Page 113 of Mr. Aster
“Well, if tonight doesn’t prove that the wealthy are weirdos, then I don’t know what will,” I chuckled.
“Plenty of shit can prove that. Just be glad they don’t start the human sacrifices until after midnight,” Avery said with a wink, cutting into the quail that was just placed before her. “I’mshocked you’re allowing your brother to do this, Jim. God only knows the damage Jake could do to the Mitchell family name.”
“That’s my man,” Ashley laughed.
Jim smiled over at his wife as he swallowed a bite of beef tenderloin and washed it down with a sip of water, “If I concerned myself with what anyone in this crowd thinks about my family name or what my brother could do to damage it, I would’ve had a heart attack long ago, sweetheart.”
“That is true,” Spencer said. “The havoc that Jake and Collin wreaked before they were married will live in infamy. When Jim took over Mitchell and Associates, I thought he’d never gain respect amongst his peers because of those two and their endless shenanigans.”
“Thankfully, I did,” Jim nodded toward Alex, “but that’s only because Alex and I were a force to be reckoned with against all those old mules.” He looked at Spencer and grinned, “Now that you’ve stepped into Alex’s place as my resident bulldog, I have nothing to worry about and everything to gain from whatever might transpire this evening.”
“You’re goddamn right,” Spencer said with a cocky laugh. “You know what they say; there’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
“I don’t know if this will be bad or good,” I whispered to Ashley.
“With my adorable husband and his best friend getting turned loose onthisparticular event?” she said, shaking her head.
“It’s going to be all bad,” Nat said, laughing in advance about what she knew would be an embarrassing situation for Margot Aster.
“And as Spencer said,” Avery cut into her vegetables with an arched eyebrow and a grin, “even bad publicity is good.” She looked at Jim, “I’m guessing the company shares should be going up, then?”
“Don’t worry, Darcy,” Jim answered. “My brother and Collin are aware that I am in business with Sebastian’s family, so there won’t be any scandals tonight. Not at their hands, anyway. I can’t speak for the rest of the lunatics.”
“Thanks, Jim,” I said, happy that Jim was focused on the reality that my parents’ business was the reason this shindig was happening. “I was starting to think that the winery would be forgotten in all this extravagant chaos.”
“I would never risk your family’s business for any reason,” Jim smiled reassuringly. “The guys are just in place so that no unnecessary drama unfolds for you and your man. And allow me to make myself very clear: it was Sebastian’s idea to have Jakey come to his rescue, not mine.”
“Just to outbid the women?” Ashley asked.
“That was the request, but you know Jacob,” Jim shrugged. “He has a mind of his own, especially at events like these. Any chance he gets to poke fun at these people, he takes,” Jim chuckled.
“And tonight?” I questioned, knowing Jacob Mitchell was a wild party child before meeting Ashley.
Jake and Collin were the rebellious ones of their group, and the main reason they and their friend group were dubbed the Billionaires’ Club from all the women they loved and left in the dust. I would venture to guess that they still enjoyed stretching their legs a bit when the leashes were taken off, and tonight might be one of those nights.
“Tonight, he was tasked to go up against Collin and bid on your man, outbidding every singleandmarried woman who should want to date him.”
“Isn’t that just wasting money?” I asked.
Jim chuckled. “If money were an issue to Sebastian Aster, he would be fucked.”
The stage was massive, and Margot walked out to the slender golden podium placed in the center like she was Meryl Streep, getting ready to announce the nominees for the Best Actor award. She wore a floor-length, golden chiffon gown, and her hair was swept up into a damn impressive coif that must’ve been held together by witchcraft because it didn’t seem possible that it hadn’t moved an inch and yet it didn’t look plastered with hairspray.
The men were brought out in a line like contestants for a beauty pageant, and Sebastian’s expression would’ve amused me greatly if I didn’t know how miserable he was.
Even so, it was still pretty funny.
As Margot prattled on about the men, I quickly realized that she loved the sound of her own voice, and the amount of fake, obligatory laughter at her stupid remarks about each bachelor made me want to gag. I hated when shitty people were encouraged by other shitty people.
“And now for our final candidate, Sebastian Aster the fourth,” Margot said, her voice more chipper than when she started. She smirked over at Sebastian, who stared on in disgust, “I think you all knowvery wellwho he is.” She walked over to stand closer to him since he wouldn’t take a step in her direction. “Come, darling,” she giggled into the microphone, and I glanced around at everyone’s mystified expressions.
“Is it me, or is this woman on?—”
“It’s not you,” Nat said. “Margot has drowned at a couple of milligrams of benzos in a vat of pinot grigio if you ask me. She’s making herself look ridiculous.”
“Now we all know why Mickie couldn’t wait to get out of here,” I said.
“Like Mick told us,” Avery said, “John won’t have anything to do with his family’s bullshit.Thiswould be the family bullshit he’s referring to.”
