Page 72

Margot

We pull up to one of the nicest hotels in town. The driver circles around the limo and opens the door. Matty steps out first and, brushing the driver off with a wave, offers me his hand. Ever the gentleman.

His palm rests on the small of my back as he leads me through the front doors. The man at the entrance doesn’t even bother asking for Matty’s name like he does with the other guests. I guess he’s more important than I realized.

Matty gives a small nod to two men behind the bouncer. Both wear suits but clearly aren’t staff. There’s a coldness in their eyes, a sharpness that reminds me of Dom.

We step into the ballroom, and everything else disappears to its beauty.

The massive chandelier casts a warm, golden glow across the space.

The white ceiling is trimmed in intricate gold crown molding.

Everything gleams. Tables are scattered around the room, draped in white linen, but most people stand in the center, drinking and mingling. The air hums with soft music and money.

I must be gawking there too long, because Matty nudges me gently toward the bar and presses a kiss to my forehead.

“This is beautiful,” I whisper.

“Not as beautiful as you,” he replies with a wink.

“That was so cheesy.” I laugh and swat his chest.

He catches my hand and kisses it. “Cheesy but true.”

“Do you come to these things often?”

“I used to when I had to. But I think I’ll be attending more in the future.”

“Why the change of heart?”

He leans in, voice low. “If galas mean showing you off, then I’m all for them. I never liked these events before. There wasn’t good company.”

We order drinks, champagne for me, whiskey on the rocks for him, and start to drift toward the crowd. I spot a tray of something fancy nearby, and Matty leans down to whisper.

“Let’s try these. One of the only good things about these events is the food.”

He grabs one for each of us. Matty pops his in whole, but I try to be ladylike and take a small bite.

I moan. Out loud.

The flavor melts on my tongue and before I can even blush, Matty pulls me closer, his eyes dark.

“Make that noise again and–” He gets cut off by a shrill voice cutting through the air.

“Matthias, darling! I didn’t know you’d be here. If you’d told me, I would’ve cleared my evening.” She curls her voice around his name like a leash

I turn to see a tall, skinny blonde in a gaudy, hot pink dress so low-cut I’m shocked her nipples aren’t showing. She leans in to kiss him on the cheek despite his obvious hold on me .

He doesn’t move. He just freezes.

I stare at her while trying to swallow the rest of my appetizer. She obviously knows him. That much is clear. But how?

It doesn’t matter. She’s nobody. You’re the one he brought here.

She giggles, and the hairs on my neck raise. “But of course, I’ll always make time for my Matthias.”

Okay. She’s fucked him.

But she was just a fuck. He said you’re the only woman he’s ever felt anything for.

I cough to draw her attention. She glances at me, then dismissively turns back to Matty like I don’t exist. And then she tries to wedge herself between us.

Hell no!

Put her in her place!

I step closer to him, with my fake smile in place. “Hello, I’m Margot. And you are?”

She turns and looks me over. It feels like she’s peeling my skin off as her eyes crawl from my head to toe, searching for flaws. Then she flashes me the fakest smile I’ve ever seen.

“I’m Andrienne. Matthias and I are… good friends. We always enjoy each other’s company at these events. And sometimes after.” She smirks.

Anger flashes through me.

“That’s funny. He’s never mentioned you before.”

Ooh, catty.

“Oh, I wouldn’t expect him to talk about his lover to his… I’m sorry, are you his sister or something?”

This fucking bitch.

“Actually, I’m his girlfriend–”

“Soon-to-be wife,” Matty interrupts, voice firm as he pulls me in front of him, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “As soon as I can convince her to say yes.”

He kisses the top of my head and rests his chin there like a crown.

Adrienne lets out a shrill laugh and reaches out like she’s going to touch him. He flinches, pulls me in tighter, using my body as a shield.

I can tell she’s not done by the gleam in her eyes.

“Don’t be silly. Drop the girl and meet me in the coat closet. I’ll show you a good time.”

I open my mouth to tell her off, but Matty beats me to it.

“Adrienne, there’s nothing I’d rather not do. Why would I want you when I have my sweet, perfect girl right here? Why would I even look at other women when I have the love of my life in my arms?”

She gasps. “You’re not serious. You’d pick this pig over me? Look at her, darling. You could do so much better. You could have me .” She gestures at her body that’s been on a surgeon's table one too many times.

Matty stills behind me. His grip on me tightens.

His voice is calm, but there’s venom laced in every word.

“Listen closely, Adrienne. If you ever talk about Margot like that again, if you ever so much as look at her again, I’ll ruin your life.

No man will want you. You’ll be blacklisted from every circle that matters.

You were nothing more than a warm body. Margot is my everything.

You will never compare. So, go find some pathetic man desperate enough to fuck you tonight.

You’ll never be more than the whore that warms their bed. ”

The disgust in his voice is sharp and unapologetic. And while I don’t condone slut shaming, this bitch deservers it.

Adrienne lets out a screech, stomps her heels like a child, and storms off into the crowd.

I turn and lean into Matty, a smirk curling on my lips.