Page 66 of SNOB

NINETEEN

EMBER

“Mom?”

Her head tips to one side, then one eye narrows.

Everything slows as her body stiffens.

Holy fuck. Is this really happening?

Tuxedo shoves the mic in her face.“What drew you to this painting?” he asks.

She takes the mic, moving her gaze to the crowd as she stands tall. Regal. “This haunting piece is something I don’t usually see amongst a well-dressed lot like this.” She gestures to the crowd, some guests laughing. “It’s gritty and dark, unlike Paradise Hill. It reminds me of something from my past. My, uh…” She glances at me, her brows furrowing. That poise falls for a second before she straightens up, a smile reappearing. “My niece would create shapes in a similar style and this piece touches close to home. And my new office needs something to pull it all together.” Some guests in the crowd laugh again.

“What made you bid so high?” Tuxedo asks.

“Darling,” she says, her tone far from what I hear in The Valley. It’s haughty. Proud. Her long gold-adorned fingers land on Tuxedo’s shoulder. “You can’t put a price on art. Or charity.” The crowd applauds. “Taxes will take care of the rest.” The crowd laughs again, but it’s all muffled as my heart pounds against my chest.

My fantasy woman in the flesh.

“Amazing,” Tuxedo says. “If you can follow me, we can complete your purchase. Congratulations, Miss Walsh.”

I’m not sure if she recognizes me or if I’m some stranger to her, but as our host leads her away, I’m not losing my one opportunity to find out.

“Ember?” Gray appears beside me. “You good? You look like you’ve seen a monster.” Or a ghost.

Guests move towards the drawing, my drawing as she disappears into the crowd. Shaking my head out of my daze, I leave Gray, my eyes on copper as I push through the guests. “Excuse me. Pardon. Sorry”

It’s hard to remember my manners as I shove through the crowd.

A group of people approach me, standing in my path. “What wonderful work, darling,” a woman covered in pearls and diamonds says. “You’re so young. Are you studying? You must be a great addition to Saint Bons.”

“Yes,” a man in a suit and bowtie pipes in. “How lucky we are to have you in Paradise.” Trying to see through the small group, I’m too distracted to really hear their praise. “Who are your parents?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” I say, the thoughts in my head spilling out. “Sorry, I have to go.” They finally part when I hustle forward.

But I can’t see her anywhere. She’s not down the hall. Or in the a bathroom. Moving forward, I enter a room as grand as the foyer. More chandeliers and golden sconces decorate the space. Vintage sofas sit arranged around an ornate rug. A long wooden bar sits at the end of the room near the floor to ceiling window. But I don’t see her there either.

My shoulders sink.

I’ve lost her. With as massive as Mac's home is, she could be anywhere. What would I even say to her? Hey Mom, glad you support my art. Or Hey, were you always just up the hill? Did you abandon us? For this? For better? Was Dad and I not good enough?

“Ember,” Gray’s voice comes from behind me. I jump when his hand comes to my back. “There you are.” Standing in front of me, his eyes wander my face. “Uh, you look like you could use another drink.”

“Or ten,” I reply. My gut feels like a juicer, twisting in on itself. “Cause that buyer? Is my mother.”

Mac

“Mac, I need to talk to you.”

Hannah stands in front of me, hands on her hips. No way is Hannah getting my attention after I just spent an hour with Beau’s Mom. The makeout was a dirty distraction, but after Ember left, fighting her off me was as hard as pretending I was into her.

Knocking back the whiskey in my glass, my eyes dart around the space below the grand staircase. “Have you seen Ember?” I ask.

The fucked up thing? That Valley Girl was on my mind the entire time. Ember’s curves, those thick thighs and lips to match have nothing on Miss Laval. I won’t tell Ember that. It’ll go straight to her head and I need to keep her in check.

“That’s who I need to talk to you about,” Hannah says. “When are you going to stop punishing me with that charity case? Are you actually into her?” Pushing her aside, I give her my empty glass before making my way down the stairs. “Mac!”

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