Page 41 of Ink & Ambition

Before walking down the door, I only have a second to look over my shoulder. “Make sure there’s no issues.”Make sure she’s alright.The guys nod and I have no choice but to leave the house with my father, hoping beyond hope that everything goes so according to plan that Margot doesn’t even notice my absence.

I check my phone again for any update, but no text has arrived in the twenty minutes I’ve been sitting here. None of the guys have arrived yet, no Deltas but also my Kappa brothers are missing, too. I have no idea what the fuck is going on, but I don’t know how much longer I can sit here without figuring it out.

When we arrived, my father carted me around to all his fancy, rich friends like he always does. Showing off the goods to his CEO comrades as if he wanted to sell me off like cattle when I graduate. I had been gearing up to introduce him to Margot, a situation I thought I couldn’t avoid at this juncture, but she hasn’t shown up yet. I had breathed a sigh of relief when everyone was called to sit at their tables and his seat was across the room with the alumni.

They should’ve been here by now. I take a sip of my beer and check my phone for the hundredth time before placing it face down on the table. Just as I’m about to bolt out of my chair, the back door opens and in sneaks Kai, Keith and Devon…but no Margot. My heart is in my fucking throat, but I try to remain as calm as possible while they take their seats beside me.

“What the fuck? What happened? Where is she?” I whisper yell at Kai who sits on my right.

“Fucking Ryan, man. He walked out the door with her. We had no choice but to stay hidden until they left the porch and then we bolted. She seemed okay though.”

“Sheseemedokay?! Fuck!” I yelled and the room stopped, all tables turning in my direction. Ignoring the looks, I push out of my seat and rush toward the door, pulling my phone out of my pocket. Once I’m in the hallway, I call her.

My first call rings a few times then goes to voicemail. The next, right to voicemail. She’s ignoring me? Is she safe? I told her I would make sure she was okay and I failed. I don’t even know where she is right now. Ryan could’ve taken her anywhere. He could’ve—

As I’m about to call her again, I hear the front door open and I sigh in relief when Margot walks into the room. And then my fists ball in anger when I see Ryan walking in behind her. His hand is on her back as he guides her toward the ballroom door.

“Oh fuck that.”

Margot’s face lights up when she sees me, but there’s an anxiousness to her expression. “Hey, Alex…” Her voice trails off as her eyes glance nervously toward Ryan, who’s attention seems to be on the seating chart beside the door instead of the conversation happening next to him. The doors open behind them and a flood of Deltas come in, ready to party. As if they didn’t have to pry themselves out of a locked house.

I hold in my rage as best I can. “Are you okay?” Margot nods once. I feel like she’s trying to convey something to me that she can’t yet say until this meathead walks away. “Let me show you your seat.”

“Thanks again, Ryan,” she says and Ryan finally brings his attention to us.

“Oh, no problem, seriously. Are you okay to stay with him?” he says with a concerned look toward Margot.What the fuck?Margot nods a few times and Ryan takes that as an okay to leave. “Alex,” he says with a nod toward me. Taking his seat card, he walks toward his table without another word.

I don’t give myself a second to consider that reaction I just had as I take Margot’s hand and walk her toward our table. I want to interrogate her right this very second. I need to know everything that happened in the past hour when she should’ve been here. With me. But I can’t, not yet. I need to show face before I can drag her away. Plus, I promised her she’d get to cover this event for the paper so in order for that to happen, she needed to be there. At least for a little while.

“Hey, Margot. About time you got here,” Devon ribs her as she takes the empty seat next to me. She shoots him a look butalso seems relieved to be sitting down with us. Still, there’s a nervousness to her that supercedes her usual jitters.

Margot takes the napkin off her plate and shakes it out onto her lap. She gives me a tight smile but doesn’t say anything else.Oh no, this is bad.I want to rip that napkin off her and pull her out of the room for some answers.

Leaning close to her ear, I whisper, “Do you want go talk…?” Her head whips to mine, our noses basically touching, while a fierce emotion flashes in her eyes. I move to grab her hand, but right before I can, I hear that voice I’ve been trying to ignore for the past twenty-one years.

“Alexander, it’s time for us to head to the stage.” Pinching my eyes shut, I lean back away from Margot, even though every instinct in me is screaming not to. I hear her let out a sigh as well and she situates more comfortably in her chair. I should introduce her to my father but I can’t, in good conscience, bring her attention to the man that’s taken my mother’s psychotic episode out on me and my brother for the past fifteen years.

Without a glance at anyone else at the table, I push my chair back and follow him to the front of the room. A hush falls along the crowd as we take the stage, my father finding himself at home behind the podium in front of an audience with eyes only for him.

“Welcome, faculty, brothers, and guests, to our Seventy-second Annual Fraternity Alumni Gala.” He pauses for applause. “It is my honor to welcome you all this evening alongside my son, Alexander.” Waving his arm in my direction, he motions toward me but that’s all I’m here for. A trophy for him to wave around and gloat to his friends about.My son, chapter president. Had nothing to do with my influence or the amount of money I threw at the school to get him that position.I have to physically restrain myself from rolling my eyes.

Oliver talks for another minute or so about whatever the hell he talks about. I don’t catch a word. All I can see is Margot sitting in the seat next to mine, her long brown hair cascading over her right shoulder. I didn’t really get a glimpse of her outfit when she came in, too relieved just at the sight of her.

Her dress is strapless, holding her up in all the right places and the turquoise flowers compliment the deep blue of her eyes. When I reach her eyes, she’s looking directly into mine. Her mouth opens in a bit of surprise.Fuck, I’m in trouble.

My father claps me on the back with laughter and the crowd erupts in glee. I know I must be the butt of some joke, but I hardly care. I just want to get off this stage and talk to Margot. I need to know what happened before she got here. A moment later, the crowd claps and I descend the stage, walking immediately toward the table and leaning into Margot’s ear.

“Meet me out front in five minutes,” I whisper before continuing my path toward the bar. Requesting a refill on my drink, I stand and wait, not looking back, until the fresh beer is in my hand and I’m heading out the side door with it. I know this building, having had many functions here before. Down the hall to the left is another exit to the outside. I take it and circle around to find Margot waiting for me under a light by the main door.

Putting my beer down, with no real intention of picking it back up, I grab Margot’s arm and pull her into the shadows along the side of the building.

“Jesus, you scared me,” Margot screeches when she realizes it’s me. She narrows her eyes at me. “Are you okay?”

The laugh I let out is merciless. “I should be asking you that question. What the hell happened and why did you walk in with Ryan?”

“Everything was going fine. I interviewed the guys, I got the picture and just as I was about to leave, Ryan decided he justhadto walk me out. He wanted to walk me all the way home, but I needed to get my dress from your house, which was a whole other ordeal.”

“He walked you out the door?”

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