Page 52 of The Cinderella Arrangement

“But we just arrived.” I couldn’t believe that he was so willing to leave. “Wouldn’t it be better to visit your dad?”

“No, he’s—well. He’s made up his mind. And I have to keep working.”

“Your dad fired you.”

“I never got a phone call from my boss, so I’m going to ignore him. Sometimes he doesn’t deliver on his threats. It happens.”

Upstairs, I stalled for as long as possible before getting ready. After Luke’s confrontation with his aunt, I had no desire to go back down there and mingle with a bunch of rich people. I couldn’t help but obsess over every minute detail of my dress. Wincing,I looked down at myself and saw scuff marks on my black pumps.

I'm a joke compared to them.

When we descended the staircase, I realized that despite Luke’s assurances, my fears were genuine. Everyone looked like Saks Fifth Avenue had dressed them. If it weren’t for Luke’s hand at the small of my back, I would have turned tail and ran. The lace dress I bought at Macy’s was ridiculous by comparison.

“Just relax, Jessica,” he murmured in my ear.

Right, easy for you to say.

I fought the urge to dig in my heels as Luke wheeled me toward a coterie of drunken WASPs.

“Luke! We heard you were here,” one of them exclaimed. “None of us could believe it.”

The man who spoke had mousy-colored hair, slicked back over his shiny head. His bright blue eyes were the same as Luke’s. He was slim and his suit impeccably tailored; his patent leather shoes gleamed in the light. Hanging on his arm was a blonde woman who reminded me of Victoria Beckham, her thin arms looking like they could snap at any second. She smiled at me as her gaze dragged up and down my outfit and my arm shook against Luke’s.

“Justin, Barbara—this is my girlfriend, Jessica.”

They wrung my hand and acted as though they were delighted to meet me. Barbara snatched hersaway from me as though she was afraid that she would somehow be contaminated.

She leaned in, her eyes glossy and her lips shining. “When Luke’s in the papers, he always has someone new on his arm. We were surprised that you two have stayed together for so long—”

“Barbara!” snapped Justin impatiently. He fixed me with a pained expression. “Sorry, she’s had toomuch to drink.”

“No worries.” Inwardly, my heart beat a violent tattoo against my chest. I was neverso uncomfortable in my life. For the first time, I missed home. I wanted to collapse onto my sofa and watch TV with Natalie. They werewell dressed and clutching glasses of champagne I’m sure cost a small fortune and I was just planted in the middle of it. I felt like everyone was gathering around to gawk at the alien who had somehow entered their exclusive club. I did not belong here.

I could practically hear Barbara’s brain whirring as she leaned in curiously. Why hasn’t he kicked her to the curb by now? Is she pregnant?

“How did you two meet?”

I stiffened. I couldn’t imagine giving them the same story I had told Brandon, but my mind was blank.

“We met in a bar.” Luke glanced at me.

“Oh.”

I wished he hadn’t said that. I watched as Barbara buried a small smile and exchanged a glance with her husband. Now, it made sense. They filed me away into a category they knew well. Perhaps I was very exciting in bed, but I was Luke’s new fling.

“I heard that you’ve been visiting my father.”

Oh Christ, not this again. I tried not to fix my heated eyes on Luke.

Justin shrugged good-naturedly. “Yeah. I thought I should. He seems to enjoy our visits.”

Luke took two glasses of bubbling champagne and offered one to me. “I’m glad you’re both getting something out of them. Please excuse us.”

I was shocked at the unrestrained spite in Luke’s voice. Didn’t he know how to fake politeness?

Justin sneered at Luke’s back as he turned around. His wife whisperedin his ear and theylaughed as they looked at me. The hairs on my neck stood up.

“Is everybody here a jerk?”

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