lie

whispered judgments. The grand ballroom shimmered under cryst

lly appeared. Frederick, ever the stickler for punctuality, had already left the

osy, and Austen's starched collar barely con

ous, and utterly public. Every

f betrayal, the sickening lurch in my stomach. I would have run to the ladies' room, locking myself in a stall, tears streaming

rift over them for a brief, fleeting second. Then I turned my head, resuming m

rietary, followed my fleeting glance. He immediately s

rly infuriated him. He expected a scene, an outburst,

," he said, his voice tight, "playing the magnanimous fiancée, are we? Tryin

his is just a formality. You know I'll be named managing partner tonight. I n

ing, fake apology, her eyes, however, gleaming with triumph. "Oh, Kallie, I'm so terribly so

tremor in her voice. "We just lost tr

wave of titters and whispers spread through the room. Eyes

ed Dennie, making a spectacle of myself. Austen would have pulled her protectively into his arms,

ip of my champagne. The bubbles tickled my tongu

level. "The celebration is for Frederick. Your absence

aps, Austen, you should ask Dennie to wipe the lipstick from your collar. I

y," I concluded, a co

, this surgical strike at his carefully constructed facade. He wanted me to be his puppet, dancing to his tune of jealousy and despair. He

s eyes blazing. "Your position here is only due to Frederick's passing fancy. He might change his mind

enough to carry to the nearby clusters of guests. "Grateful she occupied your time so thoroughly that y

I could feel his furious gaze like a physical weight on my back, the impotent rage of a man who had completely lo

th easy laughter and intelligent conversation. I watched as Austen, isolated and seething, brooded in a c

irl was go

in the ballroom crackled with tension.

truly believed he had won. He was convinced I would choose him. He strode to

guests. All eyes turned to Fr