Page 60 of Sweet Ruin

Mom’s cheeks flushed as she laughed. “Now you’re just embarrassing me.”

“Yes, well, it only seems fair as you’re always embarrassing me,” I joked.

We made our way downstairs, where Matthew was already waiting. Unsurprisingly, I wasn’t the only one who was blown away by my mom’s outfit. Matthew was wide-eyed when he caught sight of her, and it must have taken him at least twenty seconds to realize he was staring, totally speechless.

“You both look beautiful,” he said when he finally found his voice.

“Thank you,” Mom replied. “And thank you for the dresses. They’re wonderful.” Her cheeks were a lot pinker than when I’d given her a similar compliment.

“Yeah, thank you,” I said. “It’s very generous of you.”

“It’s no problem,” Matthew replied.

I wasn’t quite finished though. I was still eager to learn a little more about what it was we were actually doing tonight. “Although, it seems like a lot of effort to go to for a party you just want to show your face at and leave.”

My mom shot me a look, clearly disapproving of my prying. “Stop worrying, Isobel,” she said. “It’ll be fun, won’t it, Matt?”

“I hope so,” he said. “Shall we go?” He held out his arm, guiding us to the elevator, seeming a little relieved he’d avoided my question.

My mom took his arm, and I followed them as Matthew led the way. With my mom all dressed up and Matthew in his pristine tuxedo, they looked like a picture-perfect couple. It didn’t feel real though. More like a something out of a movie than my actual life. My parents weren’t a couple—but tonight, for the first time, it wasn’t quite as hard to picture them together.

Thunder rumbled overhead as we exited the building, and the breeze that ruffled the skirt of my dress smelled of rain. I hoped we weren’t going to get caught out in the storm.

There was a limo waiting for us in front of the building, and Matthew pulled the door open so my mom and I could get in. I’d never been in a limo before, and from the way my mom peered around at the interior, curiosity playing in her eyes, I could tell she felt as out of place as I did.

Matthew looked right at home as he slid onto the seat across from us and pulled out his phone. He’d probably been riding in cars like this his entire life, so it had never even been a novelty. He still seemed distracted though, and his head was in his phone for most of the drive while my mom and I talked, admiring the features of the limo and trying to spot landmarks through the tinted windows. It wasn’t long before the vehicle pulled up to the curb.

“We’re here. Are you both ready to go inside?” Matthew asked.

He might have directed the question at both of us, but his eyes were only on me. I kind of thought if anyone didn’t look ready, it was Matthew. He kept rubbing his hands on his pants, and I got the distinct impression he was nervous.

“Sure, we’re ready,” my mom replied for the both of us.

“Great.” He gave me a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, and again I felt a flutter of unease. Why was Matthew acting so strangely?

I didn’t have a chance to ask if he was ready too because the door opened beside me, and Matthew moved to step out. I slid down the seat to the door and took his offered hand as he helped me out onto the sidewalk.

“Is everything okay?” I asked as I stepped to his side.

“It’ll all make sense soon,” he replied. “Just trust me.” It was the least reassuring thing he’d said all day, and the uncertainty that had been simmering in my gut started to spread throughout my body, tingling my skin.

Matthew turned to help my mom out of the limo and then took her by the arm once more and led her up the steps of the old stone building before us. It was gorgeous and stately and looked like some kind of art gallery. There were people milling on the steps and by the entrance, all dressed just as elegantly as we were. Their gazes turned on Matthew as he approached, recognition and curiosity flashing in their eyes.

Several people tilted their heads, acknowledging my father, and Matthew nodded in return. Some appeared to want to talk with him, but Matthew didn’t stop, marching us right past them and inside the building. We took the elevator up to one of the higher floors, and as the doors opened, the sounds of string music and the chatter of guests drifted to us from the end of the hall. We followed the music to a grand ballroom that was packed with people talking, drinking, and dancing to the sounds of a full string orchestra.

I might have looked the part of an elite New York socialite in my long evening gown, but it was all just an act—and one I was struggling to maintain. Even my mom appeared to be coping better than me, and she held her head high as she lightly grasped Matthew’s arm. I knew she must have felt just as uneasy as I did though. She was simply better at faking it.

More people looked our way as we passed, some stopping their conversations to watch us walk into the room. It felt like the crowd was parting around us, as though people naturally sensed Matthew was there before moving out of his way. I knew Matthew was an influential man, but this was the first time I’d seen how powerful the aura that surrounded him truly was. In a place like this, filled with rich and powerful people, he was still being watched like a king entering his throne room.

As we walked through the crowd, I grabbed a champagne glass off a tray carried by a passing waiter. I still hadn’t been able to quell the nerves that had been hounding me since I left the limo. I took a quick sip and placed the glass down on a table before my mom or Matthew noticed.

Matthew didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the attention he received. He approached the bar with my mom and flagged down the bartender. He even nodded at a couple of people standing nearby and welcomed their attempts at small talk. I wasn’t particularly interested in making small talk. Not when the whole reason we were here still eluded me. Why was it so important to Matthew we come to this party?

I jolted with surprise as someone grabbed my arm, and when I turned to see who it was, my shock only intensified.

“Cress?”

Her eyes were filled with confusion that must have mirrored my own. She took me by the hand and pulled me away from my parents and any other guests who were standing nearby. “Cress, where are we going? What are you even doing here?”

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