‘I’m aware that betrayal has a way of messing with people’s minds.’ A hint of that torment she’d glimpsed made an appearance. As did the curiously strong need to alleviate it for him.
Brushing it away, she answered, ‘Are we talking people generally or do you have personal knowledge of this?’
He stepped closer, blocking out the rest of the room and giving her no choice but to inhale his scent, to look into those unique gold-flecked hazel eyes. ‘I’ve been dealt a few life lessons but I’m talking about you. Was that why you slept with me?’ he breathed with a quiet intensity. ‘To assuage your sense of betrayal?’
‘Why are we going over this again?’
He murmured something pithy under his breath. ‘Perhaps I’m trying to make sense of it all. Trying to square things in my mind so I can move on.’
Shame scythed through her as she admitted that she didn’t want it squared away. She wanted to remember that night; to treasure it as the special moment in time it’d been for her. Of course, she knew she could never tell him that.
Straightening her spine, she returned his stare. ‘Morgan’s decisions and actions were his own. For my part, I married him for better or worse; he was the man I’d pledged to honour and cherish. And yes, before you remind me again, I broke that vow before he was even buried. Was I upset that things turned out the way they did? Of course I am.’ A trill of laughter from a guest grounded her to where she was. ‘I also think that this is the last place we should be discussing this. Frankly, I’d prefer it if we buried the subject once and for all. Can we do that, please?’
He stared down at her for several minutes before he inhaled deeply. He took a single step back and nodded. ‘Consider the matter buried.’
She managed to nod before glancing over his shoulder. Several guests were looking their way, no doubt wondering why she’d commandeered Ari’s attention. ‘I need to get back to work, earn the generous salary you’re paying me.’
His lips pursed but he gave her enough room to slide past. ‘I look forward to seeing you in action.’
Perla wasn’t sure if it was a threat or anticipation. And she couldn’t dwell on it because her insides were churning from the exchange. Once again, it had seemed as if her reason for sleeping with him mattered to him.
Far from being a distraction as he’d claimed, it seemed he couldn’t stop thinking about that night any more than she could.
Could she trust him not to bring it up again? Could she trust herself not to blurt out that it’d meant more than just a means to alleviate her pain?
She sucked in a deep breath and pinned a smile on her face. She’d survived Morgan and the debacle that had been her marriage.
She was a lot stronger now for it. She just needed to keep reminding herself of it.
* * *
Both runway shows went without a hitch. Watching from the back, Perla breathed a sigh of relief when the lights went up and her guests started to finish off their vintage champagne. Another few minutes and she could start herding them back to the limos to return to the Pantelides Casino for the gambling part of the evening. That was the most important part because it was why Ari had organised this event in the first place—
‘Relax,’ Ari said from beside her. How could a man so big, move so silently? ‘You’re off to a good start if Selena Hamilton is singing your praises. According to her, the two of you are BFFs now.’ He picked up two glasses of pink champagne from a hovering waiter’s tray and offered one to her.
‘I wouldn’t go that far but I’m glad she’s pleased.’ She took the champagne but didn’t take a sip, much as she wanted to. The need for liquid courage was what had placed her in Ari Pantelides’s crosshairs in the first place.
She was not going to make the mistake of drinking around him ever again.
‘She isn’t the only one who is impressed by your efficiency.’
Unable to help herself, she looked up at him. Hazel eyes captured hers and her breath snagged in her chest. ‘Oh?’
‘Her husband was equally effusive. Twice as much, in fact.’ A hard bite had materialised in his tone.
She swallowed. ‘What are you implying?’
He shrugged. ‘He has wandering hands. Make sure you’re not caught between them.’
On the surface, it seemed like a fair warning. Perhaps she was reading more into the situation than was necessary. They stared at each other for several heartbeats before she nodded. ‘Thanks for the heads-up.’