CHAPTER TWO — The Party

The car rolled into the Dawson family mansion, as I took a deep breath watching as music, flashing light and laughter boomed out from the opened windows.

I pressed my hand against my chest, trying to steady my breathing. My stomach ached with so much pain I was tempted to rip my insides apart so the pain would just stop, but I told myself to smile. Just one more night.

I could pretend for one more night.

When the driver stopped, I stepped out slowly trying to steady myself. I could already hear my mother’s loud laughter from inside the house but I shook my head trying to snap out of my pain and fear.

The front door opened and I turned my head to the side to cover my eyes from the bright light. It was too bright and too loud.

I looked around and watched as people were already dancing, drinking, celebrating like it was the happiest night in the world.

My night.

My tenth wedding anniversary but it seemed as if everyone was happy except me. I walked inside quietly frowning from the overwhelming scent of alcohol and perfume before looking around for my sister.

I found her surrounded by a group of admirers, everyone laughing as she finished a story.

“Oh, Rosie, you’re such an inspiration,” one of Malcolm’s friends said, clinking his wine glass against hers. “You’re always working so hard at the charity hospital. You’re practically a saint.”

Rosie laughed. “Oh, don’t say that.”

“I mean it!” another woman added. “When my friends found out I was coming here tonight, they were jealous. Everyone wanted to meet the nation’s saint.”

Rosie waved her hand feeling embarrassed.

“Please, I’m just doing my job.”

“Don’t be modest,” someone said. “Everyone knows how much you donate with your time, your money, everything, for those underprivileged orphans.”

“I know, right?” another person joined in. “Working at that hospital must be exhausting. I heard Dawson Industries sponsored the new medical wing?”

Rosie smiled shyly. “Oh, it’s nothing. My sister and her husband helped a lot.”

“Oh, we know Malcolm’s been incredible!” the woman said brightly, turning to Malcom who was just joining the group. “You must be so proud, running such a successful company and still finding time to support your wife’s family.”

Malcolm laughed, scratching the back of his neck. “It’s a team effort.”

Not one person asked of me.

I leaned on a pillar a few feet behind them, turning to look around for my parents.

My mother was standing near the buffet, showing off her diamond necklace that Malcom bought for her and my father was drinking happily with Malcom’s business partners.

“Rosie, darling,” one of her friends giggled, “you’re so beautiful! I’ve always said you should’ve been a model instead of a doctor. And you, Malcolm…” she turned to him, giving him a flirtatious wink. “you haven’t lost your good looks either. Tall, dark, and handsome. Both of you look so good standing together, don’t you all agree?”

Everyone around them started laughing while all simultaneously saying yes.

Rosie’s eyes widened slightly, and she gave a nervous little laugh. “No, don’t say that,” she said quickly. “I see Malcolm as my big brother, he’s my sister’s husband. My own Prince Charming is on his way just wait”

She said it in a playful and cute way that everyone laughed again, taking it as a joke.

But I saw something.

Malcolm’s lips curved into a small smirk and Rosie’s eyes flicked toward him before she looked away. I frowned. I didn’t even have time to think about what I just saw when someone finally noticed me

“Oh, Patricia’s here!”

All heads turned to me and I quickly forced a small smile on my face.

“Patricia, you finally decided to join us, have you?” My mother said as she walked towards the group giving me an unimpressed sigh.

I looked around as everyone’s smile fell, and they started looking uncomfortable and awkward like I ruined the mood.

“Sorry I’m late. Traffic.”

“Of course,” my mother said, rolling her eyes. “You and your excuses.”

Rosie stepped forward, to grab my arm and give me a reassuring hug. “Mom, please. She’s here now. Let’s not make a scene.”

Malcolm also came over to stand beside me but he didn’t kiss me or even touch me. He didn’t say happy anniversary either.

He just leaned in, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

“You look tired. If you’re going to look so miserable, you shouldn’t have come at all. Would it kill you to even look a little bit decent? My friends are here, I also invited the CEO of Sterling & Co tonight.”

I blinked, turning to him in shock. “What?”

Sterling & Co was our biggest rival. The one company that kept Dawson Industries from being the most dominant conglomerate in the country.

It was owned by Alexander Sterling, a terrifyingly brilliant man, who was ruthless in business.

As far as I knew, Malcolm hated him.

But I didn’t.

I saw him as an opportunity.

I’d spent weeks developing a project that could merge our resources and turn our rivalry into a partnership. It would make Dawson Industries unstoppable.

Malcolm and I had agreed to meet him on Monday. Not invite him into our home like some party guest.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Malcolm rolled his eyes. “It’s smart to build a friendship before the meeting. Might help him accept the pitch.”

I opened my mouth to argue that Alexander Sterling despised people who kissed up to him from my little background check on him but the words died in my throat.

Because just then, the doors opened and he walked in.

Alexander Sterling.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and so elegant in the way he carried himself.

His dark blue suit fit him in all the right places. His dark hair was perfectly combed back, and when his icy blue eyes scanned the room, people actually stopped talking to look at him.

Those same blue eyes landed on me first.

But just for a second.

Then he turned to Malcolm and gave him a handshake.

“Mr Dawson,” he said. “It’s an honor to finally meet the brains behind such a successful company.”

Everyone laughed, assuming he was talking to Malcolm.

Even Malcolm chuckled, “The honor’s mine.”

But Alexander’s eyes turned back to me, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

He wasn’t talking to my husband.

He was talking to me.

I opened my mouth to speak and introduce myself properly but Malcolm cut me off, stepping between us. “Let’s talk business, man to man. My wife’s been under the weather lately.”

I stood there in shock, trying to find something to say, but before I could my mother grabbed my hand and pulled me back. “Patricia,” She pinched my arm hard. “You look awful, darling. Go upstairs and rest. You’re ruining the mood.”

I looked around waiting for someone to jump in and defend me but nobody said anything, some of them even looked like they agreed.

The sharp pain snapped me out of it and I sighed. “Of course.”

I turned toward the staircase, but each step started feeling like the world was turning upside down. My body felt hot and cold all at the same time. My stomach felt like it was on fire.

“Oh my god…” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath holding the staircase handle when my legs slipped.

I heard someone gasp and scream, I couldn’t see anything for a few seconds but I knew I was about to hit the floor.

Malcolm didn’t move. No one did, well…except.

I felt strong arms wrap around me and catch me before I hit the ground.

The last thing I saw before I fainted was Alexander Sterling’s icy blue eyes.