Page 132 of Not A Whisper

I know I'm not ancient but it's clear there is an age gap between me and Grant. It's been noted, I'm sure, by everyone in the room. It's just one of the many things that set me apart in a room that lacks much diversity, is full of wealth, and is teaming with plastic surgery success stories.

She offers me her hand. I don't bother taking it. Instead I give her my best smile.

"Carmilla, it's really, ah, something to meet you."

Beside me, Trips snorts. Carmilla shoots him a dark look. "You must be Trip. My parents warned me that Grant came with baggage."

My teeth slam together, and I stiffen. She can come for me all she wants, but going after my guys?

"Isthere a reason you've blessed us with your presence, Carmilla?” I ask her, drawing her attention back to me. “Or are you simply here to be a menace?"

Trip snickers. “I’m betting it’s the latter.”

Carmilla blinks rapidly, clearly surprised that neither of us are bothering to play the polite aristocrats game that everyone else in the room is. She clears her throat and stares down her nose at me.

"Actually, I came over to thank you."

"Thank me?"

She nods. "Yes, Grant breaking things off with me to run off and marry you was the best thing he could've ever done. I was terrified of marrying into the Gipson family. You might have married Grant, but you might as well be Garry's wife. He'll consume you, you know. Grant and his business partners—" she shoots Trip a haughty look "—aren't going to survive the next five years. Garry will squash whatever this is, and they'll fall back into place. He’ll swoop you up and use you however he sees fit—whether you want to or not. Everyone knows how that man can be. I'm so glad I won't be there to suffer whatever retribution he has in store for all of you.”

Oh, she’s a lovely individual.

I let out a heavy sigh, not caring that it’s rude. “Did you know that with age, not only do you gain wisdom, but you gain a backbone too? I’m no more afraid of Garry than I am of a spider. And let me be clear, I’m here to support and offer whatever help I can to Grant and his partners so that they have the best chance of success in whatever they invest in. They won’t fail because they haveme.”

Trip takes a step closer to my side as he spares Carmilla a bored once over. “It’ll be nice to show you, and any other doubters, how wrong you are to put your faith in a tired old man. In the meantime, please kindly fuckoff.”

Carmilla’s gasp of indignation is lost over my laughter. I hook my arm through Trip’s and shoot her a large grin.

“I’ll make sure to let Grant know that you’ve given us your blessings. Have a nice evening.”

With that, I tug Trip away. I can feel Carmilla’s stare between my shoulder blades as I put space between us. I smile and nod as people greet us when we pass by. Is my smile still pleasant? As the night grows later, I’m finding it harder to keep it in place. Especially after encounters like that. Though Carmilla’s words were a bit more blunt, she isn’t the only one who’s cast doubt on my guys.

“C’mon, let’s get out of here,” Trip says, suddenly trying to take the lead and head toward the double doors.

“No, people are definitely watching now.” I can feel eyes sliding all over me. Are they wondering what transpired between Carmilla and I? I’d probably be intrigued too if I was an outsider watching an ex and a wife confront one another after a recent split and quick marriage.

“So?”

I sigh, exasperated. “I’m ready to leave for good. Where is everyone?”

We stop at the edge of the dance floor as we look for the others. I’m sure Grant is somewhere in here. He'd been dragged aside by a man in his seventies, at the very youngest, to talk about potential partnerships. That was fifteen, maybe even twenty, minutes ago. I don’t search right away for him, knowing he’s around. There’s another person I'm beginning to worry about.

"Where's Jason?" I ask, my eyes combing the room for him.

"I'm sure he's chatting up a storm to anyone who will listen to him talk."

I scan the room once, twice, and a third time. The unease that gathered in my gut during the auction intensifies. Jasonsaid he'd be by my side all night. His absence doesn't sit right with me.

"Will you go check the restroom for him? He’s been gone an awful long time.”

Trip sighs. "Dollface?—"

"You should probably call me Bri here," I cut off sharply, smiling at a woman who passes and gives us a funny look.

Trip grumbles something under his breath before sighing. “Bri, I’m not going to leave your side until one of them gets back.”

I roll my eyes. “Trip, what could possibly happen in a room full of people? I can handle myself if a squawking herd of old, rich people descend on me. I promise.Pleasego look for Jason?”

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