Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>
“Enough, Allison,” I snapped at her. “You’re the last person who needs to be speaking ill of others. Not to mention, tonight is about celebrating, not belittling other individuals just because you don’t like that they don’t fit your agenda.”
Allison stared at me with anger and shock because I had spoken to her that way. However, the others agreed with me, toasting to changing the event in the future, perhaps.
“So, this woman…” Mr. Lancaster said, “can we meet her?”
A smile lit my face as I nodded. “I’m sure she would be delighted. I just have to see where she has gone off to.”
“Oh, she is dancing right now,” Allegra spoke up with a grin.
“That’s right… Charles took her to the dance floor. I probably should go rescue her.”
My comment made the others chuckle, but before I could step away, Allegra grasped my arm. “There is no need. She isn’t with Charles.”
“Oh, already with someone else… isn’t that something?” Allison replied slyly.
Letting out a deep sigh, I glared at Allison. Perhaps I was wrong for thinking I could bring Becca here. I should have known after the incident in the dress shop Allison would make tonight difficult.
Looking at Allegra, I raised a brow in confusion. “Who is she with?”
“Oh, my younger brother, Neal,” Allegra replied as she looked at the others.
I knew very well who she was referring to. It was the same man Becca was with at Club Velvet. I had seen how he looked at her there, and I could only imagine what he was doing right now.
“Was I mistaken when you said he was heading home? I didn’t realize he’d stayed,” I replied, watching as the corner of Allegra’s lips turned up into a smile.
“Oh, he decided to stay a bit longer. He closed another deal here with the Fanucci’s. They’re hoping to expand out in California, and of course, Neal has one of his offices there.”
There was a gut wrenching feeling in my stomach as I listened to her that told me I would not like where this conversation was going. However, I didn’t bother to interrupt her. Instead, I stood there listening to Allegra praise her younger brother.
“So his wife didn’t come with him?” Allison asked, fishing for answers.
“Oh, he isn’t married,” Allegra grinned, “but it has crossed his mind recently that he needs to settle down. I mean, as the owner of Saville Golden Real Estate, it’s probably best that he settles down, eventually.”
“Wait… your brother is the owner of that company?” Allison said in shock. “That’s a multi-million dollar company.”
“Uh–yes, that’s correct.” Allegra preened. “Established it and made his first million by the time he was twenty-three. Now that he is closing in on twenty-eight, he is ready to start having a family.”
“That’s wonderful!” Mrs. Lancaster praised. “Well, perhaps he will find some lucky woman here tonight that would make him more than happy.”
“Oh, Mrs. Lancaster… I think he may have already found that lucky person in Miami. We will just have to wait and see how things go.”
I didn’t miss a beat of what Allegra was saying. Her gaze landed on me as she said it, and the anger slowly simmered within me. Was she really referring to Becca?
There was no way that Becca would be with that man.
“I wonder who that woman is…” Allison cooed. “Good thing it wouldn’t dare be your Becca, James.”
Clearing my throat, I straightened myself, but before I could speak, Allegra spoke for me.
“Becca and James aren’t officially together, Allison. They aren’t dating, so I don’t see why she couldn’t be a candidate for my brother. After all, she is sweet, composed, graceful, and highly intelligent. She has the ability to bring a lot to the table whether or not she comes from money.”
“Alright,” I finally said, shaking my head. “Please excuse me. I’m going to go see where those two got off too. The auction will start soon, and I’m sure they will want to get their seats as well.”
I had heard enough of their talk, and while I knew Allegra was purposely saying this kind of stuff to irritate me and get to Allison, I didn’t want to hear it anymore.
I understood clearly what she was doing. She was making a point, and I would have to talk to her about it later. There was no need for her to act the way she had.
As I moved through the sea of people, I searched the crowds for the beautiful brunette in an emerald green dress. I wouldn’t be able to calm my racing mind until I did because everything in me was screaming that maybe what Allegra had said was true.
The closer I got to the dance floor, the easier it was for me to make out her beautiful form swaying in time to the music with Neal.
Halting in my steps, I watched as she smiled and laughed with him. She seemed carefree and uninterested in anyone around her. Even though many people were watching them.
My chest tightened knowing I wasn’t the one who had put that smile on her face. Everything Allegra said caused the jealousy inside me to grow, but then I couldn’t be jealous.
She had come here with me, and I had allowed the conversation with other people to impede a night I had promised to spend with her.
I had no one to blame but myself.
As her eyes caught mine, her smile fell slightly, but it was still there. Just not as bright as before. She turned to Neal, whispering something softly, and his eyes met mine.
Whatever she had said I wanted to be privy to, but I knew that I wouldn’t be.
“James,” she said cheerfully. “Did your conversation go well?”
“Yes, it did. I was trying to see where you had disappeared to, and Allegra informed me Neal took you dancing.” I tried to remain cool, but I could see in Neal’s eyes he knew exactly how it was meant to come off.
“Yes, well, I didn’t want her to feel left out, and I have no intentions of mingling with most of these people. They are too uptight for my liking,” he chuckled, “I hope you don’t mind.”
Hesitating for a moment, I raised a brow and laughed to myself. “Not at all.”
There was a look in his eyes that made me wonder if I was going to have to watch him around Becca. Looking at her now, she seemed oblivious to how he saw her.
I didn’t know his intentions, but if he wasn’t careful, he and I would have to discuss what he thinks he is trying to do. She belonged to me, and I had no intentions of letting her go.
Becca.
When James came to find me, I was rather pleased. I was enjoying my time with Neal, but I had come with James, and he had promised an evening with me, even though the current conversation between Neal and James seemed anything but pleasant.
“The auction is about to start, so I think we should take our seats,” James said, holding his arm out for me, which I slowly took.
“That’s wonderful. What’s the charity this year?” Neal asked as he followed behind us.
“The money goes to the breast cancer society to help with treatments,” James said hesitantly as his eyes met mine.
I wasn’t sure if he had remembered my mother, but if he did, then he would have known my mother died from breast cancer. I hadn’t realized this was what the charity gala was for, but now that I knew, it brought back memories.
Holding myself together, I let James lead me to the table where we would be sitting. I had imagined the rest of the evening would go well, but instead, I found that Allison and Tally were sitting at our table, as well as Allegra and Charles.
“Oh, wonderful. Becca, you’re joining us,” Allison replied with a fake smile as she rolled her eyes.
“Cut it out, Allison,” James bit out as we took our seats.
“I was being nice,” Allison gasped. “Jesus, James. Maybe you need a drink.”
Of course, this would be Allison’s reaction. The way she flaunted herself, as if she was the poor ex-wife being thrust into the presence of her husband’s new lover. It was pathetic, and I was over her and Tally’s bullshit.
Taliana, though, had her eyes set on Neal, and he didn’t seem to notice her.
“So, how have you been enjoying yourself?” Charles asked me, breaking me from my train of thought.
“Oh–it’s lovely,” I said softly as James slid his hand under the table to rest on my thigh. Looking up at him, I could see the twinkle in his eye, but I couldn’t help but feel like I was nothing but a distraction to him this evening.
People kept looking at us, and Allison kept making her snide comments.
It was horrendous, and as much as I was saying my evening was lovely, it only really had been when I was dancing with Neal. With James, it had been nothing but drama until this point.
As the auctioning began, I found many people were very generous with their donation amounts. Not to mention the people sitting at my table.
“The next piece is an original painting by Lesslie Pachelli. Starting bid twenty-thousand.”
The painting was beautiful, and James nudged me slowly. “Do you like it?”
“Like what?” I asked, with confusion.
“That painting,” he whispered with a smile.
“Yes, it’s beautiful,” I replied. “The painter has talent.”
James nodded before holding up the white card in his hand. “Twenty-thousand.”
“James, what are you doing?” I gasped, looking at the others at the table.
“You said you like it. So I’m buying it for you.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Are you serious right now?” Allison scoffed. “You’re wasting money on that?”
Sighing, I shook my head as others started bidding on the painting as well. There was no way I was going to let James waste that kind of money on a painting. I didn’t even have a place to put it if I did get it.
“Fifty-thousand,” Neal’s voice caught my attention, and looking at him, I gasped.
A smile crossed his lips as he looked at me, and Allegra shrugged her shoulders as if him betting on the item was no big deal.
“Sixty-thousand,” James countered.
“Eighty-thousand,” Neal responded.
It took a minute for me to realize what was going on, and before I could reply again, James responded. “One hundred-thousand.”
“James, enough,” I said, looking at him. “What are you doing?”