as she tugs me to walk alongside her. “Thank you! I’m so glad you came. Tonight wouldn’t be half as fun without you here.”

I wink at her. “You flatter me.”

“Come with me.” She tugs me along, lowering her voice. “I have a question though.”

“Ask away.”

“Who’s the gent that’s been following you all night?”

It’s an effort not to look over my shoulder. While Taylor has done his best to hang back, the fact that I’ve got a shadow hasn’t gone unnoticed. Eleanor doesn’t bother hiding her stare.

I force a smile. “My plus one this evening is, unfortunately, my new security detail.”

Her brows rise. “Security? Is everything okay?”

“Yes. Of course! It’s just a precaution. Nothing to worry about.”

She still seems unsure, but when Richard appears, her worry dissipates like smoke. He pecks her lips, tapping a fork to his champagne glass for everyone’s attention. The party gently quiets.

“I’d like to propose a toast to my incredible fiancée, Eleanor. Cheers to the love of my life!”

Everyone goes wild with hoots and hollers, and I gleam as the happy couple kisses again. He bows her back in a swift dip, and everyone claps again. The party has just begun, and exhaustion is already tearing at my limbs, but I know I can’t leave just yet.

I spend an hour bouncing from group to group, greeting a few familiar faces. I’ve met most of my clients through events like these, so making the rounds is important. By the time I’m done, I’m positive I won’t be able to make it to bed.

Eleanor catches me just as I head for the elevator: “Liv, wait! There’s someone I’d like you to meet!”

It’s as I turn that I see a woman in a lemon-print sundress, complete with elegant bows at the shoulders and a martini glass in-hand. But it’s the man on her arm that makes my eyes widen.

“Aleks?”

Aleksander Benenati has become a man in every sense of the word. In the months since I’ve seen him, his stubble has grown into a neatly trimmed beard and his blonde hair is swept back. He’s swapped his usual gray suit for a black one, and when he waves, I’m still in shock. Last summer, he’d practically been a boy.

“You know each other?” Eleanor gasps, and when Aleks pulls me in for a hug, I’m finally dragged from my stupor.

“I planned his brother’s wedding,” I mention before stepping back to look at him again. “How have you been?”

His casual shrug is so unlike the Aleks I remember. “I’ve been great. Healing, you know?” Aleks pats his leg, and it’s then that I spot the silver cane glistening at his side.

The aftermath of what happened with Charlotte in Mournstead.

Guilt digs its vicious claws deeper, but he smiles, easing the tension. “Have you had the chance to meet my fiancée? This is Sofia.”

Fiancée. I rudely passed right over her.

“Hi.” I glance at the woman beside him, extending a hand. “Nice to meet you. Olivia Hughes.”

Her red lips form a sweet smile. “Sofia Vercelli. I’ve heard so many good things about you.”

Aleks gives a sheepish smile, clearing his throat as he meets my eye again. “About that… I wanted to reach out earlier, but…”

The way he leaves the sentence hanging hints at the tension between Charlotte and I. A lump forms in my throat, and I shake my head to keep my smile from falling. “No need to explain.”

“We’re recently engaged,” Aleks explains and my eyes dip to the massive, glittering rock on her finger. I can only imagine the price tag, and Sofia smiles down at it. “We were hoping you’d be willing to help plan the wedding.”

It might seem silly that I don’t see the question coming, but as soon as he says it, my mouth practically falls open.

Plan his wedding. Plan my best friend’s brother-in-law’s wedding?

“I-“

“We’re bombarding you.” Sofia squeezes Aleks’ shoulder. “We should’ve waited-“

I rush out: “No! No, not at all. I just wasn’t expecting it. Normally, I would have heard about the engagement from at least six other people by now is all.”

Aleks grins. “We’ve kept it quiet. I only proposed last night, and we haven’t known each other very long but… when you know, you know.”

I couldn’t count on two hands how many times I’ve heard that phrase, but I smile nonetheless. “If you text me the date and some more details, I’d love to help. Congratulations!”

“Thank you,” Sofia smiles, sipping her drink as Eleanor happily claps.

“See? I told you, she’s wonderful-“

“Thank you so much for having me,” I smile, and after quickly waving goodbye, I make my exit swift. I’m almost glad when I sense Taylor following me toward the elevator.

“Ready to leave already, Ms. Hughes?”

I smile, jamming my finger into the elevator button. “Just Liv is fine. And yes. Leaving sounds wonderful.”

He smiles, standing ahead of me as the doors shut. As soon as we get back to his spacious black SUV, I practically fall into the backseat. I sag against the headrest, glad for the extra leg room as he pulls onto the highway.

“Doing okay?” he asks suddenly, and I pop my eyes open to see him looking at me through the rearview mirror.

“Quite the party, wasn’t it?” He chuckles to himself as he drives, and I find myself straightening to see him better. “Do you like your job, Mr. Bishop?”

“Call me Taylor,” he corrects. “That’s what everyone but my wife calls me.”

I nearly laugh, remembering that I’d definitely seen a ring on his hand at some point. “What does your wife call you?”

“Lydia calls me Bear,” he says sheepishly.

“That’s sweet,” I nearly laugh. “Taylor it is.”

“And you’re not too bad. I’ve worked with my fair share of social royalty. I think there’s a lot to like about this job.”

Social royalty.

My smile is lazy, tired. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.” I settle a little further back. “Please let me know when we get there. I’m trying not to fall asleep.”

“Absolutely.”

It isn’t long before I’m nodding off, and then the sound of the door opening has me snapping back into reality.

“We’re here.”

Taylor stands at the open car door, and I shake off the remnants of sleep and unbuckle. The parking garage sits in the tower opposite my apartment. While I’m tempted to lose my heels and walk back barefoot, I know better than to walk home that way.

The market is the same bustling hub as usual. Brightly colored lanterns hang from the corner of carts, and the trill of music lulls people closer. I’ve watched enough tourists get lost in its draw that I know my way around its perimeter.

I pause at the pastry cart like usual, smiling when I spot the older man behind the counter.

“Want anything?” I ask Taylor, admiring the savory cheese danishes on the top shelf.

“No, thank you. Still on the clock.”

The clerk silently appraises me like always. “How are you?” I ask, and even though he never replies, he nods and I smile. “May I have four please?” He packs away the pastries as I dig a couple of bills from my purse to trade him. “Thank you. Have a good night.”

I wave, glad when I hear Taylor strolling alongside again. As we walk, I wordlessly proffer one of the pastries with parchment to Taylor.

He smiles. “You shouldn’t have.”

“I won’t tell anyone. Scouts honor.”

Taylor doesn’t eat it right away, but he also doesn’t say anything as I stop by Ricky’s alleyway to see if he’s awake. He usually leaves a flap of his tent open if he is, but when I find it closed, I opt for setting one of the boxes on his perch.

My hallway is dark like always, but my new keypad entry illuminates emerald green.

It will take some getting used to .

I stumble inside, ditching my heels and expecting Chesna to come running to greet me.

“Chesna?” I call, my heart hammering.

“Easy,” Taylor says from behind, and I notice the hallway light is on. “Crew texted me. He’s installing the last few cameras.”

I frown when I turn the corner and find Crew Warden with a camera in his hands and my cat between his legs.

When Warden finds me staring down at his feet, he steps off the ladder and lifts his chin toward Taylor. “Welcome back.”

“You have my cat,” I say, bypassing a greeting completely. She meows softly, and part of me is too proud to call her over.

Damn cat , I want to hiss, but Crew merely glances at me again. The gaze is like a caress, and I hate that my body is so aware of it.

“Your cat hasn’t left me alone since I started.” His gaze slides toward Taylor, and he lifts his chin in question. “How was tonight?”

Taylor tosses the keys into Crew’s awaiting palm. “Good.” Crew sets the equipment down, and I realize that the contraption is very probably self-made. There are neon-red wires with neat, printed labels.

All meticulously organized , I note.

“See you at handoff.”

I smile, waving at Taylor despite my tiredness. “Bye, Taylor.”

“Goodnight, Liv.”

When the door shuts, Chesna finally wanders over for me to scratch the maroon fur behind her ears. It doesn’t change that now I’m painfully aware of the fact I’m alone with Crew Warden. My new bodyguard- the man who thinks I’m a liar.

His words haunted me for weeks after our last encounter:

“Are you always so curious about people who aren’t your clients?”

“Only when they’re lying.”

The memory feels so fresh yet so distant at the same time.

Sleep , I think suddenly. Sleep is a good idea.

I make for my bedroom. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Your father called,” Crew says, stopping me in my tracks.

My smile falters.

My father called him… because I haven’t been answering his calls .

“I’ll call him in the morning.”

It’s a white lie- or maybe a real one. But it’s the only words I can manage.

He huffs a laugh, giving me his back as he pockets the camera pieces. “I want to believe that,” he says.

It’s an accusation, a judgment, and it irks me that he calls my bluff so easily.

Sure, I’ll call Dad back, but I have no intention of dealing with that conversation until much later.

“What is your problem with me??” I accuse, my voice breathless, but he says nothing. I brace for his retort, but ultimately, I already know that no amount of calculation will ever answer my question:

Why do I care?

“You know what?” I shake the question off as I walk away. “It doesn’t matter. Good night, Warden.”

I don’t bother waiting for a reply before I lock myself in my room.