Page 68 of Reason to Believe (White Lace 2)

“Why do you think? She’s a whore,” Scott blurted.

He was so loud. He was shouting my business so that everyone could hear. Because he had all the power. That much was obvious. He had nothing to lose. His sister was in charge. Family was always going to win out.

Colette turned to look at me, her eyes were wide with shock. “Is that true?”

I stepped away from Ben, straightening my shoulders and clearing my throat. I had promised myself that when the time came, when I was confronted with my past, I was going to stay strong.

Doing my best to control the tremble that wanted to take over, I responded, “I was an escort. Now I work for you.”

But Colette’s face was my worst nightmare. She was looking at me differently, with the worst expression of all—judgment.

“So this isn’t your boyfriend.” She gestured toward Ben. “You brought a client to my party.”

Ben recoiled beside me. “You think that just because I work in porn I’d be with an escort? We’re together.” He was genuinely offended, and I genuinely didn’t care. This had nothing to do with him or his profession

. There was no room for his insecurity tonight.

He pulled me closer and I fit perfectly into the side of his body. “We’re together,” he whispered. He leaned down and pressed his lips to my head. “For real.”

I couldn’t help it, my heart swelled. In the midst of this nightmare, Ben’s words were like a balm, easing the humiliation and pain from being outed as an escort.

We were together.

Whatever that meant.

Maybe it was just for this moment. Maybe it was for the night. Maybe it was until he finished the second speakers series. I had no idea. But I knew that whenever that moment turned out to be, I wanted it to be as far away into the future as possible.

I choked back a sob, refusing to admit the feeling washing over me. My career and reputation were on the line and I couldn’t help but think that I was falling—

“Look,” Ben stepped behind me, blocking me from the rest of the party. “Can we please take this away from the rest of the guests. There is no need to have this get out of hand.”

If my heart had swelled before, right now, after those words, it had just burst.

Fuck.

I loved him.

“Grace…” Colette shook her head, her eyes sad and confused. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Please, Colette…if you’d just let me explain. If we could go somewhere and—”

“I think you should leave.” Her words were like a knife to my heart.

I sucked in a breath. Served me right for actually being happy working for Elle Cosmetics. I deserved all of this. I had duped not only the people I worked with, but myself as well. I had let my guard down, which made the inevitability of this job blowing up in my face twice as devastating.

“Leave the party? Or the job?” I asked.

“Leave the party.” She had finally let go of her brother, who was now tilting back his head so the blood would stop flowing from his nose. “I don’t know about the job. I’m…” She crossed her arms over her chest, lowering her head, staring at the floor. “Please, just leave.”

She couldn’t even look me in the eye. She couldn’t bear the sight of me. It was probably a fair guess that soon I’d be leaving this job as well.

Ben’s big hand wrapped around my elbow and he guided me to the coat check. We retrieved our things in silence and then walked out of the restaurant.

“Grace?” I froze when I heard Marta’s voice behind me. I had hoped that I’d be able to walk out of here without having to face anyone. I turned, barely able to look her in the eye. I was sure she’d heard it all—and even if she hadn’t, there wasn’t any gossip that got past her. And my revelation was probably the most shocking gossip this company would ever see.

Marta had become a friend. More than just an acquaintance I had expected to make in the workplace. I would miss her. When I finally got the courage to look up, she was smiling at me.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” was all she said.

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