Page 49 of Don't You Want Me, Baby?

The car ride over was a blur. She barely registered it, but there she was, locking up the car and striding to the front door.

Closed to the public

Private event

The sign on the door surprised her. Bradley didn’t do private events normally. Maybe he was doing it to impress his precious investors. No matter, it wasn’t anything to do with her.

She pushed through the doors, determination in her steps. The tables were all beautifully set out, Champagne and glasses on each table. People were milling around, laughing as his staff cleared the rest of the tables. In the corner was a table laden with desserts, servers bringing more out. She suddenly wished she’d dressed up a little, feeling more than a little plain in her black slacks and plain white blouse.I’ve never been part of this world. Never desired to be. My heart lives in flannel and chequered trousers.Near the bar, there was a man speaking into a microphone as the crowd came to a stop to listen. She paused, waiting for her moment to ask for Bradley.

‘Good evening, everyone. Now that we’ve all eaten, and beforethe desserts, I just wanted to say a few words. Ruth, where are you, honey? Come up here!’

Amber, standing behind a couple wearing their best bib and tucker, wasn’t really listening. She couldn’t see Bradley anywhere. A blonde woman stepped forward, heading to the microphone man.

‘Ah, there you are!’

Then, as if summoned by her thoughts, Bradley, dressed in a suit she hadn’t seen before, walked up to the man holding the microphone, and she tuned back in to the noise around her.

‘I must admit, when our Ruthie told me she’d met the one, and was getting married after five months, I was sceptical. But Bradley here has proved himself to be a good man and, with our backing, I know the future is bright. We wish you all the best, for your upcoming restaurant, and for your lives together. If you can raise your glasses please, to bless the happy couple. Bradley and Ruth!’

The room erupted into cheers, and Amber froze.Five months? But that meant… No. He couldn’t have. Five months?

She watched as Bradley put his arms around the blonde, as she reached up to cup his face. A glinting ring in her hand.

‘Happy engagement!’ The couple in front of her cheered, and Amber blinked.

‘WHAT?’ she shouted, just as the noise lulled. Bradley’s face whipped to hers, and his whole face dropped to a state of pure panic. Amber’s feet were propelling her forward, her eyes on his.The utter shit!Her whole body felt hot, she was so angry, she could spit venom from here and melt his feckless face off. ‘What the fuck, Bradley? Five months? Are you KIDDING ME!’ She came to a skidding halt in front of him, and every pair of eyes were on them in the room. ‘YOU’RE ENGAGED!’ Her rage simmered and boiled over. He wasn’t just a thief of dreams, or a shitty boyfriend. He was an honest-to-goodness cheating bastard. She could hear the hiss between her ears. ‘YOU WANKER! I WILL KILL YOU!’ She raisedher fists, ready to pummel his chest as the last few weeks and months played over in her head. He’d been lying for months, and she had been driving herself crazy. Feeling guilty about Tyler, feeling like she was the problem. Just as her fists were about to connect, she shot up in the air. Something had grabbed her and whirled her around. ‘What— geroff!’ she bellowed, before she was spun in the air and looked straight into Tyler’s eyes.

‘I’m so sorry, Amber,’ he started. ‘Calm down, please. Let’s go.’

‘What? Tyler, what are you doing here?’

‘Sharon told me you were coming,’ he said gruffly, still carrying her to the front doors. She tried to wrench out of his grasp. ‘Amber! Stop wriggling.’

‘He’s engaged! He’s been seeing her this whole time!’ She was yelling again, her rage and anger fuelling her. ‘Put me down!’

He huffed, but did as he was asked. Bradley was right there when she turned around, but Tyler pinned her in place with a thick arm around her waist.

‘You utter bastard,’ she sneered at him. ‘I knew you were a snake, but this? Why didn’t you just tell me? Why did you let me think I was the problem?’

‘I’m sorry.’ Bradley was looking around him now. The whole room behind them was chaos. Ruth was crying, and the man who was obviously her father was being held by two men wearing suits, shouting things at Bradley that would make a navvy blush. ‘Can we go outside?’

‘Go fuck yourself,’ she told him. ‘I was coming to tell you to stop calling me anyway, and I wish I had a lot sooner. I hate you. You’re a first-class arsehole, Sloane.’

‘You said you would tell her,’ Tyler growled at him, his whole body vibrating with anger. ‘I told you to tell her.’

Amber replayed the words and her heart stopped. Tyler’s grip on her was strong, but she pushed him away. ‘You knew?’

One look in his face and she saw the truth in his expression. He looked so defeated.

‘I went to his place a couple of days after you kicked me out. She was there. I told him he had to tell you.’

‘You knew, and you didn’t tell me?’

‘We weren’t talking, you were avoiding me. I didn’t want to be the one to tell you.’ He sneered at Bradley. ‘I wanted this little shit to grow some balls for once, set you straight without all…’ He waved a broad arm at the room exploding around them. ‘This.’ His eyes dropped to hers. ‘I didn’t want you to hear it on the grapevine. I was trying to protect you. I always want to protect you, Cherry.’

‘Oh yeah,’ Bradley piped up. ‘You thought you might have a chance to play the good guy, finally get into her pants more like. You never know, Williams. She might just slum it with a rebound now.’

Bradley’s nose exploded. He crumpled like a paper bag, screaming, ‘My nose! My nose, you broke my nose!’

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