Page 64 of One Night in Glasgow
“Sorry,” I mumbled, backing toward the exit. “So sorry.”
I pushed through the kitchen doors, my mind racing. I needed to collect myself before returning to my post. Finding a quiet corner near the service entrance, I leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths to calm the rising panic.
Stupid, stupid, stupid,I berated myself.You thought you were finally doing something right, and instead you’ve made a complete fool of yourself. Again.
“So you’re Beth MacLeod, the intern.”
Kyra stood before me, arms crossed over her chest. Up close, I could see she wasn’t having a good evening either.
“I’m sorry about the confusion,” I began. “Garrett had mentioned?—”
“Let me guess,” she cut me off, her voice low but sharp. “Garrett Reeves told you that you were on the planning committee? That he was working on getting you a ‘real position’?”
My silence was answer enough.
Kyra let out a short, humorless laugh. “Oh, honey. Let me give you some free advice. Garrett Reeves has a type: young,pretty, and new. He dangles a promotion or a special project like a piece of meat, sees who bites. He’s been pulling that same routine since he started here.” Her eyes raked over me, assessing. “Usually, he goes for the college interns. You’re… an ambitious choice, I’ll give him that. A Scottish billionaire’s daughter with a media profile? That’s a new level of predator for him.”
My cheeks burned with humiliation. “I never… we didn’t?—”
“Save it,” Kyra said, holding up a hand. “I don’t give ashitabout what you did or didn’t do with him. Look, you need to understand something. You’re not qualified for the planning committee. Pretty, rich girls aren’t good for anything but being eye candy for the old guys at these events to encourage donations.”
Each word landed like a slap. My words were a weak protest. “That’s not fair. I’ve been working hard?—”
“For what, two weeks? Playing at being useful?” Kyra shook her head, her expression a mask of bored pity. “Let me be clear, so there’s no confusion. Ms. Henderson only took you on as a favor to a very influential friend of your family. The rest of us? We all had bets going on how long it would be before you quit or caused a scene. Rich girls like you are props at these events, Beth. Your job is to look pretty, laugh at the donors’ bad jokes, and make them feel powerful when they write their checks. You're not a person here; you're a beautiful, expensive accessory they get to lease for the evening. That's your function. Don’t ever fool yourself into thinking it’s more than that.”
I blinked rapidly, willing myself not to cry.Not here, not now. “I’m sorry I bothered you,” I managed, my voice strained. “It won’t happen again.”
Before Kyra could respond, I pushed past her, desperate to escape. Instead of returning to the ballroom, I found a quiet spot near one of the tall windows, trying to steady my breathing.
Was Kyra right? Had I been fooling myself all along, thinking I could be more than what people expected of me? My parents certainly would agree with Kyra. The society pages in Glasgow had made it clear. Now it seemed even the people at the Hillsdale Foundation, who barely knew me, had already written me off as nothing but a rich girl playing at charity work.
And Garrett... had he been leading me on this whole time? Using the promise of real work to worm his way into my life? Christ, what a fool I’d been. I felt sick thinking about how easily I’d fallen for it, how desperately I’d wanted to believe I could be more than Elisabeth MacLeod, socialite and scandal-magnet.
“Beth? What’s wrong?”
Garrett’s concerned voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. He stood before me, a look of genuine worry on his face.
“Nothing,” I lied, forcing a smile. “Just needed a moment away from the crowd.”
He wasn’t fooled. “You look upset. Did something happen?”
I hesitated, then decided there was no point in hiding it. “I ran into Ms. Henderson in the kitchen. And then Kyra.”
Something dawned in his eyes. “Ah. Let me guess. Kyra wasn’t exactly welcoming about your interest in the committee.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” I said with a hollow laugh. “She basically said I was just eye candy for donors, and that Ms.Henderson only accepted me as an intern as a favor to someone.”
Garrett’s expression darkened. He glanced around, then gently took my elbow. “Come with me. We shouldn’t talk about this here.”
He guided me onto a small balcony overlooking Central Park. “Kyra’s always been territorial,” Garrett said, his voice a low, soothing murmur. “We had a very short thing a long time ago, and now when she sees ‘ambition’ in another woman, she goes for the throat. It’s pathetic, really. Don’t let her get to you.”
“But she was right about Ms. Henderson taking me on as a favor,” I whispered. “My parent’s lawyer set it all up.”
“So what?” he countered, turning to face me. “That’s how this world works. But that’s just how you got in the door. I’ve seen how hard you work, Beth. I see your potential. And that’s what matters.”
A tear slipped down my cheek. “I’ve been trying so hard,” I whispered. “To prove I’m not just… that party girl.”
Garrett’s expression softened with what looked like profound sympathy. “Listen, Beth,” he said, his voice dropping even lower. “I know it’s not my place, but… this boyfriend, Sean. So strange he couldn’t make time for you here tonight. On your big night.”
