“Likewise, Elle. You look beautiful. Engagement must agree with you.”
Elle flushes.
“You’ve made Cedric so happy.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you mind giving us some privacy?” Elizabeth says, gesturing at me. “There are a few items I need to discuss with Ava.”
Elle glances between me and Elizabeth. “Of course. It’s always a chore, isn’t it, instructing the help?”
My cheeks redden at the snub. She is just like her obnoxious mother. I press my lips together and wait for Elizabeth to join the snotty fun.
“I’m afraid you’re mistaken, Elle. Ava is a valuable member of the Sterling Medical Center. I’m here to consult, not instruct.” The pleasant expression on Elizabeth’s face remains the same, and her voice is just as sweet. But a subtle shift in body language makes it clear she’s just delivered a rebuke.
Elle looks at me again, this time less certain. “Oh. Well, my mistake. I’ll get going now. I hope you have a productive talk.”
“We will.” Elizabeth smiles warmly. Once we’re alone, she extends her hand. “I’m Elizabeth Pryce-Reed.”
I ignore her hand. I don’t want anything to do with people related to Lucas. “I know.”
I wait for her to be upset, maybe deliver a reprimand the way she did to Elle. Instead, she drops her hand back to her side and smiles. “I like you.”
“You don’t even know me.” I wrap my arms around myself. “If you’re here to ask me to help Lucas fulfill the conditions so you guys can get the paintings, forget it.”
“I would never ask you to do that.”
I snort. “Really? Why don’t I believe you?”
She regards me quietly for a moment, and there is compassion in her gaze. “I saw you watching him with Faye.”
My face heats. Goddamn it. The last thing I want is public humiliation. “You must’ve enjoyed the show.”
“You care about him.”
“What do you want me to do about it?”
“Has he told you he loves you?”
I can’t hold her eyes anymore. She’s seeing too far into me, and I hate that, even though I’m certain Lucas told her everything. “Don’t you know?”
“What am I supposed to know?”
“Didn’t he tell you how he couldn’t act well enough to convince me? ‘I’m in love with you.’” I look up and blink as my vision blurs. The memory of it still hurts. The pain is doubly bad after having seen him with Faye. “What a joke.”
With horror, I realize I’m crying, and turn away.
“Come on.” Elizabeth wraps an arm around me and leads me into an alcove behind a giant planter to give us some privacy. She hands me an embroidered handkerchief from her clutch. “He didn’t lie, Ava.”
I dab at my eyes furiously. “Sure. That’s why he’s already moving on to the next candidate—”
“He’s with her because you didn’t fight for him.”
My hand fists around the damp handkerchief. “Oh, bullshit.”
“I know he loves you. Otherwise he would’ve never stayed in Charlottesville or gone after you in Asia.” A beat of silence. “Where I sent him.”
My mouth opens. I wondered why he waited so long before coming after me. To learn that it was Elizabeth’s doing—it’s the last thing I suspected. “You?”