I successfully survived dinner seated at the same table as Macalister, as had Jillian. Perhaps the three glasses of wine she’d consumed had helped. But I hadn’t been able to talk to Royce alone and tell him what had happened. Part of me was too scared to. Not because I worried he wouldn’t believe me, but because if I threatened to leave . . . he might let me.
He’d choose his goal over me.
There was music from a live band following the dinner, and as we danced, I couldn’t help but notice Mr. Lambert and Macalister tucked in a corner, deep in conversation. At one point, Macalister smiled and laughed. To anyone else, he might look charming, but it left me horribly cold. Royce and I had our fake personas, and it was clear his father did too.
I grabbed Royce’s hand. “Let’s go out on the balcony.”
I’d put in my time during the cocktail hour and schmoozed with Royce’s employees. I’d sat with the rest of the Hales for a family picture. I’d even been able to chat with my parents for a few minutes before dinner, and once again, my mother had been more focused on the necklace I wore than her own daughter.
Now I wanted five minutes alone with my fiancé, who I hadn’t been able to touch for a solid week and was desperate to be away from the board members milling about the party.
We each snagged a glass of champagne and strolled out onto the balcony that overlooked the harbor. Despite the nice October weather, it wasn’t crowded out here. The music thumping from inside was muffled behind the windows, and there was the occasional horn from a boat, but it was relatively quiet.
He looked out over the water and said it right before he took a sip of his champagne. “I almost didn’t go.”
“What?”
“To Sydney. It was hard to leave.”
I rested my hand on the cold railing lining the balcony, not sure if he meant because he’d miss me, or because he wanted to protect me from his father.
“Hey, I need to tell you something.”
He turned and put the full force of his intense gaze on me. “Yeah, me too. But you go first.”
“I played your father in chess this afternoon, and I won.”
Beneath his black mask, surprise washed through his eyes, and a cautious smile lifted his lips. “That’s great. That means it’s over, right?”
I took in a preparing breath. “He didn’t take the loss well.”
His smile died. “What’d he do?”
I figured he only needed the broad details. “He kissed me. He told me I had to come to his room tonight and if I don’t, he’ll make me get rid of my tattoo.” His mouth opened, maybe to tell me it wasn’t the end of the world, but I kept going. “And he’ll take away your seat.”
Royce’s chest rose and fell with an enormous breath. Then he tilted back his champagne flute and drained it in three big swallows. When his gaze settled back on me, it was impossible to read. “He’s bluffing.”
“What if he’s not?”
He shook his head. “I know him. He’s invested too much effort in his legacy to do that.”
I wasn’t stupid enough to ask Royce to give everything up and run away with me, but I wanted to. Macalister had invested in his legacy, and Royce had in his plan, and neither was going to walk away. They were on a collision course.
I could only hope we would survive it.
There was a boom overhead that made me flinch, and as I gazed up, gold rained down. Fireworks. There was a boat in the harbor setting them off, and it took me a moment to realize these were for the HBHC gala. The chandelier fireworks lit up the night sky and reflected in the bay water below. Their slow descent made them golden weeping willows until they faded away.
It was a beautiful, lavish display.
As he watched them, his elbows resting on the railing, I studied him. He looked so handsome and sure, and the words bubbled up, unstoppable.
“I love you.”
His head snapped to me, the fireworks forgotten. “What?”
“I said I love you.”
At that exact moment, Sophia Alby materialized from fucking nowhere. She must have come up behind me like a ninja. Was this how she got the bulk of her information? By eavesdropping and perfect timing?
She wore a black dress, a mask like Catwoman, and an epic grin. She’d heard what I’d said and was eagerly awaiting Royce’s response.
He rose to his full height, his eyes pure and determined, and placed a hand on my waist. “I love you too.”
It was effortless. Easy for him. His lips brushed over mine in a sweet kiss that asked for more, and I obliged. His second kiss was hungry. It tasted like champagne and passion, but emotions swirled uneasy inside me.