Page 54 of Love at First Sighting
My biggest weapon has always been my image.
Beautiful, and always underestimated. No one ever buys how smart I am and everyone thinks all I have to offer is surface level. It’s why even a man as powerful as Ian Forte is going down.
“Loving it. This place isamazing,” I gush.
“Have you been before?”
“I have,” I say, “but nothing like this. I can’t say I’ve ever been to a party like this. You outdo yourself, Mr. Forte.”
Ian smirks and scoots closer. “Ian, please.”
“I was wondering…” I toy with the buttons at the center of his chest. He’s got three chest hairs and a fake tan underneath. He is all the kinds of fake I have grown to absolutelyhate and never want to be again. “Now that you’ve conquered the alcohol business, what’s next?”
“Well, you know about the submarines, right? You know the Terra subs? You should come with me sometime. We’re making improvements to the comfort level every day.”
As much fun as it sounds to dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench with a man who looks like a horrifying sea creature himself, I don’t plan to make any commitments on the matter.
“Of course,” he continues, “there will be vodka on the subs, too. We’re testing to see if it tastes better under the sea.”
“Anything else?” I prod. “If you’ve taken to the oceans, what about the skies?”
He closes his stumpy fingers around mine and rubs the back of my hand. It’s nothing like Carter’s lithe, calculated hand that fit with mine like no one’s ever has before. Carter’s hand dwarfed mine, and at the mere thought of my red-manicured fingers lacing with his, I smile. Ian, however, has grubby, sweaty hands and I want them off me.
“It was my father’s passion to put the Forte name wherever we could, so yes, of course. Excelsior, you know?”
I look to the vanities in the dressing room, which are covered in gifts. If I know anything about rich men, it’s that they partake in metaphorical dick-measuring contests through gifts. I spot a large crystal sculpture of a Terra Vodka bottle with the tagFrom Jeffhanging from the side.
“Why do you ask?” he drawls. There’s a knowing gleam in his eyes, like maybe he knows who I am better than he’s let on. If Terra was behind what I saw that night, I fear word’s made it back to him and the charade is up. I worry I’ve underestimated Ian Forte, too.
“Can’t a woman ask a visionary how he wants the world to look?” I reply with a beaming grin. I also push my boobs together.
“ ‘Visionary,’ huh?”
“It’s what you are, isn’t it?” I say. Ian raises his drink between us and takes a sip, wetting the inside of his lips.
“I was curious what brings you here, you know, considering what they’re saying about you.” I grind my molars and let him continue. “The UFO sighting, no? You’ve gotten quite the attention lately, and not all of it good.”
Shit. Maybe my question about the skies was too ambitious and forward. I didn’t think I’d even be on Ian’s radar. But if what I saw had something to do with Terra, maybe I am. It feels like some kind of confirmation, even if I’m nailed to the cross in the process.
“You can’t listen to everything people say. You must know that.”
“Of course I do. I wonder because of what you saw. Your questions. They’re intriguing to me.”
Ian doesn’t know it, but he’s handing me all the vague answers I need.
“Really? How come?”
As Ian goes to speak again, the door to the dressing room swings open. Saved by the bellboy.
“Sir,” the Houdini House worker says.
“Yes?” Ian says with annoyance.
“Seal has arrived.”
I furrow my brows. “Seal? Like ‘Kiss from a Rose’ Seal?”
“That’s the one,” Ian says, standing and brushing off his suit. His demeanor changes instantly. Suspicious and sinister one moment, and giddy and nervous the next. “Big fan. Didn’tthink he’d come. Take me to him.” He turns back to me with a leering smile. “Andyou, stay right here. I’ll come back for you. Enjoy your drink.”
