Page 77 of Billionaire Romance

“That’s nice to hear,” she says. “Andrew, I’ll have some questions for you.”

“Of course.”

But Eric’s mother isn’t looking at him anymore. She’s looking at me. “And of course, Eric, you need to introduce me to your date.”

“Sally, this is my mother, Eleanor. Mom, this is Sally.”

I hold out my hand, and what I get is a very firm, very intimidating handshake. “It’s very nice to meet you,” I say.

“My son told me this morning that you haven’t known each other very long.”

“No, ma’am.”

She looks me up and down, and I’m glad that I let Iris do my hair and make-up, and that I let Eric buy me this dress. There’s no way that my style under my own power would be enough to stand up to that scrutiny.

“Eric,” she says, “Mr. Fitzwallace mentioned that he wanted to speak to you about a business proposal and I promised him that you would. Please go and see him, he’s in the solarium. James, you might enjoy that conversation as well.” It’s very clear that they’re being dismissed, and there’s no room for argument in her tone.

Eric weaves his fingers through mine. “Will you be all right?”

I swallow, not completely sure, but not about to back down. “Of course.”

“I’ll be back shortly.” He presses a kiss to my forehead and squeezes my hand before stepping away, and James follows him. I see the two of them share a wary glance before they disappear through the cloud of dancers.

“Come sit with me, Sally,” Eleanor says, taking my arm. “We’ll have a drink.”

“All right.”

Bianca floats along with us, and when I look at her she gives me an encouraging smile. I didn’t realize that coming to the party would mean a parental interview, but there’s nothing I’ll have to lie about. I like Eric, and even though we just started this, we’re going to see it through, wherever it leads.

Eleanor leads me off of the dance floor and into the other half of the ballroom that I haven’t visited yet. It’s filled with comfortable chairs and couches and more staff in livery serving drinks and food.

She aims directly for a little table that’s set up with two chairs. Not three. Bianca seems to notice this at the same time that I do. “Mom—”

“Bianca, I seem to have forgotten my glasses upstairs in my bedroom. Would you be a dear and go get them for me? I may have left them by my bed. Or maybe in the study. I’ll need them to see.”

I look at Bianca, silently begging her not to leave me alone here, because I’m going to be completely out of my depth. But she gives me another smile and nods to Eleanor. “Of course, Mom. I’ll be right back.” That last part was directed at me.

“Now dear,” Eleanor says. “Please, sit.”

I sit across from her, and a man appears with champagne. Taking the glass, I try not to grip it so hard that it shatters, because that won’t do anybody any good.

“Tell me about yourself.” Eleanor says, sitting back in her chair like it’s a throne.

What on earth do I say? Despite Eric’s interest in me, I’m not a particularly interesting person. Even less so because I don’t have a job.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “What would you like to know?”

“For starters, what do you do?”

I clear my throat. “I’m in between jobs at the moment. I recently left a bad work situation with an unpleasant boss. That’s actually how I met Bianca. But I’m in the process of setting up interviews, and I’m hopeful that I’ll have something set up in the next couple of weeks.”

“I see.” She takes a sip. “And now you’re dating my son.”

“Yes. Bianca set us up, she thought that we would get along.” That’s not exactly the truth, but it’s not exactly a lie either.

“And you like him? You’re good to him?”

What? “I like to think so. We haven’t known each other that long, but I do like him and I want to keep seeing him.”

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