Page 42 of The Wrong Side Of Us

I smiled, extending my hand to him as well. He seemed friendly enough. “Evelyn Carson.” My eyes widened when from a distance Nathan’s gaze fell on us at that precise moment.

He was not happy.

I removed my hand from his, giving him a tight smile when I felt I’d done something wrong.

“Do you want a drink?” Derek asked.

“No, thank you,” I replied. He hummed, but by his expression, I could tell something was on his mind. He looked at me intently, making me shift uncomfortably on my feet.

“I’m sorry, you just seem incredibly familiar,” he said. “Have we met before?”

I smiled, genuinely this time. “I feel the same way. I just don’t know where I’ve seen you before. Hensley, right?”

He chuckled. “Yes. I know many people with the last name Carson, so…” He narrowed his eyes on me as he trailed off. “You aren’t by any chance related to Hannah Carson, are you?”

My heart stilled.

“I’m sorry if I’m prying,” the man said when he noticed my expression. “You don’t have to tell me anything.”

“How do you know her?” I asked.

“Acquaintances. Almost did a few deals with her before the crumbling of the company. Shame what she did, very stupid. All that fraud with no need hurt many families. I heard it was under new management and that it was doing much better now, thanks to the little sister. Bright girl if she managed to at least put the place back on the right track before stepping down.”

That’s me!

I hid my smile. At least I’d done something right according to this…stranger.

“You sure are a bit of a gossiper,” I commented.

He smirked, taking a sip of his wine. “You have to be informed in the industry.”

“That’s one way to put it.”

Not knowing what else to say, I focused my attention on the painting in front of us.

I didn’t know why I was nervous, I just…was.

It’s because he knows your family.

And if he knew my family, it was possible he’d seen that video. If he’d seen the video, then he thought I was easy. And if he thought I was easy, there was no telling what he wanted from me.

“I can hear you,” he whispered. I gasped, jumping back once again.

Did I say that out loud?

“No, you didn’t say that out loud,” he snorted. “But I can tell you’re trying to figure me out. I’m just a man making conversation, that’s it. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Nothing is ever that simple,” I stated, unknowingly glaring at him.

“With me, it is.” He smiled, flashing his perfect teeth. He glanced towards the other side of the gallery, nodding towards it. “Come here. There’s a painting I think you’ll find interesting.”

I searched for Nathan in the crowd and sighed when I couldn’t find him.

Oh well.

I followed behind Derek, bypassing the various groups and couples talking until we were in front of a painting that I hadn’t seen before.

I wasn’t sure who painted it or why it was there, but its beauty took my breath away.

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