Chapter 2

When Alistair finally reappeared, he stopped dead when he saw me.

His eyes flicked to the man beside me. "Why are you here?"

I blinked innocently and softened my voice. "This is an important day for you, isn't it? I came to congratulate you on the project."

His face darkened. "Don't tell me you sabotaged this. Are you punishing me because of Nika?"

I hurried to defend myself. "How could I possibly do that? You haven't let me work in five years. What contacts or resources could I even have? I can't believe you'd suspect me."

Tears were already gathering in my eyes.

The scene caught the attention of the reporters still at the event, and they quickly gathered around us.

Alistair studied me for a few seconds, then seemed to believe me. He gave a dismissive snort.

Nika clung to his side as the two of them walked away.

I watched them disappear through the ballroom doors without a word.

Only then did the man beside me introduce himself. "I'm Augustine."

I shook his hand. "Elena Caldwell."

That night, Nika's latest Instagram post popped up in my feed.

She was pressed against Alistair, one hand resting on his chest as she leaned up to kiss his cheek.

At the edge of the photo, Alistair's hand rested high on her bare thigh, just below the hem of her dress.

I blocked her, then opened my laptop to write. Before I could type a word, a text came in from an unknown number.

The message contained nothing but the name of a restaurant.

After reading the message, I grabbed my phone and left.

I took a rideshare to the restaurant and found Augustine waiting in the parking lot.

"What are you doing here? Are you here for dinner?"

Instead of answering, he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me into a secluded corner.

My back hit the wall, and his broad chest blocked most of my view. "Don't move."

Peeking through the narrow space between his arm and the wall, I saw several reporters with cameras hurry past the restaurant entrance. It finally clicked. "You sent me the address?"

He nodded. "If you don't want them to photograph you, stay close to me."

I reached for his lapel, but my fingers accidentally slipped beneath his open jacket and brushed the firm muscles of his chest through his shirt.

He looked down at me. I quickly pulled my hand away.

He then led me to another spot, where I could finally see into the restaurant.

The place was nearly empty. I spotted Alistair at once, with Nika seated across from him.

Nika murmured something, then leaned across the table to wipe a drop of wine from the corner of his mouth.

Alistair did not pull away. Instead, he took her wrist and kissed her palm.

I took out my phone and recorded a short video.

Once I had enough footage, I slipped my phone back into my bag. "Thank you. I should go."

Augustine stopped me. "I asked you to meet me at a restaurant and didn't even feed you. I owe you dinner."

He pulled out his phone and called someone, probably his driver. "Pick up Ms. Caldwell on the west side of the restaurant. Stop and get her something to eat."

A sleek black sedan soon pulled up. Augustine opened the door for me and held a hand over my head as I got in.

Before closing the door, he said, "Good night."

It wasn't until we were well away from the restaurant that I realized how naturally Augustine had taken care of me.

And somehow, I'd forgotten to ask how he'd gotten my number.