“If it isn’t my dear sister-in-law,” Lidia smiled.
“Funny, that’s not what you called me last time we met,” Sarah said narrowing her gaze.
Lidia’s carefully manufactured expression slipped. Ruth struggled to control a laugh while Ava fought a smile. Lidia shot both angry glares but neither was particularly concerned. For Ava any threat was merely show as she was virtually untouchable. No one would risk earning the Prescott’s ire. Macey enjoyed the same benefits as a member of the DaLair family but also as a famed artist. Sarah briefly wondered if Rosemary could be a similar shield once her identity was revealed.
“And I’m certain Macey never sent you an invitation,” Ava said.
“A friend gave me her invite since she couldn’t attend,” Lidia answered with a dismissive wave.
“And which friend is that?” Ava asked. If anyone was stupid enough to risk the DaLairs’ anger by sharing their invitation then they deserved to be placed on the family’s blacklist, the Prescott’s as well.
“Does that really matter?” Lidia shrugged.
“This is a DaLair event so yes it does,” Ava answered. “And you should know better than to show your face around here. Or have you forgotten the charity gala last Christmas?”
Lidia blushed and Sarah immediately wondered what Ava referred to. Did something happen between the DaLairs and Stantons?
“Look, I’m not here to start anything,” Lidia said after a moment.
“That would be a first,” Ruth muttered. However there was no sign of Madeline and usually the pair kept each other in close attendance.
“I just wanted to talk to Sarah…in private.”
“Anything you want to say to her can be said to us,” Ava said.
“It’s a private, family matter.”
“Since when? Stantons love airing their laundry in front of everyone,” Ruth said.
Lidia glared at her but Ruth neither quailed nor retreated. As an editor Ruth lived far outside normal social circles. As Rosemary’s editor and contact she was confident Briarwood would never fire her and even if they did she could work elsewhere. What was more she was on good terms with Macey DaLair and Ava Prescott so she would never be blacklisted.
Sarah appreciated her friends’ support but this conversation would go nowhere if they continued contradicting Lidia. No doubt she came there for a reason but that would only be revealed according to Lidia’s whims. Sarah wouldn’t let the others fight her battles. Setting aside her champagne flute she stepped forward.
“Fine. Let’s have a chat.”
“Sarah, are you sure?” Ruth asked.
“It’ll be fine,” Sarah gave them a reassuring smile. “I’ll be right back. Check on Zoe for me.”
Ruth and Ava shared concerned looks but acquiesced. They recognized Sarah’s need to stand up for herself. In Ava’s case she had experience facing her tormentors including her own sister. It was something Sarah also had to do. Reluctantly they let her go and made their way back to the kids.
“Oh, there you are,” Macey greeted as they returned glancing at the preoccupied kids and dropping her voice, “where’s Sarah?”
“She had something to take care of,” Ava said as Ruth glanced around them.
“Looking for someone?” Macey asked her.
“I was just wondering where Lucas was,” Ruth said.
“He didn’t come,” Macey shook her head.
“Are you sure?”
Macey nodded.
“That’s strange,” Ruth said. “He insisted on being Sarah’s escort to events. He even made Tailor add it to their agreement.”
“What agreement?”
“Right after Lucas found out Sarah was here…they drafted a sort of contract. Lucas can’t make any public announcements about their relationship or Zoe and he can’t say anything about her being…you know Rosemary…in return they are staying with him and he was to be her escort to events she attends. I thought he was to trying to win her back.”
“A contract?” Macey repeated giving Ava a look.
“Yes, Tailor drafted it himself. It’s all legal and binding.”
“Really,” Macey was surprised. “Let’s go talk to Julius. Ava.”
“I have the kids,” Ava nodded. “Theo, where do you think you are going? Come back here.”
The older boy sheepishly returned to his mother as Macey and Ruth departed on a mission. Julius was not hard to find being the center of attention after his long absence. Unlike his father who was too intimidating and his brother who was far more reserved Julius was outgoing with a natural charisma that could charm just about anyone. If not for his fierce devotion Macey might have been inclined to worry but he never so much as glanced at other woman no matter how much they tried to catch his eye.
The effect was doubled when he was with Silas who stood almost six inches taller. Silas’s reputation had softened since his marriage earning him just as many admirers eager for his attention but like Julius he only had eyes for his wife. The pair stood together now chatting easily with a young man bearing a striking resemblance to Julius and a young woman.
“Julius,” Macey said as they approached.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Julius immediately broke his conversation to wrap an arm around her, kiss her neck and nibble her ear. Macey blushed at his audacity though she certainly didn’t mind the attention. “Look who finally showed up.”
“Hi Aunt Macey,” the young man greeted.
“Jude!” Macey smiled. “I’m so glad you made it. And who is this?”
She studied the pretty brunette at his side. Her dress was nice though obviously of cheaper quality than others in the room. Her hair was up in an unadorned ponytail but the necklace she wore, though simple, was stunning and quite clearly beyond her own means.
“This is Jessica,” Jude introduced. “Jess, this is my Aunt Macey.”
Julius gave his nephew a playful smirk. This was the first time Jude had introduced them to a girlfriend. According to March they had only met the young lady once or twice themselves and she was particularly nervous about meeting Augustus.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Macey smiled and offered her hand for a shake.
“Oh my god! It’s really you!” Jessica gushed. “I can’t believe I’m shaking hands with M. Gray! I love your work!”
“Thank you,” Macey said feeling her face warm. She met many admirers over the years but this was the first time it was a person she was sure to become intimately connected to. Jude wasn’t one for arbitrary relationships so if he was introducing this young lady it was almost certain their family would be growing soon.
“Oh, there’s grandpa,” Jude said. “Come on, he really wants to meet you.”
Jessica was positively giddy after meeting Macey and allowed Jude to lead her toward the DaLair patriarch without protest. Macey could only hope she maintained that attitude when meeting him. Augustus was rather particular when it came to the partners his progeny selected.
“Wow, I’m here with a celebrity,” Julius chuckled. He hadn’t gotten more than a shy smile from the demur lady at his nephew’s side.
“Stop,” Macey gave him a warning look. Glancing at Ruth she remembered why she sought out her husband in the first place. “Have you seen Lucas?”
Julius raised an eyebrow at her query, “Not since he came to the office a couple days ago. I told you about that. Why?”
“Apparently he has an agreement with Sarah to be her escort to events…so why did she come here alone?”
Julius glanced at Silas, “What kind of agreement?”
“It’s more like a contract,” Ruth said at Macey’s prompting.
“Contract?”
“Yeah, Tailor drafted it for them and they both signed it.”
“You’re sure about that?” Silas asked.
Ruth nodded. Both men frowned. There were several rules their fathers had taught them about business over the years. One of the first was to tread carefully around a Stanton. They were difficult to negotiate with but once an agreement was made, signed and official they adhered to every word. At least that was the case with Lucas’s predecessor, Alice Stanton, and she passed down that mentality to her successor from what they heard.
“Damn, I don’t have his number anymore,” Julius muttered. “How about you Si?”
* * *
“What did you want to talk about?” Sarah demanded.
Lidia had led her away from the crowded reception room to an area near the bathrooms. There were small private lounges also nearby but Sarah had no interest in them or being anywhere near Lidia for that amount of time.
Lidia paused, her face briefly showing her irritation before she was able to mask it again. A server passed and she snagged the two glasses off his tray offering Sarah one. Looking at the offering with an irritated look Sarah nonetheless accepted knowing Lidia wouldn’t get to the point until she did.
“I want to propose a truce,” Lidia said.
“A truce?” Sarah looked at her.
“Yes. I honestly don’t know what is going on in my brother’s head. For years he’s been obsessed with finding you. I thought after you left that was the end of it but apparently not for him,” Lidia shook her head. “When I went to talk to him about you he got all defensive and told me to stay away and not bother you.”
Sarah frowned, “I thought you said no one cared or looked for me after I left.”
“Well…”
Lidia’s hesitation was enough to confirm the truth. Sarah was stunned into silence for several moments. So Lucas really had looked for her. Though she wanted to believe it she hadn’t dared entertain the idea. But it was true. Lucas had been looking for her. But why?
“So…like I said. I don’t know what my brother is thinking but I don’t want to stir up any trouble,” Lidia continued when Sarah remained silent.
Sarah drew in a slow breath. So that’s what this was all about…the text messages. Her former sister-in-law was worried about the messages getting out.
“So…truce?” Lidia raised her glass as if for a toast.
Sarah eyes her warily. There was still something off. Lidia was a schemer, conniving and manipulative. Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling there was something else going on. Lucas warned Lidia to keep clear and she was at a party hosted by trustworthy friends. Lidia would be stupid to try anything tonight.
Lidia smiled shaking her glass. Sarah watched her trying to figure out what might be going on in her head. There had to be some angle to this offer. Figuring out Lidia’s twisted mind was no easy task and Sarah didn’t want to make the others worry by being gone too long.
“Fine.” Sarah clanked her glass with Lidia’s before taking a gulp of champagne to seal the truce.
Immediately her face twisted in disgust at the bitterness that invaded her mouth. Sarah frowned looking at her glass sniffing the sparkling liquid. It didn’t look any different to what she drank before. She looked at Lidia wondering if she tasted it too only to find the latter smirking, rolling her untouched glass in her fingers.
Sarah stared at her a sinking feeling already seizing her. Suddenly arms encircled her and pulled her into what seemed to be a small lounge though it also appeared to be something of a cleaning closet. The dimness of the room gave her little detail to focus on as she was shoved against the wall and a tongue invaded her mouth.
She pushed the body away aiming a slap against a chiseled face. Her retribution was met with a sinister laugh. Light spilling from the doorway gave Sarah just enough to see who her attacker was and it was someone she never wanted to see: James Goodwell.
“I knew you’d be feisty,” he laughed. “I love feisty.”
“Y-you son of a…” Sarah shook her head. Everything seemed to be closing in on her. She looked to the door to escape only to see Lidia standing there with a cruel smile on her face.
“I don’t care what you do just do it. And make sure you get pictures and send them to me so I can blast them on the gossip pages,” Lidia said then looked at Sarah. “You should have listened when I told you to stay away. Now you’re going to pay.”
Sarah’s face flushed with rage as she lunged for the figure at the door but everything felt heavy and strange. A hand gripped her wrist pulling her back and forced her against the wall again. His tongue invaded her mouth a second time as she struggled to shove him away. She took another swing but it didn’t connect. Her hands weirdly tingled and her vision was rapidly losing focus.
“That’s right, baby. Keep fighting. We have about ten minutes before the drugs reach full effect and you got to get me hard before then if we want to have any fun.”
Pushing him away she tried for the door again but he grabbed her by the waist and tossed her onto a dust-covered sofa. Sarah forced her body to move sitting up but he shoved her down and straddled her. His face hung over her and she felt his already stiff member pressing against the clothing separating them.
“We’re going to have fun tonight, baby!” he smiled.
“N-No!” Sarah forced a scream past her numb tongue.