“Natalie.” His gaze dropped to her hand, which was still holding Charlie’s, and the timbre of his voice changed. “Rodale.”
She felt herself flushing, hot and cold all at once. Why did she feel bad? It
wasn’t like they’d ever agreed to see each other exclusively.
“Damon.” From Charlie’s tone, it might as well have been Demon.
She tightened her hand around Charlie’s. “Come on, we’re late. Let’s go.”
Alex stepped in front of them and preceded them up the walkway. His gait was casual, as if he didn’t give a damn about what she was doing with Charlie. She concentrated on not noticing the way his broad shoulders and hips moved under the perfectly fitted clothes.
They stopped in front of the white, paneled door. Alex rang, and Natalie and Charlie waited behind him. Louise appeared, decked out in a gorgeous lavender dress that showed off her slim legs. Her face lit in a polite greeting, the perfect politician’s wife’s mask that never wavered in public.
“Thank you so much for coming. You must be Alex Damon,” she said. “So glad to meet you in person.”
Alex favored her with a smile. “The pleasure’s all mine.” He shook hands with her and slipped inside.
Louise turned to Charlie, hugged him, said something while pointing at a group of men who were talking farther into the house, and gently pushed him toward them. She turned to Natalie once he was out of hearing range. “Thanks so much for your help, Natalie.”
Natalie gave her a tight smile. She no longer tormented herself about why Louise treated her like a pest she couldn’t get rid of. It was simply one of the indignities of life. Louise, of course, would deny to her last breath that she treated Natalie any different from Belle.
“Well, come in and say hello to everyone. Mix around. You know how critical this year is.”
Natalie stepped into the ivory marble foyer. Gold-trimmed chair rails ran around the walls, dividing them into unequal halves: champagne on top and pastel blue on the bottom. Louise had redecorated not too long ago. She claimed it was important to have a “dignified” home.
Natalie thought it was rather pretentious. In good taste, of course, but pretentious, nonetheless.
She went to the living room, where the majority of the guests had congregated. There was an overabundance of fifty-something men, all silvering hair and golf tans. Many of them were with thirty-something women. Everyone had drinks in their hands.
Framed family portraits and photos sat on the gigantic fireplace mantel. The pictures showed a happy and well-adjusted family. Looking at them never failed to stir a bitter mixture of sadness and disgust in Natalie.
She plucked a flute of champagne from a tray and scanned the area. She knew almost all of the guests, but she suddenly felt too tired for superficial chitchat. Finally, her eyes zeroed in on Emily Rodale. Thank God. Like Louise, she was a petite blonde. But her heart was much warmer.
“Oh, there you are,” Emily said as Natalie approached. “More and more beautiful every time I see you. How’s work?”
“It’s going well. I just got promoted.”
Emily’s eyebrows, already plucked and painted into high arches, gained a bit more altitude. Despite her ultra-conservative high-society background, she’d been a feminist since day one and always showed a keen interest in Natalie’s career. “Really? So now you’re…what?”
“Senior lead financial analyst. First-in-command in my department, so to speak. I still report to the company president, though.”
Emily laughed. “Well, perhaps not for long, knowing you.” She raised her wineglass. “To success.”
Natalie clinked her flute with Emily and took a deep swallow, suddenly feeling better. Sometimes she wished she were Emily’s adopted child instead of Louise’s. Who knew where she would be now if she’d had this sort of support and encouragement when she was growing up?
“So, now that…” Emily’s words trailed off as her eyes focused on a spot beyond Natalie’s right shoulder. The transformation was immediate and dramatic. Her eyes shuttered, ice replacing the warmth in them, and the smile left her lips.
Natalie turned her head and saw Alex standing behind her. A dash of insolence twisted his lips.
“How did you get in?” Emily said. Despite her size, she managed enough condescension to outdo any member of the French aristocracy.
“The same way you did, I imagine. Massive donations, friendships based on mutual blackmail, wrecking the lives of those around me to satisfy a ruthless ambition…” He smiled charmingly. “The usual.”
What the…? Natalie glanced from Alex to Emily and back. How had he gotten an invitation? Maybe he knew Brian…or Belle, although she doubted it was the latter.
“Don’t be so shy, dear.” Alex put his arm around her. “You didn’t tell me you knew Emily.”
Natalie didn’t understand his game, but she had no intention of getting caught in the middle of it. “You didn’t ask.” She ducked out from under his arm and made a quick exit, heading toward the kitchen. Maybe a small bite before dinner would help settle the tension that had returned to her stomach.