Page 73 of A Chance at Forever
*
For the nextcouple of days, Victoria found herself thrust into a whirlwind of social activity that began with Carter’s formal engagement to his longtime girlfriend, Amelia Bond. The proposal came as a complete surprise to all of them. Richard treated the Bonds to dinner at Tavern-on-the-Green in order to celebrate the happy occasion. The next day Derek took Victoria ice skating at Rockefeller Center, and that evening the Lockridges attended a Christmas party hosted by one of Richard’s close business associates. At first, Victoria declined to go with them, but when Derek assured her that Alan wasn’t on the guest list, she changed her mind and enjoyed herself.
Yet, for all her enjoyment, she dreaded her father’s annual Christmas Eve Ball. Filled with trepidation the morning of the twenty-fourth, Victoria pondered various excuses she could use to avoid it. Discarding one idea after another, she realized she had no choice. Rusty’s voice echoed in her head.
You’re mine and untouchable.
She would have to face her fear. Rusty expected no less from her.
Victoria napped during the afternoon, and as she dressed for the lavish Christmas Eve Ball, she prepared herself mentally for the evening. Though she kept repeating what Rusty had said to her on the plane and what he’d said to her again only last night, deep in her soul a niggle of doubt festered.
Concerned about her appearance tonight, Victoria chose an emerald satin gown with a black velvet bodice. The strapless dress hugged her curves as it flared into a bell-shaped skirt. Black stilettos and long black gloves completed her attire. With her hair arranged artfully on top of her head, it was time to choose her jewelry.
As she opened the box containing the emerald necklace Rusty had given her, Victoria struggled to maintain her self-control. “Where are you? Where are you when I need you the most?” Bud listened to her and yipped an answer.
After adding an emerald bracelet and earrings, Victoria blew out her breath. Time to meet her father and brothers downstairs.
Derek whistled as he caught sight of her. With his girlfriend on a European holiday, he’d offered to be Victoria’s escort for the evening. “Wow! I’d better bring a stick to keep the wolves at bay.”
“Oh, stop!” She tapped him playfully on the arm.
“Youdolook beautiful, honey,” Richard commented. “Well, kids, shall we do this, as you say?”
“Dad, don’t,” Derek declared. “That’s just weird.”
They laughed as they headed out to the limousine waiting for them.
*
Close to ahundred and fifty guests mingled in the Grand Hotel New York’s VIP ballroom on the tenth floor. Wait staff moved seamlessly throughout the opulent ballroom serving glasses of champagne and wine and appetizers. A dinner buffet would be set up over by the floor to ceiling windows at nine o’clock, followed by a fabulous dessert station.
Victoria clung to her brother and tried to ignore the speculative stares as they circulated through the ballroom. Derek left her with a few members of her former department who greeted her with warmth, and she relaxed during their conversation.
Right as guests began to make their way toward the buffet tables, Alan and his girlfriend, along with a group of his teammates and their dates, surrounded Victoria and blocked her path. Fear gripped her as she realized they had trapped her. Unable to signal her father or brothers, she stood helpless and alone in their midst.
“Vicki.” Alan’s voice dripped with scorn. “We bet you wouldn’t show your face here tonight.” His entourage snickered, including the women.
She felt the color drain from her face.
Alan leaned closer to her. “Couldn’t get a date? We saw you come in with Derek. Have you imagined a sequel to our little movie?”
The group laughed. It rushed through her brain like a freight train.They knew!These guys with Alan had seen the sex video.
Panic clutched her chest and cut off her breath. Spots appeared before her eyes and darkness crept into the edges of her vision. Terrified of fainting in front of them and being further humiliated, Victoria broke through the circle and rushed out of the ballroom.
*
Rusty paid thecab driver and stared up at the Grand Hotel New York. He hoped he wasn’t too late as he hurried into the spacious lobby and made his way toward the bank of elevators. After a heart-to-heart with Alex about his feelings for Victoria, he realized he’d made a mistake by not being with her tonight. A mistake he rectified by hopping on the first available flight to New York.
As the elevator door slid open on the tenth floor, a beautiful, elegant woman slammed headlong into him. Rusty’s arms snaked around her. “Whoa, little lady. What’s this, my sweet Tori? Tears on Christmas Eve?”
Victoria gripped fistfuls of the white scarf hanging around his neck. Tears ran in rivulets down her cheeks. “Rusty, you’re here. Thank goodness you’re here.” Her breath came in gasps. “I can’t go back in there. Please, please take me home.”
Rusty guided her to a private spot away from curious, prying eyes. “I will. But first tell me what happened. I promise, Tori, I’ll take care of this for you.”
Through heart-wrenching sobs, the whole sordid story poured out of her about the sex video, her desperate attempt to keep it from becoming public knowledge by paying Alan a hundred thousand dollars, and his and the others’ cruel comments and laughter in the ballroom.
In Victoria’s humiliation, she buried her face in his chest. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Rusty. I made a mistake. And it may cost me everything I love. You. Please don’t think less of me. Please. I couldn’t bear it.”
