Page 59 of Lies You Told
JH: I hope all the other dresses covered more skin.
CL: Sorry, at what point did you become my dad?
JH: Fuck Chloe!
CL: Oh my god!
CL: Do you have a kink you’ve not shared with me?
CL: Why have you gone quiet?
JH: I’m trying to find you.
CL: We can’t. My boss nearly had a coronary when you and Bryan turned up.
CL: He thinks you’re trying to poach Greyson off us. I won’t repeat what else he said.
What the actual fuck! Chloe’s boss is going to be a problem when we go public, which, if I had my way, we would have done before tonight. But we need to move at Chloe’s pace. It’s the least I can do.
32
CHLOE
As soon as I send the message, I regret it. I look up from my phone long enough to see Kieran approaching me with two flutes of champagne. I open my clutch and place my phone inside. My back rested against the marble pillar I was hiding behind. I wasn’t lying to Jax. We can’t be seen together. Not when his eyes are on me. Anyone would be able to tell that all he wants to do is claim me in the dress I’m wearing.
“You're flushed,” Kieran smiles at me as he hands over one of the glasses. “Just give me the signal if you want to sneak off somewhere with him.”
I fight back a smile. Turning away from him, the smile creeps, covering more of my face.
“I’m glad you’re finally happy, Chloe.”
“Yeah. Well, I’m still holding him at arm's length.”
“Yeah, I don’t know why you’re doing that?”
“My…”
“You couldn't care less what your boss thinks.”
He’s right. I’ve been using that as an excuse. I just don’t want to get my heart hurt.
“He’s really stepped up.” Kieran looks at me over his glass.
“I know. I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop. When he’s not staying with me because he thinks I’m in some kind of danger.”
“Chloe, Jaxson is not staying with you because he wants to be your Knight in shining armor.”
“I know,” I whisper. I feel stupid. We should have come to this thing together. It’s an event I look forward to every year. I spot the guy on my security detail for tonight from the other side of the room, and a shiver goes down my spine.
“Do you want me to go and find Jax?” Kieran asks with a smile trying to break free.
“Yeah, I’m just going to go and see Franchesca,” I say, taking a deep breath. I shouldn’t have to psych myself up to speak to my best friend. We need to have a long overdue chat. Even if it’s the last one we ever have.
“Okay, remember, don’t go anywhere without your shadow,” he nods at one of the guys on my team. “I really don’t want to get on Jax’s bad side.”
“I know.” I give him a weak smile before handing off my empty glass to a waiter passing by.
Dread and a terrible feeling in my stomach make me nervous as I approach Franchesca. It’s the first time all night she’s been alone. I didn’t want to have this conversation with Ryan in earshot. She arrived with her husband and has been talking to a man they both arrived with for most of the night. I’ve not been able to get a look at his face all night, but something tells me it’s someone I know. I hope to god it’s not Blake. Surely, even Franchesca is not that stupid. Greyson always has security at these things, but he insisted on vetting the guest list for the first time–-ever. Franchesca took over planning this event after her Mom and dad divorced five years ago. From what I was able to gather from Jax, she was pissed. Franchesca has her back to me as she stands close to one of the elevators randomly placed around the room. Kieran and I originally came to this area to get a breather from the function room before we got called for dinner and the charity auction started.
