Page 25 of Rival Desires

But then, like a true master of manipulation, he switched up his tactics, flashing his best charming smile. It was like watching a bad actor in a soap opera.

“So, there’s this shindig on Friday,” he said, barely pausing for breath. “I need a plus one, just to keep up appearances.”

Really? He wanted me as his eye candy?Ugh.

I hesitated, but then he dropped a bombshell.

“Cory McCrae’s escorting my mom to that very same event.”

“Alright, damn it, you’ve got yourself a date,” I blurted out without missing a beat. “But don’t get any ideas, mister. This is strictly business, got it?”

“Of course,” he replied, maybe just a touch too eager.

As we wrapped up, I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d just been checkmated in a game of chess where every move was a calculated risk. Bennett’s invitation seemed simple enough, but it felt like a pawn sacrifice in this high-stakes match. And let’s not even get started on Cory’s involvement - that just added fuel to the fire.

FIFTEEN

Cory

The next time Fury sprang a charity event on me, I would lay down the law - no more snooty parties where people were more interested in showing off their riches than the actual cause.

We hadn’t even planned on attending this particular shindig. But Fury caught wind it was a cause close to Nadine Seaworth’s heart, and it’d give us a chance to schmooze with her in a more laid-back setting. Since Fury hadn’t had a chance to meet with her one-on-one, I had to tag along and make the formal intros.

I was getting annoyed with my cousin as I gave my tie a final check before heading down to meet him in the waiting car. Fury gave me a curt nod as I hopped in but didn’t say a word about my suit or the fact that I couldn’t stop fidgeting with my cufflinks. Without the disguise of a masquerade, I felt even more on edge than usual, and Fury knew me well enough to pick up on it.

Stepping into the party, heads swiveled in our direction - par for the course, really. I was more than happy to hang back andlet Fury take the lead, allowing clients to set their sights on him before they noticed me fidgeting.

Catching a glimpse of Nadine, Fury leaned in and whispered, “Let’s mingle a bit before approaching her.”

That sounded like a plan to me. With Nadine, we had to strike that delicate balance, making her feel like she’d be a valuable addition to Gracen & McCrae without coming off as desperate.

Flipping the switch on my ‘charming businessman’ persona, I trailed after Fury toward a group huddled near the bar. Some of them were already our clients, but the rest were untapped resources waiting to be discovered. Talking shop with them was a breeze - they weren’t the usual high-society ladies, so my typical awkwardness took a backseat.

Gearing up for the main event, I inhaled deeply and prepared to dazzle Nadine Seaworth with my irresistible charms. It was time to break out the big guns.

As I approached her, I gently took her hand, just the way she liked it - a nice touch instead of a boring old handshake.

“Mrs. Seaworth,” I began, ever the respectful one.

“Oh, please, dear, call me Nadine,” she replied with a kind smile, squeezing my hand.

“Of course, Nadine,” I played along, falling into our usual familiar routine.

As I Introduced Fury, I watched him work his magic on her with that signature Gracen grin. “Nice to finally meet you in person,” he said, as smooth as ever.

“I’ve heard about the charm,” Nadine chuckled, her cheeks flushing slightly as she looked at me. “No offense, of course.”

“None taken.” I shrugged it off and let them chat while I scanned the crowd. Not really in the mood for small talk, I avoided eye contact with anyone who might drag me into a conversation.

And then, there she was. Rylee Palmer. The same elegant updo, a stunning blue dress that hugged her curves - hard to miss. But just as our eyes met, she quickly looked away. A pang of something - maybe regret or irritation - washed over me. But when I saw Bennett Seaworth standing beside her, nearly touching her, a different feeling crept in - annoyance, teetering on the edge of anger.

It was like deja vu - another social event, Rylee in a captivating dress, laughing – charming everyone in sight. I could already picture the rest of the night: a dance, a suggestive whisper, a proposal for a secret rendezvous. The same script she’d used on me.

As I watched them, part of me felt foolish for ever thinking there was more to our relationship than her calculated moves. But another part - the part that remembered her touch, her laughter - couldn’t completely shake off the idea that maybe, just maybe, there was something genuine hidden beneath all that deception.

Damn.

I stormed over to the bar, leaving Nadine and Fury in my dust, and ordered a shot of whiskey. It scorched my throat but barely made a dent in the emotional hurricane swirling inside me. Rylee flirting with Bennett Seaworth was all I could think about, and it was like a punch to the gut. The whiskey churned in my stomach, making me feel queasy. It appeared that she was usingthe same script on him that she’d used on me, leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

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