Page 11 of Pride

For a moment he held my gaze, a slow almost predatory smile spreading across his handsome face.

Then he turned to Lloyd, and gestured to the ‘Follow You Heart’ piece. “I’ll take that one,” he announced. “Have the papers sent to my assistant and arrange for it to be delivered to my Wintshire home.”

Just like that, he was buying it.

The art that I chose.

Because of me.

“Of course,” Lloyd replied.

Alex turned to face me. “Will you be watching the live performance?” he asked.

“I’m not sure.” I twisted the stem of the peony in my fingers and looked across to Lloyd.

“She’s here to write a piece for the newspaper,” Lloyd stated. “Of course she’s going to see our star performer.”

“Then I can’t wait to read your article,” Alex said, ignoring Lloyd and focusing on me, and then I felt the brush of his hand against mine as he moved closer, and the whispered stroke of a finger as he smiled. “I know it’ll be amazing.”

CHAPTER FOUR

EMMA

Alex Kingston wasn’t like any man I’d ever met before. I soon realised that as I watched him with his friends, laughing and joking. He had a wickedly sarcastic edge to him, which his friends tried to match. But he also had a way of turning that sarcasm on its head whenever he addressed Lloyd, subtly berating him without Lloyd knowing he was doing it. But every time he looked at or spoke to me, he was completely different. As if he was unlocking a hidden part of himself just for me.

Tobey had remarked that Alex was different tonight, and Alex had replied, saying Tobey was just jealous because he didn’t have his full attention.

And he didn’t.

Because Alex was giving that to me.

He asked me about my opinion on the other artwork around us, about my career, my hopes and dreams, and he listened. Really listened. He was genuinely interested in what I had to say. He wasn’t just being polite.

“Would you like to write for one of the nationals?” he asked, when I told him how eager I was to further my career.

“I don’t think that’ll happen,” I replied, sipping the last of my champagne.

He took the empty glass from my hand, brushing his fingers against mine, and I wondered if it was because he wanted another excuse to touch me.

I don’t know.

Maybe I was going a bit crazy from drinking champagne on an empty stomach, and getting lost in his mesmerising gaze.

But when he tilted his head and frowned, saying, “Why wouldn’t it happen? I hope you’re not putting yourself down, Emma. You’re just as good as anyone else out there doing that job.” I melted. I was truly convinced that he believed in me. “I’d hire you,” he added with a smile.

“Maybe one day,” I mused, twirling the peony between my fingers, lost in daydreams of a new life with happiness and success, and a man who looked at me like I was the first woman he’d ever met. The only woman he’d ever want to meet.

I heard Lloyd sigh and glance at his watch as he announced, “We need to make our way to the courtyard, the performance will start soon,” before adding. “Come on, Emma. I’ll show you to the Press area.”

I wasn’t that keen on Lloyd at first, but now, I hated him for ripping me out of my dream and back to reality.

“She doesn’t need to go to the Press area,” Alex stated. “She can watch from our table.”

“But we don’t have enough chairs set up,” Lloyd fussed.

“Then I’ll fucking stand,” Alex snapped. “It’s not a big deal.”

Lloyd clearly wasn’t happy as Tobey and Ethan said they weren’t bothered about their chairs either, and that I was welcome to join them.