Chapter 60

Renee

Oh, this was too good.

Vivian let out a startled laugh, light and falsely casual. “That’s weird. Try Margo’s.”

Another card. Another pause.

“I’m afraid this one’s declined too.”

The third girl snapped her gum and passed her card with a roll of her eyes. “Try this one. It’s new.”

Declined.

The waiter gave a tight, professional smile, but her patience was clearly wearing thin. “Do any of you have a valid form of payment?”

Vivian’s smile was slipping now, her cheeks turning red as her voice dropped. “There must be some mistake.”

The rest of the table, having already paid started to get up.

George sighed. "Shame we couldn't cut loose."

"I think we'd all be okay to be spared your yodeling this week," one of the others said, shrugging on her coat.

"It's therapeutic!"

I laughed. "Next time."

He grinned. "That's the spirit!"

Neil slipped out of his seat, the one he'd switched me so I was further away from Vivian. He picked up my jacket and held it out for me.

“It's about time I return you to your escort, hm?"

I nodded and stood, letting him help me into my jacket. We turned away from them. He grabbed my bag and put on his coat.

"See you Monday."

"Monday!"

We left Vivian and her friends at the table, and I almost laughed. I caught one last glance at Vivian’s increasingly flustered expression.

I was going to remember that look for the rest of my life. I couldn't have asked for a better seat for the beginnings of her comeuppance.

I didn’t mean to smile as wide as I did, but I couldn’t help it. I hoped it burned her to her soul, that she thought back to all those times I was forced to just sit there, sipping water because I knew she wouldn't cover me and I couldn't afford to be there, how I had just not been invited because she knew I couldn't afford it.

Now she hadn't been invited and she couldn't afford it. It was too good. Whatever issue was happening between her and Dominic, I hope it stayed this way for a good long while.

The satisfaction in my chest carried me through the door, arm brushing lightly against Neil’s as we stepped into the cool evening air. Behind us, I could still hear the flustered shuffling and rising tension as Vivian and her little pack of mean girls tried to figure out how to pay the bill, pulling out every card they had between them.

I felt awesome.

Like maybe things were starting to shift in my favor.

Neil glanced at me as we walked, his brows lifted slightly. “You look like you just won a bet.”

I laughed softly. “Maybe I did, or maybe it was the Lychee Sunrise.”

"Cheers to that!" George called, walking away.

"You need a ride?" Neil called after him.

"Take your date home, kid. I live down the street."

Neil laughed, but my face heated. That… hadn't been a date, had it? I mean, would Neil try to kiss me? Tyler always tried to and more… Sure that hadn't been on the first date, but would Neil count this as kind of the first date? My stomach turned at the thought that he might. I was kind of itching to escape to the car driven by my security detail than have the illusion of such a nice night broken right now.

We reached the sidewalk, and I was about to say goodbye when I felt that feeling again but stronger, more insistent and wild.Gravity shifted. A familiar pulse of energy swept across my skin, sharp and biting like the chill before a storm. I turned instinctively, heart skipping a beat as Dominic stepped out of the passenger seat of a car I didn't recognize, laughing into the night air.

He stepped onto the sidewalk, a group of men climbed out of the backseat also laughing. They were all tall and broad, dressed in sleek suits or most of a suit in Dominic's case, hinting at old money and power. They were all about the same age, but the almost boyish joy on their faces, the way they seemed to kid around with each other made them seem so much younger.

It was touching to see him so carefree. He looked up and caught sight of me, freezing in place. His smile faltered and my stomach churned with guilt. I froze, hand tightening around my purse strap as his gaze passed over me. I looked him over.

The smile that had been there had barely covered the strain in his shoulders, the tightness in his stance, the shadows under his eyes. Something was wrong. He looked tired.

As much as I wanted to turn back to Neil and say goodnight, head home and go to bed, something in me ached at the sight of him.

I didn’t say anything. Not yet. I just watched as Dominic seemed to right himself. The other men seemed to notice me and they all went still, staring at me wide-eyed.

He excused himself from his group and came toward us, the men behind him falling into step as he strode towards us. That storm feeling inside me shifted, just slightly. My heart started doing that ridiculous dance in my chest again, and I forced myself to hold my ground. To brace myself, unsure of what he would say but anticipating it anyway.

“Renee,” he said, voice deep and measured, but there was something softer in the way he said my name. He looked me over, like he was checking if I was okay.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” I said, careful with my tone. "Are you… I meant I haven't…"

He shook his head. "Things have gotten ahead of me, but I am glad to see you out and about with… friends?"

I nodded. "Neil invited me out with his colleagues."

Dominic nodded and looked at Neil. "Thank you for prying her from the office."

Neil gave him a placid, polite smile. "It wasn't a hardship."

One of the men behind Dominic's eyes widened. Dominic seemed to grow stiffer.

"I'm glad you're out having a good time, too," I said. "Were you here for Viivan?"

He blinked, one of his friends groaned, "No…"

He shot a glare over his shoulders, and his friend beamed at him in response.

"No. I was meeting some old friends,” he said, then turned toward them with a gesture. “Come say hello, troublemakers.”

They came forward, grinning at me. Some of them looked at me with curious interest, their scents solid, commanding, but pleasant. Some of them I recognized from television as alphas. The others were vaguely familiar for other reasons, but they all seemed a little surprised, looking at me.

One of them smiled like he already knew who I was. That made my stomach do a little flip, but then Dominic was speaking again.

“Gentlemen, this is Renee,” he said, with a note of pride that caught me off guard. “She’s a CPA intern. Bright, dedicated. She’s making quite the impression.”

I blinked. Who… was he talking about? Me? Impression? Of what? Over-worked and stressed?

Also, what was this introduction? Not as his ward? Not Vivian's friend? Tyler's ex-fiance? Philip's daughter?

I didn't know how to feel about it or what to say. Neil gave me a sidelong glance, and I could barely keep the heat from my face. It was ridiculous how good it felt to be introduced like that. The men nodded their greetings, some more warm than others. One or two studied me like they were trying to solve a puzzle, but none were rude. I returned their greetings, shoulders straighter than usual. Philip had never prepared me for dealing with alphas. I supposed he never thought it would matter since he always planned to marry me off.

It struck me, again, that someone was making space for me, telling me that I belonged in this conversation on my own and not as an extension of someone else. I felt almost giddy until Vivian’s voice rang out behind us like a wine glass cracking under pressure.

“I told you I’ll pay it later, okay? I just don’t have it on me right now! You know who my Dad is! It's not that big of a deal!”

We all turned.

Vivian stalked up, eyes flashing, lips curled in frustration. She looked straight at Dominic and huffed.

“I can’t believe you cut off my cards without telling me,” she huffed. “It’s humiliating!”

Dominic didn’t flinch. He didn’t soften. His voice was low and clear, with no hint of apology. His friends looked pained, like their whole evening had been ruined. I offered one of them a sympathetic look which seemed to make him laugh.

“You’ve been cut off because your recent behavior has been unbefitting of my daughter,” he said. “Until that changes, told you to handle your own expenses.”