揟hank you.?I smile at Candace, who looks completely at ease by her husband抯 side. Maybe I underestimated her and Oliver both. She certainly doesn抰 seem like the type to step out on her marriage. Cheating may be socially acceptable for men, but she抎 become a pariah if it came out she had.
揧ou spoke to Justin Marks??Arthur shifts his attention to Crew, who抯 pulling my chair out.
I shoot him a small smile as I sink down, immediately kicking my heels off under the cover of the tablecloth.
揧es.?Crew beckons a waiter over and orders a scotch. He looks to me. 揧ou want champagne??
For some reason, the possibility of this happening didn抰 occur to me. 揘o thanks. I have a headache.?
His forehead wrinkles. 揧ou do? You didn抰 say anything.?
揑抦 fine. I just had a long day. Alcohol will probably put me to sleep.?
The line between his eyes doesn抰 smooth. He knows me well enough to hear the false note in my voice. But before he can ask any more questions, Arthur interrupts, obviously not sharing the same concern for my welfare his son does. I imagine he抎 feel differently if he knew my 揾eadache?was the future of his carefully constructed empire.
I tune out as Crew and Arthur discuss business. Oliver appears as dinner is being served, taking one of the two empty seats. He ignores Candace and joins the discussion on some investor. I people watch and pick at my food. I抦 hungry, but not for anything on my plate. The steak is so rare it looks raw, and the potatoes taste too rich.
揧ou抮e not hungry??Crew asks me when his father is distracted by a member of the museum staff who抯 asking him about some logistics.
揘ot really.?
揇o you want to leave? I can see if棓
For some reason, the offer makes tears pool in my eyes. Some reason probably involving hormones. I know Crew sees when his eyes widen. 揘o. We should stay. I抦 just単oing to use the restroom. I抣l be back in a bit.?
揙kay.?Crew抯 voice is hesitant, but his father is asking him something again. He抯 distracted.
I slip my heels back on and head toward the exit, following the signs that point to the womens?room. The sinks are all empty. I walk straight into one of the stalls and lean back against the tile wall, relishing the feel of the cold stone against my skin. Deep breaths help with the nausea some.
All night, I抳e played the role of Crew抯 arm candy. No one here is interested in my opinions on Kensington Consolidated. I don抰 owe any of them anything. But I want to support Crew, the way he did when he backed me up with my dad or when he asks about my meetings and listens to my answers. For him, I can suffer through a night of stuffy conversation and overpriced food.
I pee, and then leave the sanctuary of the stall to wash my hands. I抦 soaping them when the restroom door opens, and Hannah Garner strolls inside. She抯 wearing a midnight blue gown that offsets her tan and blonde cascade of curls. I never pressed Crew for details about their past. Honestly, I don抰 want them. But it puts me at a disadvantage梠ne Hannah intends to use, if the leer on her face is any indication.
揝carlett. What a surprise.?
揥hat抯 surprising??I rinse and shut off the tap. 揟he fact that I wash my hands, or that I抦 here supporting my husband??
She giggles, and it抯 malicious. Grating. 揧our husband? He doesn抰 belong to you. He was forced to marry you. It抯 obvious he doesn抰 even like you.?
揧ou don抰 know anything about my marriage.?
揑 know more than you think. I know Crew hasn抰 been heading straight home from work.?She takes a step closer. Her heel taps the floor like a warning shot. 揥ant to know how I know that??
揌e抯 done with you.?I repeat what he told me.
Hannah tsks and shakes her head. 揑s that what you tell yourself? He抯 Crew Kensington. You抮e a bore so obsessed with working your daddy had to sell you off to the highest bidder. All you抮e good for is your money. He pretends you抮e me to get off during sex.?
My palm twitches, tempted to slap her. But I won抰 give her the satisfaction. A reaction is exactly what she wants.
揂lways so stoic, Scarlett. Acting like you don抰 care about anything or anyone. But I saw you with Crew earlier. You care about him. You think he抯 being faithful? I never thought the Princess of Park Avenue would be so na飗e.?
揧ou sound awfully jealous, Hannah. Did I marry the guy you want??
Her eyes narrow. 揟wo weeks ago, he fucked me in the bathroom of Proof. Said he抎 never come harder. I don抰 want him. I have him.?
For the first time, I feel a small flicker of uncertainty, and I hate myself for it. Crew was at Proof two weeks ago, when I told him to hang out with Asher. Would he have screwed Hannah instead? It was before he knew I抎 been fully faithful. There抯 nothing but triumph on Hannah抯 face, confidence with no trace of deceit. But I don抰 trust her. She has every reason to lie. To sow doubt into my head.