Page 63 of A Devious Arrangement

Bash chuckles like he can read my every thought. “Nuh-uh-uh, Princess.”

He pulls a long, rectangular velvet box from his jacket pocket and opens it. A necklace dripping with emeralds hangs from his fingers. “I went with you to get the code. I fulfilled my part of the bargain. Now it’s your turn to go downstairs with me and be my date.”

“I just don’t…”

He steps behind me and brings the necklace around my throat. “Lift your hair, Stasia.”

I’m helpless to deny him and grasp the loose strands in my hands, raising them. My now bare neck feels cool as I stand frozen in anticipation. Tension grows in the long pause, and I want to twist and read his expression, but something is holding me in place. A sense of anticipation I don’t dare examine.

His knuckles brushing along the top of my shoulder is the only warning I get. Soon, one end of the jewel-encrusted necklace is sliding down my chest. The metal is cold, sending goose bumps over my sensitive skin.

I have to clench my teeth to hold back my moan as it disappears beneath the low neckline of my dress. The metal is both rough and smooth against my skin. Bash takes his time retrieving it, intentionally dragging it along until my nerve endings feel like they’ve been torn awake.

He closes the clasp, and I fight for my composure as I turn toward him, determined to hide exactly how my body is reacting.

He’s staring down at me with one brow raised and his bottom lip caught between his teeth in a look that can only be called mischievous.

Lust turns to rage in my veins, and I poke my finger hard into his chest, earning a grunt. “Do not laugh at me, Sebastian Everette.”

He’s trying hard to hold back his smirk, but he can’t hide his dimple. “Never dream of it, Princess.”

I use the elevator ride to get a hold of myself. Tonight’s just another part in a play. One where I pretend to be the dashing youngest Everette brother’s date.

I’ve been set up plenty of times before. It’s the norm in our society, everyone trying to figure out the next best match. This isn’t anything different than that.

Except it is different.

I just need to keep my head together. I have one goal: get the tiara and use it to work with my grandmother. She’s a harsh woman, but I believed her when she said she’d help us. I don’t particularly want to be indebted to the Russian Bratva, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Bash’s fingers on my elbow pull me from my thoughts. He’s scanning me as if trying to read my every thought.

I lift my brows in challenge. “Can I help you?”

“Are you getting off?” He gestures to the now open door and the group of hotel guests waiting to get on.

I tuck my chin and scurry out of there, apologizing on my way. Bash is close on my heels as I travel the familiar hall toward the ballroom.

My shoes click against the tile floor with each step I take. Freaking embarrassing.

Bash’s grip tightens on my arm. “Woah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you back there.”

“Well, you didn’t,” I huff, fully aware that I’m overreacting, and what I’m really responding to has nothing to do with that elevator.

Bash cants his head to the side. “Good.” He leans in closer and straightens my hair, his thumb grazing my neck. “I never want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

I’m looking anywhere but at him. The sincerity in his voice, like he’s pleading with me to believe him, has my stomach doing loops.

I shake off his hold and step back. “It’s fine. I’m just a little nervous about tonight. Not every day I get to pretend to be one of the Everette brothers’ dates.”

His eyes narrow on me, and there’s a tick to his jaw, but he doesn’t fill me in on which part of what I said bothered him.

As expected, the gala is spectacular. The ballroom is adorned with sparkling fairy lights and lanterns, creating a dreamy atmosphere. Soft colors of blues, greens, and purples dominate the ceiling, representing the starry night sky. The guests themselves are like living works of art, their elegant attire reflecting their wealth and status.

The sweet scent of jasmine and other floral arrangements fills the room, adding to the enchanting atmosphere. Mixed with hints of expensive perfumes and colognes, it creates a heady fragrance that lingers in the air.

All eyes turn to us as we enter, a silence falling over the space as the guests take in Bash, Lord of the Order of Saints, entering with me. He makes a display of our closeness by wrapping his arm around my back and curling his fingers over my waist, tugging me closer. His palm is warm, soaking through the silk fabric of my dress, and his thumb drawing tiny circles helps calm my racing heart. I’ve been coming to these events my entire life,but no matter how much I told myself I was ready, nothing could have prepared me for the weight of everyone’s judgment.

Bash gently guides me deeper into the room until we’re surrounded by groups of people, none of them approaching us. He looks straight ahead as if headed to a specific location. The whispers start soft at first but quickly gain traction.What’s she doing with him? Didn’t her family lose everything? Don’t worry, she won’t last long.

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