Page 11 of Destined To Fall

Stunning marble pillars surround the door we walked through, making it seem seven feet tall once you enter the room. Two others just like it are on the opposite wall. I could almost imagine myself as Cleopatra with Marc Antony on my arm with all the detailing and extravagance the room holds. I snigger to myself at the thought, but it dies when my poor eyes fall on the extremely large, rather hideous paintings hanging on the wall between the doors of past Presidents. That, and the geometric carpet. They’re not my favorite features, but the big cherrywood bar toward the far-right corner might be. Well, at least until I glance up at the impossibly high ceiling and the intricate pattern dancing in the lights. It comes alive before my eyes. Flowers, vines, and leaves in dark gold ornate detail cover every edge and rim of the black square-patterned surface. The inner rows of squares have a similar finish, making for a magnificent 3D effect. I’m hypnotized until Antony purrs in my ear, drawing my attention back to the present and steering me further into the room, thankfully to the bar.

“What are we doing here,bella?”

“For cancer, obviously. Besides, you wanted to see more of what Boston has to offer. What better way to do that than at one of the most regarded charity functions of the year, and—”

I lie through my teeth, but I’m not going to tell Antony my true motivation. To be honest, I don’t even know what they are exactly. I know they have a name—I’ve just yet to determine the why behind it.

“Yes, yes. I am aware of the objective of attending such an event but merely interested as to your spontaneous motivations. Plus, I’m only now noticing you in this dress.” His hand moves from the small of my back to palm the curve of my ass before gripping my hip and pulling me flush against him.“Here is the only place I wish to be tonight.” His true meaning is painfully obvious, but I can’t help but wonder why he’s being more affectionate than usual. Well, in public at least.

“Always at the ready, Antony.” I smirk up at him.

“Only for you,amore mio. Only for you.” He ducks his head to kiss the nape of my neck and nip it playfully, making me laugh as he pulls back with a devilish grin. We both know that’s a lie. Antony has a different escort in every city. Though I have always had my suspicions that I am his favorite.

“Vivienne?”

A smile teases the edges of my mouth as Antony releases the grip on my hip, only to move it to my waist as I shift, coming face to face with a bewildered Jeremy.

“Hello, Jeremy.” I’m not nearly as surprised to see him as he is me.

“You look…incredible.”

His smooth jaw is a little slack, his eyes a little hungry. They trail the length of my midnight blue gown in a slow caress, giving me the impression he’s committing every detail to memory, until he comes to his senses and snaps them up to my face. A subtle pink stains his cheeks at getting caught perusing my body so blatantly for possibly the first time. Granted, the times we’ve met have been limited.

“You’re not looking too shabby yourself. The full tux is quite impressive. Dashing and…manly.” My hand twitches, then before I can think better of it, rises, brushing fingers across his freshly shaved jaw. I relish the way his eyes darken.What the hell am I doing?“Well, almost.” I titter, pulling my hand back smartly, and catch both men staring at me with narrowing eyes.

“Vivienne?” Antony chastises.

“Where are my manners? Antony, this is Jeremy, a—an acquaintance of mine.” I arch an eyebrow at him. I’m not really sure what he is, but no stranger has ever caught my attention quite like this before. It’s a little disconcerting.

With all the social graces I lack, Jeremy says nothing but offers his hand.Antony, however, looks at the offered appendage a beat too long before taking it with more zeal than the situation demands.

“Jeremy, this is Antony an—.”

“Her date.”

Jeremy’s eyes widen, and I groan internally as he fixes me with a barely concealed accusatory glare, but only for a nanosecond before he reins it in.

“Excuse us, would you?” Antony doesn’t wait for a reply but steers me off in the opposite direction.“Vivienne,”he chides.

I grab two flutes of bubbly stuff off a tray as a server passes us and hand one to Antony, downing half of mine in a quick mouthful.“Lighten up, would you? It’s a party, remember? Don’t be a killjoy.”

God, I’m a fucking idiot. How did I possibly see this going down any other way. It’s not like Jeremy wouldn’t have eventually seen me at some point. My honey colored hair with its red tones and creamy complexion are rather distinguishable. Even amongst a crowd.

“Killjoy? Does thatboygive you joy?” he asks, raising an eyebrow, his lip twitching. I’d roll my eyes and laugh in his face, but my ass is still paying for the last time, and as Antony helpfully pointed out, it doesn’t bruise.

“Do I currently seem like the joyous, juvenile type?”

He chortles deeply and shakes his head.“No, the royally put-out type seems more befitting. Relax, Vivienne, it is a party, after all,” he mocks, and I scoff.“Now, let me show you off to the other wealthybastardosin this place. The reason we’re here, yes?”

“Yes. Your favorite.”

“Not quite.”

For forty minutes, I’m waved in front of every Tom, Dick, and Harry worth waving in front of. I smile seductively, playing my part as always, but the whole time I’m hyper-aware of Jeremy’s eyes following me around the room. Being watched—the feeling isn’t new to me, but this? It’s a burning presence I can’t shake, and it takes more effort than I’m used to not to seek him out in the crowd. What’s more unnerving is I don’t know why it feels different. Why he’s different.

He does look edible in that penguin suit, and I wonder if that’s why I’m struggling to think clearly right now. All I can focus on is how good that suit would look crumpled up on the floor. My eyes keep gravitating toward him, despite my best efforts, each time finding his gaze already directed at me. It’s unsettling how much that pleases me.

After a while, I leave Antony to his political nonsense and find myself staring at one of the most fascinating pieces of art I’ve ever seen. All the various objects up for auction are dispersed around three sections of the room, mostly on easels or raised platforms, but this one piece stands out among the masses. From a distance, the embracing couple appears almost unremarkable, sickly even, intertwined in their love. Yet once you step in either direction, the painting seems to shift, the couple moving closer or further apart. Up close, it’s even more captivating. Each brush stroke is visible to the naked eye, catching the light to distort your view. The longer I stare, the more I see, the more I love, and the more my thoughts start to waver; and piercing blue eyes a deep shade of sapphire stir around the edges of my mind.

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