Page 28 of (Un)Planned

An alarm blared from my phone, alerting me to how late I was running. I pulled the dress off the satin hanger, savoring the feeling of the silk lining as it slid along my body. Once the straps were in place, I zipped up the back, turning to look at myself in the mirror. With all the details in place, it was hard to recognize the woman staring back at me. Nerves rattled my confidence, suddenly unsure if this was a good idea. Not only was I walking into a world I didn’t belong in, but I would also be spending the night on Theo’s arm. There would be no way to avoid him. While I was getting better at denying my feelings for him at work, every day felt like standing on the edge of a precipice. One wrong move, and everything would fall to pieces. As much as I knew it could be a disaster, it was only a matter of time before we combusted.

As my anxiety rattled my confidence, a loud buzz echoed through the apartment, alerting us that Theo and Jack were on their way up.

“I’ve got it,” Devyn called out.

This was it—there was no more time to hide. As much as I wanted to take off the dress and fake a fever to get out of going, I also couldn’t wait to be by Theo’s side all night. With one more long look in the mirror, I pushed out a long breath and walked out of my bedroom, unsure of what the evening would hold.

FIFTEEN

Standing at the edge of the large, open foyer, I watched as Hollywood elite mingled with New York’s power players. No expense had been spared to make tonight memorable. The museum playing host had pulled out all of the stops to transform the space to fit the event’s theme. The decorations were lush and lavish, the food served from top-tier chefs. It was the kind of party most people would give anything to attend once in their lives.

Yet here I was, unfazed by any of it, too focused on the other side of the room.

“Drink.”

As he approached me, Jack practically forced the glass of champagne into my hand. Not that it took much convincing. I’d been on edge all night, and it was only getting worse. Taking the crystal flute, I downed the champagne in one sip, not bothering to savor the taste. It wasn’t enough. All the alcohol in the world wouldn’t be able to soothe me tonight, to take this weight off of my chest.

I should have known that bringing Calla here was a mistake.

Not because she wasn’t doing her job beautifully. From the moment she entered the room, almost all eyes were on her. How could they not be? I’d barely been able to tear my eyes away from her all night. From the moment she stepped out of the hallway in her navy-blue gown, I was bewitched. Calla would be beautiful in any situation, but she looked like she was born into this world. She was the most captivating woman in the room.

Unfortunately, it was clear I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. People had been coming up to her all night, pretending to talk to Jack and me but keeping their attention on her. After the fifth monotonous conversation, I excused myself, sure that Devyn would keep Calla away from any harm. But even as I made my way to the bar, my eyes remained fixed on her.

Jack sighed at my side, dropping his elbows on the bar. “Do you know what you’re doing there?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I could practically feel Jack’s eye roll. “I know I gave you shit before, but that was because I just thought this was a hit-it-and-quit-it kind of thing.” He shook his head. “But the way you’re looking at Calla right now?”

I shook my head, waving my hand to signal the bartender. “And how exactly is that?”

“Like you want to rip the face off every guy who talks to her.”

I exhaled slowly, scrubbing my hands over my face. He was right. I could feel tension ripping through my veins every time Calla smiled at anyone else. Tonight was a test of my self-control, and I was failing. From the moment I arrived at her apartment, I wanted to pull Calla into my arms and never let her go. She wore a dress that clung to her delicate curves, the material glistening with every step. Theplunging neckline also did nothing to help my resolve. I sighed, leaning against the bar counter. “It doesn’t matter. You know the rules, Jack. I can’t—no, Iwon’trisk both of our careers.” I lifted my head, turning to meet Calla’s sweet grin once more. “No matter how tempting it might be.”

“Fuck that,” Jack scoffed. “You think half the partners haven’t slept with their assistants? And that’s just because they’re looking for some excitement. You have feelings for Calla.” He shrugged, like it was the easiest decision in the world. “I say go for it.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“If everything else went away tomorrow—the job, the stress, your whole world—would you regret not telling her how you feel?”

Yeah, I would. I wanted to see Calla’s smile every morning, and not behind a pane of glass. I wanted to be the one who earned all her laughter, to be the cause of her best days. I wanted to have so much more than stolen moments, ones we both knew couldn’t last long.

I wanted Calla Winters more than I’d ever wanted anything else in my life.

As if he could read the resolution written on my face, Jack grabbed his glass and clapped me on the shoulder with his free hand. “That’s what I thought.”

Calla brushedher hair behind her shoulder, politely chuckling at the C-list actor in front of her. As much as it was driving me mad, at least she was making an attempt to be polite with potential clients. Her sister, on the other hand, looked like she’d rather be sipping cement.

Turning over my shoulder, I located Jack in the crowd,using his support to my advantage. I touched Devyn’s back, making her flinch before turning toward me. She just arched a brow, her expression as cold as ice. I did my best to smile at her, but it came off forced and unnatural. “Jack wants to dance with you.”

Devyn rolled her eyes. “And why didn’t he come over himself and ask like a big boy?”

“You scare the shit out of him,” I blurted out, sure that my friend would punch me in the balls the next time he saw me. “He’s intimidated by you, but he thinks you’re beautiful and would like the chance to get to know you better.”

Devyn stared at me for a moment, debating the validity of my lie. But eventually, she placed her champagne on the high-top table next to her and took off in Jack’s direction. Now, hopefully, his charm would be enough to keep her occupied for a while.

I placed my hand on Calla’s forearm, pulling her attention away from the group. “If you would excuse Ms. Winters, we have a few matters to discuss.”

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