Chapter 11

(Julia's POV)

Ronan and I had gotten separated pretty quickly, but I didn’t mind too much. In fact, it was actually putting me a little more at ease; Ronan’s presence only seemed to turn me into a babbling idiot these days.

I had done some good networking, introducing myself to the various pack Alphas and explaining my recent connection to Ronan as his mate, making good connections with people I would have to work with later on.

I crossed the room to find a more secluded corner, hoping to catch my breath and get a chance to relax for a moment. However, that hope was shattered as soon as I heard someone cry out, “Julia!”

A woman in a light pink dress was making her way towards me, a glass of champagne in her hand. She was beaming, but her eyes were cold, and I suddenly got the feeling that this was not going to be a lighthearted social conversation.

“Hello,” the woman said once she reached me, holding her hand out limply, almost as if she expected me to kiss it. Instead, I grasped it firmly with my own and shook it, which made her shoot me a look of disgust.

“I’m Bianca,” she said regally. “From PackIncorporated? My father is the Alpha, but I’m sure you knew that already.” Ah, yes, PackIncorporated. Pack House has been allied with them for years.

Bianca’s eyes narrowed as she studied me, her eyes traveling from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. “Hmm,” she finally said. “I really can’t believe it. I mean, I heard that Ronan had taken up with some poor piece of trash from the wrong side of the tracks, but I thought that was just gossip.”

“He’s always liked to shock high society,” she continued. “Ronan’s pulled things like this before, you should know that.” Bianca leaned closer and dropped her voice. “You won’t last. You’re not good enough; not for him, and not for his world.”

Bianca might have thought she’d be able to get an angry reaction from me, but I had had years of practice facing down Sandy. Instead, I just gazed at her cooly and said, “My goodness, it really is quite ugly when someone with your breeding acts so petty.”

“Besides,” I added. “This is no way to get Ronan’s attention. If he actually felt even a shred of attraction to you, you wouldn't need to play these games behind his back.” I shrugged, enjoying the shocked anger in Bianca’s eyes.

She opened her mouth, as if to reply, but couldn’t seem to find the words. Looks like I might have won this round. But I spoke too soon. Instead of blasting me with words, Bianca held her glass out and tilted it, spilling red wine all over her own dress.

“Listen here, you little slut,” she hissed. “If you think you can talk to me like that and get away with it, you are sorely mistaken. I’ll scream and get everyone to come running to see how Ronan’s newest piece of trash is conducting herself tonight, bullying one of the daughters of the finest packs in the city.”

I wanted to laugh, but I knew that would just make Bianca explode. Instead, I grabbed a water glass from the table next to us and threw it in her face. She sputtered and squealed, water dripping from her face.

“Sorry,” I said. “But as you can see, I wasn’t drinking wine tonight. If you want anyone here to believe that I’m the one who did that,” I gestured towards her ruined dress. “I thought we’d need to make it a little more convincing.”

“You little bi—” but Bianca’s words died in her throat as she looked up at me. Or rather, whoever was behind me. Probably another one of these ridiculous high society morons that she wants to make me look bad in front of.

“I know your type,” she finally said. “You’re just with Ronan for his money. Why wouldn’t you be? He can give you a life you’ve never even dreamed of — that is, until he dumps your ass back on the trash heap where he first found you.”

“A girl like you wouldn't even look twice at him if he wasn’t rich,” Bianca went on. “Isn’t that right?” I sighed, then said, “Yes, that’s right. Ronan is wealthy and a very successful businessman. Not only do I admire that, I value it. Why wouldn’t I?”

Bianca’s face dropped. I guess she hadn’t been expecting my response. But she surprised me when she looked at whoever was standing behind me, then back at me, and said, “I don’t understand. You two don’t even look like lovers. More like…I don’t know, like business partners. And besides, if you were truly mates, why didn’t you find each other when you came of age?”

“Not that it’s any of your business,” I answered. “But I was in a relationship for many years. Ronan is a gentleman and he would never have dreamed of pursuing me until that relationship was over. Once we broke up, he asked me on a date, and we’ve been together ever since.”

I continued, “I understand how that could be confusing for you, as I’m sure you don’t have much experience with true love. But just because Ronan and I don’t show our love in public doesn’t mean we aren’t very much in love in the privacy of our own homes.”

Suddenly, I felt an arm slip around my waist. I looked up to see Ronan at my side. Oh. It was him. I mean, I knew Bianca had been performing for someone, but I wouldn’t have guessed it was Ronan.

Like I always did when my boss was nearby, I started to get nervous. What if he’s angry I spoke like that to Bianca? But instead, Ronan smiled down at me, then looked back at Bianca.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” he said, pausing to grin before he added, “Sweetheart.”

I blinked up at him, momentarily shocked at his cooperation, but then remembered we were supposed to be in love, and smiled back at him.

Bianca wasn’t buying it, though. “No,” she shook her head. “No, I don’t believe it. This can’t be a real relationship. You two act like you hardly know each other!” She laughed harshly. “I bet you don’t even live together.”

“This won’t last,” she said. “You’re just like all the other girls Ronan has brought around, giving them big dreams about what it would be like to join us, then dumping them once he gets bored. And, like always, I’ll be here when he finally comes to his senses and gets rid of you.”

Alright, that’s enough. Bianca’s cruel words had finally managed to get under my skin, and I wanted to win this fight. Without thinking, I turned to Ronan, who was watching the proceedings with an amused smile.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, causing him to tense slightly, but he relaxed soon enough. He was still smiling, and part of me wondered if he found this fight with Bianca as funny as I did. And then, before I could overthink it, I leaned forward and kissed Ronan.