She was like a beacon, calling me, and I was much too entranced to even pretend that I was unaffected.
I stopped in front of her, closer than was dictated by the decorum, but I didn’t care.
“Did you have a good day?” I asked, leaning down.
She smelled good, but not like her, and that bothered me. I was addicted to the way she usually smelled - like cherry blossoms.
She looked up at me and blushed. I was even more pleased to see that she was not planning on running away from me.
“I had a very good day, thank you. How was yours?”
I looked into her eyes. There wasn't any of the contempt and anger that had appeared after that night in her bedroom.
“What did she tell you?” I asked, throwing a little irritated look toward Lea, who was pretending to be engrossed in a conversation with an older shareholder.
“Nothing I didn't want to know,” she admitted evasively. She looked around. “This party is absolutely stunning.”
“And yet, so pale in comparison to you.”
She looked startled at the compliment and once again I couldn’t blame her. I’d never done anything like this, but now that I knew she hadn't written the note, I’d accepted that she was an obsession that I wasn’t about to forget, no matter how horrible I was to her.
“You look dashing in your tuxedo,” she replied.
I had to smile. Despite everything, she had to reciprocate, be nice. This woman was infuriatingly nice.
I extended my elbow to her. “Now is the time to make my insufferable speech. Would you be my date for the evening?”
She blushed again but took my arm. “Yes, I would.”
I took her to the front of the stage, where I made the expected speech about the pride I had in my heritage, the success we’d already had, and the many successes to come. When my eyes traveled around the audience, they always ended back on her. Pride filled her eyes as she rested her hands on her chest. She was looking at me as if I mattered and that ignited a little warmth in my cold heart. As I continued the speech, I met my sister's all-knowing eyes, which were full of mirth. She expected me to unravel, to come undone, but I wouldn’t do it, not for her, not for anyone.
After thanking everyone that mattered, I gestured for the DJ to start the music. My part was done for the evening; now I could relax a bit and try to enjoy a party that cost tens of thousands of dollars.
“Would you care to dance?" I asked Opal as couples started to move onto the dance floor.
“I’m not the best or most confident dancer,” she conceded, even as she followed me onto the dance floor.
"Don't worry, Ms. Collins. I'm great at leading. You just need to yield," I whispered in her ear, making her shiver.
We both knew how much she enjoyed submitting to me.
As we started to dance, I rested my hand a bit lower than was required, so my fingertips brushed the curve of her shapely ass. I also pulled her closer to me than necessary, enjoying how her body reacted to mine even when she didn't want it to.
I leaned down, almost against my will, and brushed my nose against her silky hair.
At the sound of a familiar voice, I looked up and tensed. Helle was here and making her way through the sea of people.
What the fuck was she doing here in a golden evening dress, her pale blonde hair in an integrated hairdo as if she was supposed to be here?
“Dean, what are you doing with her?” she barked, stopping beside us.
“Helle,” I warned softly. “What are you doing here?”
She turned toward Opal. “You must be the whore? Opal, isn’t it? I’m Helle, Dean’s girlfriend.”
It was official; the woman had lost her damn mind.
I tried to grip Opal’s hip, to lock her by my side, but she took a step back. “Opal belongs here. She’s wanted here. You’re not. Leave. Now”
Helle laughed. “You can’t be serious?”
She looked at Opal with her mouth tipped down in disgust before turning toward me again. “Come on, darling. You called her a useless meat sack - barely a step up from a blowup doll You don't seriously want to spend time with her.”
I saw Opal flinch and even though I'd said those words, I wanted to kill Helle for repeating them.
I grabbed Helle’s arm and turned toward Opal. “Would you excuse me?”
She nodded, wrapping her arms around herself in self-comfort; she was retreating again. I just hoped I could fix it - again.
Pulling Helle out of the room as discreetly as I could, I led her down the corridor and pulled her into the small service room that served as a security post for the night.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing here?” I barked, letting go of her arm.
She turned around, wincing as she rubbed at her arm, but I didn't care. If she had been a man, I would have punched her unconscious.
“I came to ask you to reconsider, Dean, darling. We’re so good together,” she purred, taking a step toward me.
I took a step back. “Please, you're no better or worse than any of the models I'd fucked before you and will fuck in the future.” I sneered. “We’re done. We were done before we'd even started. You were always temporary, and that pussy of yours is not that special.”
I turned to the guard in the room, who was doing his best to look at the screens and ignore the little scene happening right behind him.
“How the fuck did she make it in?” I barked at him, ignoring her huff of indignation.
“Sir, I- I’m not sure.” He was all flustered, not great for security. “She was let in the front gate. I-”
“Call him!” I ordered, pointing at the screen that showed the security post by the front door.
“Right away, sir.” He pressed his earpiece. “3278 - 3278. You’ve let in an unsub tonight.” He turned toward me, his face flushed. “Name?”
“Helle…” I trailed off, looking at her.
She was now bright red with indignation. “You don't even know my name?”
I snorted. “It was never your name I was after.”
Her previous glare turned murderous as she turned toward the security guard. “Larsen, Helle Larsen.”
The guard reported the information and sighed after a few seconds. I knew I was not going to like what he was about to tell me.
“Miss Larsen is on the list, sir.” The relief was evident in his voice.
Impossible! I grabbed the clipboard on the desk and skimmed the list, but yes, as the guard had said, her name was on the list. ‘Helle Larsen.’
“How?” I asked her with incredulity.
“Maybe you wanted me here before you went crazy and decided to bang your dead brother’s leftovers,” she spat, victory shining in her blue eyes.
I wanted to strangle the woman. “I never wanted you for more than sex, Helle whatever-your-name-is” I sighed, turning toward the guard. “Have security escort her off the premises. I’m done with her.”
“You will regret it, Dean Beaumont. Mark my words, you’ll pay for this.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Are you -” I pointed at her chest - “threatening me?” I pointed at myself.
She stood straighter, pursing her lips.
I shook my head. “You’re not equipped to play in the big league, Helle. You’re insignificant. Barely a bug with a gold-plated pussy. Leave now and never ever talk to me or anyone close to me again or I swear, your modeling career will be dead within a week. Don’t forget that Beaumont Enterprises owns a lot of diversified companies, including the main fashion magazines. Walk away while you still have a career.”