Page 59 of Never With You
“You’re just trying to avoid your parents.”
“No, I’m trying to be efficient and get to the dinner cruise.”
“Fine,” I relent, knowing that corralling a group this size isn’t easy.
With confidence and a winning smile, Nate turns to everyone. “We are so excited to kick off our Pureskin incentive trip. For being on time, you guys get to be first onboard our dinner cruise. I suggest a table by a window. The night views of Bangkok are unforgettable.” A few people cheer with raised glasses. “If you’ll follow me, we’ll head down to the dock, and my associate, Carly, will bring up the rear with the latecomers.” The group begins to move, forming a line behind Nate. “I’ll see you down there.”
I lift my chin in acknowledgment and smile at the guests as they pass by.
The next elevator spills out more Pureskin executives—Mack and Connie Farnsworth among them. My eyes dart to the clock. 6:03. For a man who touts being responsible, he sure isn’t very punctual.
Mack searches the lobby, finding me instead of his son.
“No Nate again?” Disdain coats his words.
“You just missed him. If you’d been on time, you could’ve gone down to the boat with the first group.” I say it with a sweet, sweet smile. “We’re just waiting for a few more, and then we’ll head out.”
“Sounds good.” Connie smiles back at me while tugging her husband away. That poor woman’s whole life is spent keeping her husband in line.
It’s another ten minutes before Isaac and Lauren Ashley appear. My lungs forget how to work when they step out of the elevator—him in tan slacks and a sports coat, her in an off-the-shoulder maxi dress. Nerves surge, but I keep it together, conversing with other guests as if I don’t notice them.
“Carly?”
I flip my head, feigning complete surprise. “Isaac? What are you doing here?”
He studies me, my smile, my dress, my legs, my cleavage that he searched out. Nate was right; the dress worked. Better than I hoped.
Lauren follows his roaming gaze and nudges him. “Isaac, aren’t you going to introduce us?”
“This is myfiancée,Lauren.” He says the label with purpose, like it’s meant to cut, but my smile doesn’t falter. I’ve had hours to prepare for this moment.
I reach my hand out. “How nice to meet you. I’m Carly Catterson. Isaac and I used to work together.”
Recognition flickers through her expression, and so does a smirk. I don’t know what he told her about me, but it wasn’t good.
“Likewise.”
“I work for Pureskin now,” he interjects, ensuring I know about his new, fancy job. “I run their events.”
My smile is big. “Well, you’ll run their eventsafterthis one.”
“Right.” He glances around. “And what about your job? What is it called again?”
He knows dang well what it’s called.
“Voyager Travel Events, and I love it. Instead of planning just one big incentive trip for a single company, I plan several a year.” Isaac never cared about the destinations like I do, but I name-drop them anyway, trying to show how much better my life is now. “Since I started working here, I’ve been to Bali, Egypt, Cabo, New Zealand, and now Thailand.” Okay, I fibbed about Bali and New Zealand, but under the circumstances, the lie is warranted.
“I’d hate traveling that much.” He pulls Lauren possessively closer. “We could never be apart that long.”
“Yeah.” I watch them kiss, feeling the sting. “Well, I have to get back to work. Somebody has to run this event.”
“You always did like to control things.”
I have no response.
I’m the beaten-down woman from ten months ago, standing in his glass office, feeling every eye on me.
Turning to the group, I invite everyone to follow me down to the dock. At least now I can escape Isaac.
