Page 56 of Sold to Her Enemy

“Nope. I think our parents would be next to Oliver’s if they were here, though.”

I wish they were, suddenly, to see Mckenna.

My mother was upset with me for not protecting Mckenna and her mother, even though I tried to tell her I had done my best. My mom loves Mckenna. My father is supposed to be retired, but that’s only what we’ve told the media.

He will come on board Colossus Corp as soon as the investigation into MM Industries is complete.

“There is supposed to be a surprise tonight,” someone says behind us.

I glance over and can’t place the face, figuring it must be one of Oliver’s guests.

“I hope Ava plays.”

“At her own party? I don’t think so.”

I make eye contact with Mckenna and know by how she’s biting her lip, she is trying not to laugh.

There isn’t an event that Ava wouldn’t make herself the center of attention at.

If a piano is in the room, my sister will play it.

The line starts to move quickly, and suddenly, we are the next two in line. Ava is busy talking to a blonde-haired woman wearing a ton of pearls, and the woman is blocking her view of us.

But Oliver sees me and reaches out. “My soon-to-be brother! Happy to have you here tonight. It’s an open bar, and dinner is going to be served promptly,” Oliver checks his watch. “Ava! You have to talk less, or dinner will be late.”

Ava pauses mid-conversation with the woman decked out in pearls and glares at Oliver, her deep brown eyes flashing angrily. “Dinner will be served when I tell them to serve it. We are paying for this, darling.”

Oliver turns bright red and runs a hand through his hair. “What do I know? Did you like the performance?” he asks Mckenna, who has kept her head down this whole time.

She nods, and I press my palm firmly on her back, brushing my lips against her ear. “Answer.”

“Yes. It’s always a pleasure to hear Ava play live,” Mckenna says.

Oliver beams and shakes my hand.

The couple in front of us finally move on and the expression on my sister’s face is fucking priceless. Her fake smile turns into a mask of stone. “Mckenna. What are you doing here? Nobody invited you.”

With how tense my sister is, I can tell she’s trying to not fly into a rage.

“I invited her, Ava.”

Mckenna tries to scramble out of the line. I don’t know where she thinks she’s going, but she must stay by my side.

“Isn’t it nice to see Mckenna, Ava?”

My sister ignores me. “I didn’t think I’d see you ever again.”

“Sorry to be a disappointment,” Mckenna says in a gravelly low voice.

I don’t think Oliver can hear her; he’s talking to the people behind us.

“What are you doing with her?” My sister frowns, her gaze so angry I feel it burn.

I’ve been dealing with her ever since she came into this world, and I know the best way to handle her is to pretend that her tantrum doesn’t have any effect on me. In this case, it’s true, I don’t care how Ava feels about me standing here with Mckenna.

“We’re together.” I drape my arm around Mckenna’s shoulders, bringing her close to me.

“I have people here! Important people! Everyone is going to see you with her,” Ava hisses.

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