Eight

We arrived at the place and for the first time since the ride, I could breathe well. Cole's actions were doing numerous things to my body and everything he did came off as sexual to me, especially the way he gripped the gear and pushed it.

"Shall we?" He sounded from behind me and walked past me.

I followed suit, scanning the evergreen area. New York was beautiful, no doubt and the sun was setting, staining the sky with an orange color.

"From Trenton's Inc, Coltran McPherson, and Vanessa Carter," Cole stated to a man who was behind a desk.

The man who was on his journey to going bald wore a single magnifying glass which had a silver chain hanging from the side. He flipped open a huge book and traced his finger down the list of names.

"Ah, here your names are." He pointed, meeting Cole's gaze. "Table one."

We proceeded into the hall and the twin doors were held open by two men dressed in tuxedos.

We were welcomed by the soft jazz playing in the background and the spinning of heads to scan us from head to toe. A few whispers erupted in the air and my skin crawled.

"Who is she?" My ears caught one of the whispers and I gulped. "I didn't know he was the CEO of Trenton's inc."

Cole placed his hand on the small of my back, much to my surprise and I tilted my head to look at him with lines of confusion on my forehead.

"Act natural," he whispered and my neck tingled when I felt his breath on my skin.

"Why?" I questioned through clenched teeth.

"Look ahead of you." I did as I was told and my stomach clenched when I met the glaring eyes of my ex-boss shredding the skin off my body.

She squinted an eye and twisted her mouth upwards as if irritated by my presence but I wasn't fazed, I didn't care... All I wanted was for Cole's hand to remain on my lower back.

She rolled her eyes and smoothened her hair which was packed in a low ponytail.

When we reached our table, which happened to be the same one she was seated on, my chest constricted around my heart. Cole pulled out a chair for me and I sat, muttering a small thank you.

"And what are you doing sitting on the table for high classed people-" she paused mid-sentence and pointed at me. "-with this thing?"

I bit my tongue, stopping myself from hurling insults at her. Did she just refer to me as s thing? My throat became heavy as bile rose in it.

"None of your business and she isn't a thing," Cole responded with venom dripping from his voice but his face said otherwise, he had a small smile gracing his lips. "She is, my lady."

He picked up my hand and graced the back of my palm with a kiss, causing my heart to flutter. A blush peppered around my cheeks.

"Hi, babe." A familiar voice called out from the other side of the table and I looked only to find Sheldon sitting beside her with two glasses of champagne.

He leaned in and kissed Lola on the lips. My lips thinned and I withdrew my hand from that of Cole's. Did Cole bring me here to rub this in my face?

I grabbed a bottle of water and took a gulp, hoping it would cool off the steam in me.

"I welcome the prestigious heads of the top-notch companies in New York, Coltran McPherson, CEO of Trenton inc." He announced and the clamor of voices cheering could be heard followed by their loud applause. "George Aaondoka, CEO of Jabari limited."

"You own Trenton Inc?" Lola knitted her eyebrows into a frown, eyeing Cole.

"Yes." Cole didn't spare her a glance.

"That's a lie," she said between laughs. "You're Cole, not Coltran. That's impossible, you're puppy love with nothing to your name."

Cole stood with the others, waving at everyone and a mischievous smile tugged the sides of my lips, I loved the shell-shocked look on her face.

"How-" she paused, blinking rapidly.

I zoned out, glaring at Lola and my stupid ex-boyfriend. I wish I could set both of them ablaze with my eyes. They were going to pay for ridiculing me, they must!

"Arnold Timothy, business tycoon and CEO of Arnold's real estate company." The man with the microphone announced and that name rang a bell in my head.

Arnold,

Arnold... Who was he, why did that name sound familiar? Timo-Lola Timothy. Yes, that was it! Lola's dad.

***

The swearing-in was over and now we were having refreshments. Cole was five tables away, discussing with one of the men whose attires screamed rich. I wasn't poor but I definitely wasn't as rich as the man who had a striking resemblance with Brad Pitt.

Averting my gaze, my eyes landed on Sheldon and Mr. Arnold. My lips fell into a grim line and an idea sprouted in my head.

Lola was nowhere to be found so I rose to my feet and crooked my neck from side to side. Sheldon was going to pay for the pain he put me through.

I stalked towards them and threw my hands open to hug Sheldon. His muscles stiffened under mine.

"Hi, baby!" I kissed him on the lips, I was going to ruin whatever contract he wanted to sign with Mr. Arnold. "You said you were going to warm my bed last night."

"Who is she?" Arnold asked, not sounding the least pleased.

"I'm his fiance," I answered, smiling at him.

"She's no one, she is one of my fans who have been throwing herself at me." Sheldon snapped, pushing me from his body.

I stiffened and my face contorted. He had denied me yet again.

"Sheldon?" My voice shook as tears brimmed in my eyes, fogging my vision. "I am throwing myself at you?"

"She's just puppy love. Run along now." He waved dismissively at me and waved to a table, saying to Mr. Arnold, "Shall we discuss over there?"

The loud pounding of my heart drowned out the clanging of glasses and the chattering of the people. I had disgraced myself again, what was I thinking?

I turned as the pulse on my neck turned into frantic beats and blindly ran out of the building.