Page 46 of The Billionaire's Second Chance
“No,” I told her, my hands stiffening on her shoulder, her waist, holding her tightly even as I took a step back. The space between our bodies yawned. “It’s your brother.”
CHAPTER24
Samantha
“What is he doing here?”I asked, every muscle in my back tensing.Sebastian. Here.I slid my hands from Charlie’s shoulders, bringing our dance to an abrupt end. There was a lump in my stomach, like I’d beencaught, and I had to take a moment to remember that I was being silly. I’d only been dancing with my colleague. My co-chair. I hadn’t done anything wrong.
You wanted to, though, didn’t you, Sam?I’d seen Charlie looking at my lips, and part of me had wanted him to bend closer. The small, foolish part that should have known better, after all these years of being kept under lock and key. This wasn’t the liminal privacy of the Sterling, we were in public–and not just any public, either. A room full of all the most powerful people in Manhattan, a party to which I had invited everyone who held my career in their fickle fingers.
And my brother. My chest tightened.
Sebastian washere.
“You didn’t know either?” Charlie asked, and I shook my head, trying to erase the image of his face so close to mine, his eyes dropping from mine, the heat of his chest through his suit… God, I’d wanted him tokissme, and mybrotherwould have been watching us.
“I didn’t,” I told him, pulling away. I didn’t tell Charlie that I hadn’t spoken to Sebastian in months. My brother and I weren’tnot speaking, we just… didn’t speak. Charlie would have known of his arrival in town, if anyone did–Sebastian and James had always been close, and as far as I knew, the two Martin brothers told each other everything. James didn’t know about us, though. I was sure of it.Charlie didn’t kiss and tell. And Sebastian wouldn’t find out. I’dmakesure of that.
I have to, I thought. I turned, Charlie’s hands falling from my waist, and I saw him instantly. He looked the same as he ever did: tall and handsome, with sandy brown hair, dark brown eyes just like mine, the kind of man that women swooned over. Even now I could see coiffed heads turning in his direction. But it was Charlie he was looking at as the corner of his mouth turned up into a smile.
“We should go say hello,” Charlie said, with only a little hesitation. “We are the hosts, after all.”
“We should,” I said, and took a determined step forward.
“Fuck, it’s been years since I’ve seen your brother,” Charlie said from behind me. “I half thought I’d never see him again, that he’d just stay in London forever.”
“Me too,” I murmured.And that would have been just fine.
By the time we reached him, he’d been drawn into conversation, smiling warmly at a pair of older gentlemen, probably our father’s age, both with identical gray hair and tuxedo suits.
“Of course, of course,” he was saying as we approached the three men. “I’ll have my secretary get in touch. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the city, I don’t know where the best lunch spots are anymore.” Hissecretary. I forced my shoulders down and back and a smile onto my face as his eyes met mine through their tuxedo-clad shoulders. “Ah, and here she is,” he said, his benevolent smile landing on me. “Have you met my sister, Samantha?”
My smile remained fixed in place.My sister, Samantha.It had been a long time since I was introduced like that–as someone’s sister, someone’s daughter–and it made my skin feel too tight. “Sebastian,” I said. “What a wonderful surprise.”
“Seb!” Charlie said, sticking out his hand. Sebastian took it in his, clapping his other hand over Charlie’s as well. “I didn’t know you were coming. It’s been a while.”
“It certainly has,” he said. “Charlie Martin,” he said to the two gentlemen. “This is Leonard Weeks, Director of Treasury Management at Global Partners Bank,” he gestured to the man in the silver bow tie, who shook hands with Charlie. I clasped my own hands in front of me. “...And this is Arthur Maws, he’s on the board at–”
“Ah,Arthur,” Charlie said with a grin, shaking his hand in turn. “You’ll have to forgive me–”
“I know Charlie Martin,” the man chuckled. “He’s the one who stole my CFO.”
“All’s fair in love and accounting,” Charlie quipped, and the man laughed. My stomach churned, my glass of champagne unsettled. Charlie was so good at this: the wholeCharliething. And who was I?Sebastian’s sister, Samantha.
Why hadn’t Sebastian told me he was coming into town? What was he doing here? What did hewant? He’d caught me unawares, and heknewI hated surprises. Had he done it on purpose? Was I just reading too much into it?
I stayed perfectly still.Don’t show weakness.
“Too true–and I daresay it was a little bit of both. You and his wife were co-conspirators in luring him away, right?”
“Imayhave had some help,” Charlie admitted, drawing another round of laughter.
“Yes, well, working from home is appealing when your wife looks like his,” the other man–Weeks–said, and I bristled at my brother’s raised eyebrows.
“Flora is a good friend of mine,” Charlie responded smoothly. “And a dedicated teacher. You know, I was talking to her recently about thepotentialthat these kids have. The students in her classroom are the city’s future best and brightest, and what they really need is just the support of their community–”
“Alright, alright, you don’t have to give the whole spiel,” Weeks chuckled, holding up his hands. “Just let me know how much, and I’ll have a check sent over.”
Charlie smiled. “You’ll be sure to hear from me. And make sure you visit the silent auction, too. It’s on the way to the bar,” he winked. “Nice meeting you gentlemen.”
