Page 66 of Careless Whisper

“I repeat, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I sneered, letting her see that whatever had been between us was over; even the friendship was now in tatters. “But thereissomething I’d like to say.”

She came closer and angled her head expectantly.

“Stop telling people we’re engaged,” I said more loudly than I needed to.

She shrank back as a few people around us gasped. She swallowed nervously.

“We’re not, and we willneverbe engaged. You and Iusedto be friends. We’re now merely colleagues, until?—”

“This is about that gold-digging nurse, the one you’re fucking again?” She kept her voice down. She didn’t want to create a scene, and in truth, my mother would kill me for not being discreet, but I was at the edge of my patience.

“Who?”

“Oh.” She smiled now, maliciously. I’d seen thataffectation before and had not paid much mind to it, but now I saw it for what it was: the manipulation of a narcissist. “You thought no one knew? People saw you both leave the on-call room after the incident in the OR with that prisoner she didn’t sedate properly. Peopleheardyou in the on-call room. You know how hospitals are.” Her tone went steely. “I wonder what Dr. Cabrera would say when he finds out you were sleeping with the nurse this whole nonsense is about.”

“Dr. Cabrera already knows,” I said, taking great pleasure in her shock. “Harper Memorial doesn’t have a non-fraternization policy.”

“Whatever, Elias.” She sipped her drink, sliding right back into her society-belle persona. “I spoke to your father by the way, told him what you were up to. He isn’t happy with you.”

I leaned closer to Maren, wondering how I ever thought we were friends, how I ever trusted her. “And you think my daddy is going to be bringing me to heel?”

Her jaw clenched at my amused tone.

“My father and I have an understanding. I show up for him, and he shows up for me. He’s not going to take your side on one damn thing.”

“I’m going to make sure you’re the one who’s fired after that investigation,” Maren threatened, her eyes sparkling with anger.

I chuckled. “Well, you’re an expert at shifting blame, aren’t you?”

I wanted to throw my drink in her face. Instead, I turned away. I had not even taken two steps when I saw?—

Reggie?

Standing near the silent auction table, in a sleek black dress that screamed designer, was…Reggie Sanchez.

My pulse jumped.

She was talking to someone older—a woman in gold and pearls, who was laughing like she’d just told someone off. The man beside her—tall and gray-haired—watched her fondly.

They looked familiar. I had seen them before, and…then it clicked. Stephen and Faye Lancaster. What the hell was Reggie doing with them? What the hell was she doing here in Boston at my family’s gala event?

She caught me looking. For a second, her eyes widened and then she turned her back to me. Faye Lancaster peered over Reggie’s shoulder and looked at me. She nodded and I greeted her in the same way. Then she shot me a dirty look that surprised me.

What the fuck is going on?

Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster started to walk toward me, and I knew whatever was coming wasn’t going to be good. They knew Reggie, which meant they knew about me. How on earth did Reggie even know these people?

Maren, oblivious as ever, gasped. “Oh God, it’s the Lancasters.”

I looked at her, baffled. Didn’t she see Reggie with them? The Reggie whose career she’d fucked with twice.

“Mr. Lancaster, it’s such a pleasure to meet you again.” She held her hand out for a shake, and he obliged. “Mrs. Lancaster, I was so delighted to talk to you and the other members of the Lancaster Foundation board about my trial and?—”

“You are Dr. Elias Graham,” Stephen Lancaster spoke over Maren.

“Yes.”

We shook hands, and Mrs. Lancaster glared at me.

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