Page 61 of The Alpha Escort Agency
“Where’s who?”
Lisa tosses her head in annoyance. “Your new man.”
“My new man?” she says slowly, her body suddenly numb.
“Yes, your new man. I assumed he would be here tonight.”
Alice gapes at her. How the hell has she heard about that? She’s only told Maria about Rory. It was far too new to tell anyone else, and then there was the worry about his agency finding out.
Lisa obviously reads her confusion. “Hugo told me you had a new man whose pictures he exhibited. Apparently you were smooching him at the gallery.”
Heat floods into Alice’s cheeks. “Oh that,” she says, taking a long sip of her wine and trying to regain her composure. “It wasn’t serious. It’s over already.” Yes, it wasn’t serious and she’s fine about it. Just fine.
“Oh, thank God for that.” Lisa sighs. “Hugo made it sound like the world’s next greatest love affair. That man always exaggerates. And for a moment, I thought you were going to turn out to be one of those women we lose. You know, the ones that get all wrapped up in a man and the next thing they are pregnant with triplets, quitting the job and moving to the country to raise chickens.” She laughs at her own wittiness and Alice smiles politely, her eyes flitting about the room, searching for a way to escape.
“Yeah,” she mumbles.
“Trust me, if you want to be a success in this business, you need to focus on yourself. There’s no time for men and romance. A man will always expect you to put him first. God, especially the Alphas. I’ve never found one who’s been supportive of my career. They’ve always found it threatening.” She shakes her head. “But I don’t want to have to ask a man’s permission to buy a new pair of shoes.” She kicks her foot up, showing off the shiny heel again. “I always knew you were the same Alice — driven, ruthless, determined.”
Alice stares at her. Is she? She feels more crushed, defeated, broken.
Usually she loves her job. She loves getting stuck into a project, seeing it through to the end, delivering results. She’s never been one of those people that dreads Monday mornings or struggles to get out of bed.
But since that phone call, everything has lost its shine. She’s had to drag herself to the office, force herself to focus. It’s strange because it’s not as if she’s heartbroken or anything. It was only a fling.
So why is everything now a drag? She has the job. She has the promotion. She’s even getting a new office with an actual window. She has the client she’s been dreaming of for years, the money to spend on whatever she wants, and responsibility and recognition.
It isn’t enough. She is empty, hollow, numb. As if someone reached inside her and scooped out her insides and left her this miserable shell. She goes through the motions, but she feels nothing.
But it’s fine. It doesn’t hurt. It can’t have been that serious if it doesn’t hurt.
She knocks back the rest of her wine and holds up her empty glass to Lisa. “I’m going to get another. Want one?” Lisa shakes her head. She’s already scanning the room for somebody else to speak to.
“Nowwhois that?” Lisa saunters away, hips swaying, and Alice heads off to find Maria. She discovers her surrounded by three of her cousins. They are all just as beautiful as Maria, thick wavy dark hair and big brown eyes, and, Alice suspects, rather jealous that she’s been picked as the Chief Bridesmaid.
Maria spots Alice and threads her arm through hers. “Are you okay, sweetie?” she whispers.
“Of course I am.” Alice swallows. “I’m having a great time.”
“Hmmm.” Maria steps away from the circle of cousins, tugging Alice with her. “It doesn’t look like you’re having a great time.”
She wishes she had been to the bar before searching Maria out. She could do with another sip of wine. “Please don’t worry about me. I don’t want to bring a downer on all your excitement and ruin everything. Anyway, it’s fine. I’m fine”
“Alice,” Maria says gripping her by the tops of her arms. “Sometimes you are too sweet for your own good. I’m your best friend. That means we’re there for each other through the good and bad. You don’t have to put on a brave face for me.”
Alice can tell her friend has had too many drinks. Her eyes are a tad squiffy and her words a bit slurred. But her heart floods with warmth for her. “Thanks.”
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes, of course. We were hardly together. I don’t think you can call it breaking up if you were never actually properly together.”
Maria flings her arms around her, engulfing her in a hug. “You poor baby.” Then she’s being yanked away by the cousins and she smiles apologetically at Alice.
Alice laughs. “I’m going to get a drink.”
“Get me one too,” Maria calls. “Or get Ed to buy you one.”
Alice shudders, drawing her shoulders back and her chin up, attempting to shake off the sadness that’s descending on her, and steps towards the bar, walking straight into a solid torso.
