Page 29 of More than Fiction (Misty Springs #1)

Corbin

I waded through the crowd , following Sophia’s path toward the enclave near the restrooms. I was nearly there when Cindy stopped me dead in my tracks. I glanced around for Sullivan—nowhere in sight.

She wore a bright red gown, fitting for the she-devil herself. The neckline plunged low between her breasts, the “girls” perched high like a Venus flytrap with oversized fake tits. Her jet-black hair was piled high on her head, a few long, spiraling strands framing her heavily painted face.

I tried to sidestep her, but she slapped a hand to my chest, physically halting me. Her blood-red nails were long and sharp like claws—sharp enough to shred the tux off my body. And by the look in her eyes, she wanted to.

“Why have you been ignoring me, handsome?” she purred.

“Not ignoring, just busy,” I said aggressively.

I didn’t have time for her shit right now. I stepped around her—anxious to get to Sophia before she rejoined the Norwood cult.

“Fine. I guess you don’t want to hear the rumor about your grandfather, then.” Her words reeled me back in—just as I broke free of her succubus spell.

I grabbed her arm and turned her around, her eyes lighting up like this was some sort of twisted foreplay.

“Talk. Now,” I demanded, briefly turning toward the restroom again to see if I could spot Sophia.

There was no sign of her yet, but I glanced over Cindy’s shoulder to see that Landon had made his way back to his parents. The three of them having what appeared to be a heated conversation.

“And what do I get out of it?” Cindy asked, pulling my focus back toward her as she drew little lines with her pointer finger across my chest and licked her crimson lips.

“Depends on how good it is. Now spill.”

She pouted but started talking. “Rumor has it, your legacy is about to be sold to the highest bidder. Buzz is priming the company to be bought. Bye, bye CEO Corbin.”

“You’re lying. I would know about that.”

Wouldn’t I?

Is that why Buzz shipped me off to Misty Springs? To keep me distant, out of the loop?

She shrugged. “Guess you’ll just have to wait and see. Now… what’s my reward for being a good girl? Should I stop by tonight?”

She opened her hand and laid her palm on my chest, then slowly dropped it down my abs.

I grabbed her wrist, making her eyes spark with desire.

Until I turned her hand over and dropped a fifty-dollar bill in it.

She snarled her lip and looked up at me.

It wasn’t money she was after. Information was what she craved, and she had her own way of siphoning it from men. Information was power, and the amount of siphoning she’d done, she had more power than half of the people in here.

“What the fuck, Corbin?” She crumpled the bill in her hand but made no move to give it back to me.

I turned and left her to stew while I scanned the crowd once more, searching for Sophia. But I was too late to grab her. She was already back with the family of leeches.

Shit .

As I drew nearer to the Norwood cult again, Alicia was making introductions to a couple I didn’t recognize. As she gestured toward Sophia, I approached.

“And this is Sophia, our soon-to-be executive assistant to our company.”

Seeing Alicia straight on was almost frightening. She looked like someone had stretched a flesh-colored balloon over a skeleton, slapped some paint on it, and then put it in a puffy fur gown .

Sophia didn’t say a word in response, instead taking a huge drink from her champagne glass.

This was my opportunity to strike.

I stepped in between Landon and Sophia, forcing him to step away from her. His glare flickered in my peripheral vision as he tried to figure out who I was.

“You wouldn’t be trying to poach my new employee now, would you, Alicia?” I asked with the charm of a cobra, coiled and primed.

Sophia spit her drink back in her glass and started coughing.

“Corbin Buescher. What a pleasure to see you again,” Alicia responded, her tone full of apprehension and whatever I assume a horde of wasps would sound like.

Landon scowled at me, fucker had to look up to do so. Perry just looked bored.

The strangers I didn’t recognize earlier seemed to take advantage of my interruption to retreat away from the Norwood family, perhaps smelling the approaching storm I planned to conjure.

I reached out to shake Perry’s hand firmly but quickly, Alicia’s was ice cold and lingered a little longer than awkward, and I took the opportunity to crush Landon’s hand in mine, just a little.

“You’ll have to excuse me, Corbin, dear.” The word dear coming out like an insult. “I don’t think I heard you right. Did you say Sophia works for you now?”

“Yes. Sophia just accepted a job with us… today, actually.” I flashed a smile at Sophia.

Sophia was still for a moment, looking at me with disbelief, her eyes unblinking as she searched mine for answers.

My smile turned more devious, and she caught on—her ocean-blue eyes sparking with mischief—she was quick, I had to give her that.

“That’s right,” Sophia said, as she cleared the champagne from her throat. “Sorry, I hadn’t had a chance to mention it before. It’s all so new.” Her face lit up with a huge, genuine smile.

I beamed, thrilled with myself for being the one to make her light up that way. The sight of her nearly stole my breath.

“Yes. That information would have been pertinent.” Alicia sneered at me through gritted teeth. “But you should know, we also have an offer on the table for her. One she should thoughtfully consider.”

“I have considered it, Mrs. Norwood, and my answer is no. Not now, not ever. Thank you, but no.” Sophia’s head shook back and forth with every rejection.

“Actually,” I placed my hand on Sophia’s elbow, the small contact igniting the flickering flame inside me, “if you all will excuse us, I need to take Sophia around to meet some people. Got to represent Buescher Enterprises. You know how these things go.”

Perry finally reacted, glaring daggers at me. Having a pretty young thing to parade around with you is like chumming the waters. I just stole his family’s shiny gold lure.

Sophia gently grabbed my arm, and I felt a jolt rock through my system. The way she looked at me—in that dress—dragged every sinful desire I had right to the surface.

“Thank you,” she whispered as soon as we got far enough away from the Norwoods’ prying ears.

She pulled away from me, now that we were a safe distance away, but I dragged her right back to my side.

“Don’t thank me, thank Andi. She was very convincing that you were the one.”

I stopped walking as I finished my sentence, looking into her eyes, hoping that I would feel something shift. That something in my brain would switch on that she was untouchable, throw up some guardrail to protect me from veering off this cliff.

She looked like she was about to add something more, just as music erupted and dancing started around us.

It appeared the waltzing portion of the evening was underway. I hated dance lessons as a kid, and the fact that these events have any dancing at all is absurd. More antiquated practices brought on by crusty old event planners.

“I can’t dance.” Sophia’s eyebrows lifted as she started to turn away.

I grabbed hold of her, gently stopping her retreat.

For the first time I could ever remember, I wanted to dance.

I wanted to hold someone close to me. To show Landon, Alicia, and everyone else in this damn room who Sophia belonged with.

Strictly, professionally speaking, of course.

And since it is technically a company function, and such a charitable cause, I could do it all without breaking company fraternization rules.

“Think of the children we’re helping by dancing.” I pulled her hand to my back.

My fingers trailed down her arm to hold her delicate hand.

She laughed, and the sound nuzzled in my chest. I wanted to hear it again, and I wanted to be the one who made her do it.

She scraped her bottom lip under her teeth as she considered my offer. “If it’s for the children…”

“It is. We wear thirty-thousand-dollar couture and eat pounds of caviar—all to save lives.” We smiled together at the absurdity of the evening’s extravagance.

My other hand rested on the smooth skin of her back, imagining that each swipe of my hand removed any trace Landon’s touch may have left behind.

“I’ll lead, you follow,” I whispered in her ear.

Her pink lips parted, and her breath came out in a sharp huff.

Pulling her close, I breathed her in, finally getting more than just the faint trace she'd left in my coat. The real thing—fresh and close—caused settled something in me I didn’t realize had been restless.

Sophia was intoxicating and beautiful, and for the next few minutes at least—she was all mine.