Surprises

That. Bitch.

I rounded the edge of the crowd, my eyes never moving from the dress that I knew so well.

My favorite emerald green velvet dress was stretched over her body. Black hair cascaded down the open back and as I stood next to my mother, icy blue eyes pinned me with playfulness.

She’d come here to taunt me.

“Tonight, we are welcoming a new member to our Red Pharmaceutical team. Shawn Pierce, otherwise known as number sixty-two,” my mother turned, winking at Shawn, “Will be stepping in as CEO so that Jeremiah and I can travel the world.”

Marina stood with a smirk plastered on her stupidly beautiful face. She held her flute of champagne up as if she were toasting to Shawn, but her eyes remained on mine.

Taking a deep, leveling breath, I turned away from her. Pretending as if her presence wasn’t affecting me.

Shawn’s eyes met mine and he gave me a lopsided grin.

That grin captured so many hearts during high school and has only gotten better with age.

My father walk