Page 33 of Desire
Chapter Eleven
The main event was held in the rotunda room. The space was tastefully decorated. Round tables were covered by red silk tablecloths, and blocky centerpieces made of clear, frosted, and red glass were lit by candles on the inside of each. The table settings were elegantwhite porcelain with shiny silverware and crystal drinking glasses. Waiters served us white or red wine. I knew better than to mix the two, or else my stomach would pay for it later, so I just drank the red.
The room buzzed with excitement. Kylie had managed to seat me beside her. Also at our table were Rachel and her husband, Matt; Daniel Arroyo, who was a journalist’s journalist; DaveEastman, the president of BCN, and his wife; plus Katherine Donovan, a woman who owned a number of news stations in the country. Rod had just taken a seat on the opposite side of the table next to two empty chairs.
Kylie, who had been going on about how much of a success the night was shaping up to be, suddenly hit me on the arm. “What’s he doing here?”
I followed the direction ofher scowl, which was pointed at the man who had been my escort for the night.
“Rod Huff?” I asked, my voice ringing with surprise. I ripped my stunned eyes off him and put them on Kylie, whose skin had turned a patchy red. I didn’t understand the reaction she was having to him. “Isn’t he one of the reporters forDeep Source?”
Her mouth dropped open, and she pointed her glare, whichcould have frozen molten lava, at Rachel. “He wasn’t supposed to be hired,” Kylie said, her eyes still fixed on Rachel, who was obviously avoiding looking in our direction.
“Why not?” I had to know.
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “He’s my ex-boyfriend.”
I kept my jaw from dropping.Shit.She was the crazy ex-girlfriend he’d mentioned in the car. I felt slightly lightheaded,knowing I hadn’t mentioned to Kylie at lunch earlier that Rod was escorting me to the gala. I felt as if I’d betrayed her. If I were in her shoes and she had ridden to the gala with Jasper, my heart would’ve experienced a free fall.
I was about to let her know Rod had escorted me to the gala when a couple sat down in the empty chairs to the right of David Eastman. I was all too aware thatmy jaw had dropped, and I couldn’t close my mouth even if I’d wanted to. Blue-green eyes remained focused on my face. Even as Jasper shook Dave and his wife’s hands, he did not look away from me.
After two slow, hard blinks, I was able to pin my gaze on the woman with him. I’d seen her face recently on my computer screen whenever I did an Internet search on Julia Valentine. She was a beautifulspecimen, probably an inch taller than me, slender in a way that was graceful, with long limbs and a swan’s neck. I had no doubt Jasper had banged her, especially after noticing how his hand rested on her hip with ease. I didn’t even want to morph into an ant so that I could crawl away. I wanted to disappear and not exist at all.
Kylie nudged me on the shoulder just as tears pooled in myeyes. “Did you invite him?” she whispered, her mouth close to my ear.
All I could do was shake my head.
“Fuck,” she muttered. “Then he must be Dave’s guest. Fuck.” She and Rachel made eye contact. Their expressions communicated what their voices couldn’t at the moment. If Jasper and Dave were friends, then they would more than likely not be able to break the story regarding sexualmisconduct at Christmas Industries.
At the moment, I couldn’t give a damn about their investigation. This was the worst table I’d ever been seated at.
“In Defense of Bad AirandThe Howsley Project,” someone said to my left.
That was the only reason I ripped my gaze from Julia Valentine. I should not have been jealous. I didn’t think I’d ever been jealous. Now I knew how itfelt.
Daniel Arroyo was smiling at me, and the tone of his comment said he appreciated my work. I should’ve been excited. It was my moment to shine. One of the best journalists on the planet had just acknowledged my books.
I forced a smile while coaching myself to pull it together. “Mr. Arroyo, thank you.” I didn’t know him well enough to call him Daniel, but I was sure hoping forthe invitation to do so.
“It’s Daniel,” he said, and just like that, my smile turned real. “There aren’t many young reporters like you willing to put in the sort of work you did, go to the places you went.” He tilted his head to the side. “Whew. That was great journalism.”
Holy shit, I worked like hell to keep a cool composure. “Thanks again. I just believed in what I was doing.”
“Daniel, it’s great to see you again,” Jasper said.
Daniel nodded at me. “Excuse me.” He turned his attention to Jasper. “You too, Jasper. And I send you my condolences about your father.”
It was obvious that it pained Daniel to say that.
Jasper smiled tightly, obviously understanding that Daniel had merely mentioned his father out of polite formality. Julia continuedto look bored, making eye contact with no one. I was sure she didn’t know that the man who’d exposed her grandfather’s lie was sitting at the table with us.
“So, Jasper, when are you going to announce your bid?” Daniel asked.
Jasper jerked his neck, put his arm along the back of Julia’s chair, and smiled. She turned to look at whatever had captured Jasper’s attention. They both smiledas a camera’s flash lit the table.
Kylie groaned her disapproval.
“Bid? What bid?” Jasper finally asked.
