Page 38 of Play for Power (Central Sparks #3)

he’s a fucking sex buffet

Rosie

“ Y es girl! Absolute slay, oh my god.” Halle hoots from where she stands, all the way at the entrance, loud enough for everyone on this block to hear.

I wave a hand at her to shut her up and she cackles, pulling a lollipop out of her clutch as I quickly make my way over to where she and Jasper loiter outside the entertainment center.

The whole venue is dressed up like a celebrity red carpet event.

Security, luxury decorations, paparazzi, you name it, they have it.

Of course no one is even slightly interested in the junior editors and staff—they wait for the CEOs, the authors, and the guests of honor.

I might have also put my name on the guest list as Rosie Antonia so as not to have my photo snapped as The Garcia Heiress makes grand entrance running up the stairs of the Manhattan Center to lollipop-wielding psycho.

I opted for something a little less on the nose.

“I love this color on you!” I coo as I make a twirl gesture to Halle and she gives me a spin.

Her red pantsuit is tailored and elegant, the blazer opening low but pinned closed, leaving a deep V that plunges almost to her navel, but in a classy way.

It’s cropped with high-waisted, wide-leg pants that show off her trim waist and give her already long legs even more height.

“Stunning!” I whisper-squeal, clapping my hands and beaming up at her as she spins back around to face me. “But a lollipop, really?”

“It was this or a smoke. You know I’m trying to quit.” She pouts and I laugh her off as a throat clears from next to her.

“You, too, Jas, absolute smoke show. Go on then, give me a spin.” Jas is very Harry Styles-esque at these types of events.

He has a well-tailored navy suit paired with a light blue designer sweater that shows off his broad shoulders, a white shirt peeking out, with sandal-type loafers and a chain necklace as the final piece.

He looks as dapper as always. “New York won’t know what hit them.

” Ignoring the incessant buzzing coming from the phone in my clutch, I wave a hand over my shoulder, flicking air instead of hair as my curls have been braided and tamed into an updo with a zigzag part with little curls framing my face.

Simple yet elegant, not to take away from the exquisite black number I have hugging my curves.

The dress is a form-fitting silhouette with a sweetheart neckline, a corset bodice, and off-the-shoulder, long sleeves made of soft appliqué lace detail for a little touch of refinement.

It has a sweeping train of silk and satin with a hip-high split on the left, which is the real kicker, showing off my newest babies: Rene Caovilla, black heels with crystal detailing, making my legs appear to lead straight to the skies.

“You look like the Queen of Sin in this, Rosie. We’ll have to roll Mr. Thirteen’s tongue back into place after he’s done drooling.” Halle spanks me on the ass as we turn and head for the entrance and I giggle at the ridiculous picture she’s painted.

“You’re a pain in the ass, you know that? Plus, I’m sure Caleb will be all over his date.”

“Who’s his date?” Jasper asks.

I give a halfhearted lift of my shoulders.

“I don’t know, but I doubt a bachelor like him is coming to this event alone.

He’ll have the night’s conquest dolled up, plied with wine, and ready to leave as soon as the awards are done, I’m sure of it.

” They both make eyes, but it’s Halle’s uncertain “Mm-hmm” that has me narrowing my eyes at them, but I ignore all the retorts that rise in my throat as we’re ushered inside.

Taking a look at the seating chart, I once again ignore the vibrating phone in my clutch and ignore the little alarm bell ringing in the back of my mind.

I know I’ve deliberately ignored an order to show up for a Garcia event.

I also know that I don’t give a fuck. And while they are both facts, I also know I’ve never blatantly ignored a direct order from my father that followed a very real threat.

So, to say I was silently shitting kittens is a slight understatement.

But, I am determined to keep ignoring it all until the absolute last possible second.

“Are you going to get that?” Halle asks, but I ignore her, pointing to Table Seven. All the way at the back.

“Here.” I point to the chart. “Luckily Chris knows what’s good for him and didn’t split us up. Unfortunately, looks like we must somehow stomach our food at the table with Dick-bag Daniel.”

The three of us head into the main room.

The lights are a deep purple and navy, giving the room a moody feel, the new branding for Andersen Schulz and Meyers on pull-up banners in every direction you look.

Each of the new imprints has its own banner hanging by the stage, except one that is covered, I assume to hide the face of who has been selected as the romance imprint’s editor in chief.

The temptation to sneak behind the stage and pull the rope that exposes the truth of the selection eats away at me, but I have far more class than that.

I can wait an hour or two…maybe three, at the absolute most. I take a deep breath and Jasper takes my hand in his, squeezing it.

“Relax, babe. You’ve got this. I’m sure of it.” I smile at him, turning to look at Halle, who smiles deeply.

“Piece of cake, babes, no one holds a torch to you and that insane work ethic.” She chuckles and I bite my lip as the bubbles of excitement start to rise up my chest, and just as I’m about to squeal and dance on the spot, my light is dimmed again by that damn phone that won’t stop fucking ringing.

I huff an annoyed breath as Halle and Jasper make their way to the table in front of us, and I yank open the clutch to pull out my phone.

Thirteen missed calls and five unread voice messages from the devil.

I hold down the lock button and slide the power off.

Ignoring “my responsibilities” for one more night.

This is for me, and I’ll be damned if I miss the one night that acknowledges all my hard work.

Not for some power-hungry man who thinks he owns me.

No games, no playing around. I’m holding tight to the power of my mask and steeling my spine. I will not break, not for anyone.

Sliding my phone back into my clutch, I take a quick glance around the room on my way to my table and nearly trip.

At a table almost front and center of the room is tall, blond hair, broad shoulders, and a devastating smile; Caleb fucking Smith.

The picture of pure arrogance, letting every bit of his sex appeal ooze from him as he stands sure, one hand on his suit button, the other resting in the pocket of his perfectly tailored suit pants.

His sight? Cemented on me.

Specifically, the neckline of my dress, before he reaches my eyes and they downright smolder.

Of course at a black tie event Caleb foregoes a black tie and instead wears a completely blacked-out ensemble, his black shirt collar tucked and open at the top, framed with his black tuxedo jacket refined with satin lining.

And while I’m noting that his arm is vacant and seems to be date-less, my jaw nearly hits the floor when I clock the finishing touch: the rottweiler necklace adorning his neck.

The gaudy thing was a joke, though it’s a sleek piece.

The chain is masculine while the charm is elegant enough that it doesn’t gauge any secondary head turns.

But it’s a goddamn dog, and he is wearing it…

openly. When he sees my appreciative looks, his lips tip up in a smirk, turning him from looking handsome to something entirely too good looking it should be illegal.

Is that a fucking dimple? “Jesus,” I whisper, and only the calling of my name from Halle has me snapping out of the trance the sex pest had me locked into.

I quickly shake myself out of it and head for my seat, grabbing the complimentary glass of champagne being handed out on the way before chugging the lot and slumping down in my seat…like a lady , of course.

“Before you ask, yes, we saw Pretty Face, and before you seek to clarify, yes, I still would like to sit on his face.” Halle nods through her statements as Jasper chokes on his wine and I smack her arm.

It isn’t until she raises a brow at me that I realize I’m scowling at her instead of laughing at her joke.

“Ha!” I breathe, forcing a smile that is far more difficult than I had intended, but for some reason, the picture of Halle riding Caleb’s face has me wanting to choke her out.

Which is an odd feeling to have, I’m not a possessive kind of person.

“Hilarious.” I turn, grabbing the attention of a passing waiter and stealing another two glasses of champagne. “This is going to be a long night.”

“You did well up there.” I nudge Noah’s shoulder as I walk up next to him at the bar.

“Natural public speaker,” I tease, and he chuckles lightly.

His speech was lighthearted but professional as he introduced the new branding.

I’m not really sure why this whole event is necessary for a branding and promotion announcement, but I suppose they’ll take any chance to show people how rich they are.

Noah has been a good sport, and though they were dragging out the announcement itself, it was great seeing him up there, proud as punch of his work.

Ava had a slideshow of the new company slogan and values going as he spoke.

All about how they have brought two old-school publishing houses together to be a new, improved, and modern take on the world of literature.

It was impressive how Noah made the old farts that run this place seem invigorated, progressive, and fresh.

The reveal of the colors and new logo was great too. Sleek and sophisticated.