Authors: Ella Celestine
Chapter Three
Courtney beat a quick path from the conference room back to her office, her heart working hard to beat its way out of her chest. She dropped down in her chair and released a long, slow breath. Seeing Andrew again after so many years and so much heartbreak, had affected her more than she thought possible. He was still handsome as hell from the two-second glance she’d allowed herself when she heard the yelling through the wall. But seeing his arrogant, stuck up father was another matter altogether.
She was proud of the way she’d handled Nicholas Stanton, the cheapest billionaire on the planet. She’d argued with him and refused to back down when he took on that belligerent tone that scared most people. Well it didn’t scare her. Not anymore. Nick Stanton had already taken away something important from her; she wouldn’t let him take anything else. Not this time.
Hopefully that was the last time I’ll have to see any member of the Stanton family
, she thought as a knock sounded at her door. “Come in,” she called out but kept her gaze on her monitor. She didn’t need to look at David to hear him bitch about the clients
he
brought in without asking. “So you survived your first meeting with Nicholas Stanton. Good job David. What an arrogant prick.”
“Yeah he is, but I don’t call him that to his face.”
Her entire body froze, including her heart, at the sound of Andrew’s voice so close to her. “What are you doing in here?” Courtney allowed herself a moment to soak in his handsome features. Those honey blonde curls were longer, nearly brushing his collar but one cowlick stood up and fell in the opposite direction. It was adorable and she remembered long nights spent running her hands through them. His tall body had added more muscles, giving him the appearance of a fully grown man rather than a young boy. And those green eyes, sparkling emeralds she used to call them, had a way of seeing all the way down to her soul. Yeah he was still a handsome bastard. Emphasis on the
bastard
part.
He stared for a beat too long and she arched an eyebrow at him. “I just wanted to say hi.”
Courtney took one final look at him before all her good sense fled. Andrew might be handsome and he might even still own a teeny tiny sliver of her heart, but he came with too much baggage. Oh, and he’d dropped her like a hot potato at daddy’s word, shattering her heart into too many pieces to count.
There. There’s that anger I need to hang on to.
“Okay then. You should probably go catch up with your group.”
Blonde brows furrowed for a moment before his features smoothed out. “I also wanted to thank you for not tearing up the contract. Since we’ll be dealing with each other a lot over the next year, I hope we can be civil at least.”
Courtney stopped the snarky comment threatening to spill out of her mouth as well as the rage at his audacity.
I hope we can be civil
, she scoffed at his words. “There’s no reason for us to be anything because I’m not handling your account. David is. Exclusively.”
“Right.” He nodded but she caught the flash of disappointment. “Well it was good to see you.”
“Sure it was.” God she really wanted to hate him but he looked tired and angry. “So how are you doing with this whole arranged marriage deal?”
Andrew shrugged in that way he had of making even big things seem like no big deal. “I don’t really care. My love life is nothing, not since you anyway. Charlotte is a workaholic and we barely even like each other. This is for publicity only.”
“Your parents must be pleased, she certainly has the pedigree.” She was proud that her voice held no trace of the bitterness she felt.
Andrew blushed all the way up to his ears. “She does have that, but she isn’t you Courtney. You know, I never stopped loving you. Never.” His shoulders sagged. “Not a day goes by that I don’t wish I’d stood up for us.”
Ice raced through her veins at his words. “Yeah well you didn’t Andrew so there’s no point wishing for things that can’t be changed.” She shook her head in disgust. Even now he wasn’t standing up to his father. He’d rather be locked in a marriage to a woman he could barely stand than take a stand against his tyrannical father. “Goodbye, Andrew.”
His green eyes bored into her light brown ones for a long, neverending moment. In that moment, she felt the connection as though it had never been severed. But it had, coldly and cruelly. By him.
Courtney turned back to her computer, the right side of her face burning under the heat of his gaze but she would not look. Would not be tempted to look. Screw Andrew Stanton, screw his cold bride to be and screw the entire farce.
“Goodbye Courtney,” he told her sadly and closed the door behind him with a quiet
snick.
Chapter Four
“Oh my goodness girl, these people are like watching a bad soap opera!” David breezed into her office with a big grin on his face and a stack of files in his hands. “Old man Stanton wants a bill with every single cost itemized to make sure ‘that girl’ doesn’t try to get his money again.” He rolled his eyes with an amused squeal. “And the soon to be newlyweds never even looked at each other or said a word! So dysfunctional. This is going to be amazing!”
Courtney shook her head at his excitement. “Yeah, Andrew just told me they don’t even like each other. He’s doing it to please his father. Again.” Pretending like that didn’t hurt was as hard as knowing that he was still a coward. Only this time he would end up with a wife as his reward. Standing, she went to the small fridge in the corner and grabbed two waters. “It’s crazy but it’s also the Stanton way.”
Her best friend leaned forward, concern written all over his face. “So what are you going to do, babe?”
Courtney frowned at him. “I’m not going to do anything other than take over some of your workload so you can handle this account.”
“What? You mean to tell me that you have another chance with the only man you’ve ever loved and you’re going to do nothing? Nothing! I’m so disappointed.”
That made her smile. “There is no second chance, David. He’s here with his bride to be and I’m done with him and men like him. You know that. I don’t date clients, other women’s men and rich men, and that includes Andrew Stanton most of all.”
He gave an exaggerated pout. “Well I think you should reconsider because that Charlotte, she is a stone cold
bitch
,” he whispered, looking around to make sure no eager ears were listening.
Courtney frowned. “Why is she a bitch? Because she’s headstrong and goes after what she wants? If she were a man, you’d be singing her praises.” She shook her head. The absolute last thing she needed was to start forming an opinion about Charlotte Temple.
“No, she’s a bitch because she is a b-i-t-c-h. Homegirl wanted to rent out the Empire Ballroom for their engagement party for the same day the Children’s Health Fund is holding their annual fundraiser. When I told her as much, you know what she said?
Tell the little runts to go somewhere else and beg for money, I want that fucking venue!
”
Yeah, she sounded like a giant bitch, but none of that mattered. “I’m sorry David but I don’t want to hear anything about this account, other than it’s running smoothly.”
Again with the sympathetic look that made her want to puke all over his designer shoes. “Aww, honey, you still love him.”
“No the hell I don’t! I just don’t want to hear every detail for an engagement party and wedding to a man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with. Is that so hard for you to understand?”
That quickly stopped his nonstop chatter and instantly, regret filled his eyes. “Of course it’s not. I get it sweetie, I do. You’re so strong all the time that I forget you used to be human.”
Courtney gave him an affronted look but the smile wouldn’t stop. She had done a pretty good imitation of an emotionless robot. “Well I am, alright? All I want is for this little production to go off without a hitch and without my help. If you do that, I’ll think of a way to pay you back.” David nodded and left, and Courtney promised herself she would make him partner if she could avoid Andrew for the next twelve months.
~
They had been at this ridiculous farce for far too long yet they weren’t even halfway through the campaign. Andrew and Charlotte had been dating for a few months already and he’d even had a couple of sleepovers as far as the rest of the world was concerned. Only a scant few knew that he slept in her guest room on those nights while she was tucked away in her own ice-cold den. They smiled for the cameras and pretended to be falling in love with one another, when the truth was they barely spoke when the cameras weren’t rolling. Andrew knew as much about her now as he did months ago.
That was just fine by him. She wasn’t a woman he wanted to get to know. The woman he did want to see wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. He’d only seen glimpses of Courtney since that first day in her office; she was always coming and going without stopping in and saying hello. She never greeted him or anyone else in their party, simply ducked out of the way and closed up in her office or left the building altogether. It was torture.
Seeing her again had brought their entire relationship to the forefront of his mind. The sweet rush of their first kiss and the first time he slid inside those curves he couldn’t resist. Then the heady feeling of falling in love with her and shopping for a ring. It had been, and was still the best two years of his life. And he’d fucked it up. And he’d spent every day of the past five years paying for it.
He just wanted to see her again, talk to her and see her smile. Those few moments with her in her office had stuck with him, especially her familiar scent of citrus and flowers. It had stuck with him for days after he’d seen her and now he would give anything to smell it again. Too bad Courtney had made her own feelings known without saying a word. No matter what happened or how out of control things had gotten, she hadn’t shown up. David had called her a few times for help and she’d given it—over the phone.
Andrew really had no idea what he expected to happen or how he expected her to react to him, but he hated what he’d gotten so far. Tomorrow night was his engagement party and for some reason, he needed to see her before that happened. He needed to know he wasn’t making the giant mistake he knew he was making. He needed to see her and to be reminded of what it was like to really and truly love another person before he sold his soul for a few more zeroes.
Most of all, he needed Courtney. And he couldn’t have her, dammit.
Chapter Five
“Why the hell are you still in the office and why are you still wearing that dress?” David looked horrified as she glared at him.
“Excuse me? This is a very pretty dress that flatters my body, thank you very much. And it’s my office, where else would I be?”
David dropped the stack of folders on a chair and strolled to her desk, grabbing her hands and pulling her up. “Oh no honey, you need to get home and get into your prettiest party dress. We have an engagement party to attend!”
Sometimes Courtney really hated how he got so excited about everything. “I’m not going.” The last thing she wanted to see was Andrew with his fiancé, doing all the things they should have done five years ago but never got the chance. She might not want him anymore, but she didn’t want to see his engagement up close and personal. No thank you.
“You have to Court. Everyone will be at this thing. Movie and TV stars, models, musicians and probably even a few politicians. Think of the networking opportunities baby girl. Don’t let him take this too.”
“Dammit, David.” She dropped her head in resignation because her friend was right. Andrew had stolen her heart and along with it, the ability to fall in love again. He couldn’t have her business dammit. It was hers. “Fine, I’ll be there.” She ignored his happy dance as she snatched her bag and stomped out of her office.
Three hours later she had on a new magenta Marchesa dress, sky high nude pumps and a gold clutch, looking fierce as she entered the Grand Ballroom of the Accent Hotel. She had no idea if the children’s fundraiser had been bumped and she didn’t want to know. Her plan was simple. Smile at everyone and network for a couple hours before slipping out a side door and picking up Greek food on her way home. That was her plan and she was sticking to it.
Hopefully.
Courtney’s first stop was to the bar where she grabbed a dirty gin martini. It would be the only drink she had so she planned to savor it. “Thanks,” she said and tipped the young bartender before turning to scan the room. Immediately her gaze landed on Andrew and Charlotte, playing the part of the newly engaged couple all too well. Her gut clenched and promptly fell to the floor in an emotion she did not want to think about. Two long sips of her drink later and she made her way to a circle of professional athletes, two of whom were her clients. She laughed and she smiled, pretended like being at the party wasn’t ripping her insides out. Then she moved on to the next circle of up and coming Hollywood starlets, handed out her card and moved along. In the first hour alone she’d set up five meetings and promised to call ten others. So far the party had been worth the steep price she’d paid to attend with a smile.
“You look beautiful tonight, Courtney,” Andrew’s deep voice was a raspy whisper in her ear.
Her eyes closed instinctively as they always had, allowing her to feel more of him against her body. She shuddered and took two wide steps away from him. “Thank you, Andrew. You look nice as well.”
The bastard laughed at her. “Thanks,” he smirked. “I didn’t think you’d be here.”
“I hadn’t planned on it until David mentioned what a good networking opportunity it would be.” She scanned the room in search of somebody, anybody else she could talk to.
“Well I’m glad you’re here.” His smile was nervous and he ran a shaky hand through his hair.
“I’m not here. And you shouldn’t be here with all these photographers around. The last thing we need is for someone to photograph us together and dig up ancient history.” She took several steps before she felt the heat of his hand wrap around her bicep. Her glare intensified. Courtney knew it was dangerous being this close to him, especially while he looked so delicious in his tux. He always had, and she’d forgotten. Damn her, but she’d forgotten. And right now, Andrew in a suit was more than she could handle in her fragile mental state. “Let me go.”
“Dance with me.”
“No.” She couldn’t let him hold her. It would unravel her completely.
“Fine, have a drink with me.”
She nodded rather than fight and followed him to the bar. She’d been sipping her martini so all she had to do was sit and remind herself that this was a cowardly man who threw her love away. “Congratulations,” she told him and lifted her drink in cheers.
“Thanks,” he gave her a sardonic smile and took a sip of his beer. “So you’ve done well for yourself.”
“I have.”
“Remember that time Rock Bloodstone grabbed your ass and you flipped him on his back in front of the entire crew?” He laughed, shaking his head. “He was so embarrassed.”
That pulled a smile from her. “But it also taught him a valuable lesson about touching a woman without permission.”
“You were so badass and I knew I was going to fall for you, even then.”
There’s that bucket of ice-cold water I needed ten minutes ago.
“Stop. Don’t go there.”
“Why?” His golden wheat brows dipped low in confusion. “It wasn’t bad between us.”
Courtney finished off her drink, slammed her glass on the bar, sent an apologetic look to the bartender and glared at Andrew. “It wasn’t
anything
between us, you made that crystal clear Drew. So if you want to walk down memory lane, do it without me.” And with that, she walked away; more like stomped away. Courtney felt like a fool.
That’s because you are a fool.
Shaking her head, she ducked into an empty room to pull herself together.
God that man was so annoying! Thinking she could just walk down memory lane as if it didn’t matter.
Wait a minute, it
didn’t
matter. At least not to her. Right?
She sagged against the door and wondered how it was possible to still be so angry at someone you didn’t give a damn about.
Because you do give a damn, dummy.
“Shit.” Of course she did. You can’t be angry at someone you don’t care about and she knew she’d been angry at a very specific subset of men. “Dammit,” she swore as a few tears trickled down her cheek.
If anyone had asked her this morning, Courtney would have sworn she shed every tear possible five years ago. She needed to get out of here. Fast. Then she heard a moan and froze.
Please, anything but that.
After sending her prayer up, she crept from her empty room to the door next to it and pulled it open. “Oh for shit’s sake!”
~
Between the time Courtney had stomped away from Andrew at the bar and he made the decision to go after her, three more beers had passed. He needed something to numb the pain of getting his wish—seeing Courtney again—and following through with marriage to that awful woman. But he’d made his bed and there was no point bitching about it now, at his engagement party.
With just enough alcohol in his system for him to ignore that nagging voice telling him to leave her alone, Andrew went in search of Courtney, noting along the way that he hadn’t seen Charlotte since he spotted his gorgeous girl in a hot pink dress. The top was sheer with little pink rosettes that somehow covered those luscious breasts and the bottom was some kind of silk that draped and showed off her legs. But when she turned and he caught a glimpse of her backside—holy fuck—there was nothing but smooth cocoa skin and two silky ribbons. He’d had to face the bar just to hide the effect she was having on him. Even now he adjusted his tightening pants as he searched for her.
Scanning the halls he saw tons of people, which required him to stop and accept their congratulations on his engagement. With a wooden smile to acknowledge the kind words, he kept pace. He was a man on a mission. Then the cameras found him and he had to pretend that he was going in search of his bride to be.
See, this is what happens when you let other people dictate your life.
He’d been doing it for years but this was, by far, the biggest ask his father had ever made.
Other than asking you to leave Courtney.
That hurt, but this thing with Charlotte was his life. The rest of his life with a woman he didn’t even like.
With cameras surrounding him, Andrew knew he needed to keep a smile fixed on his face. But when he spotted those flesh toned fuck me heels and a flash of pink silk, the smile that crossed his face was nowhere near serene or polite. It was hungry, because that’s how he felt. Starved for another dose of Courtney. Picking up the pace, he ignored the sounds of the camera and boom operators’ feet falling against the granite floors as he drew closer. Then he heard it.
“Oh for shit’s sake!” Courtney’s voice carried and he skidded to a stop behind her.
“Seriously Charlotte, tonight?” He gaped down at his fiancé on her knees in front of her boyfriend.
“What’s the big deal,” she asked as she tried to stand. Smiling up at her boyfriend when he helped her up. “Seriously Andrew, you’re as bad as the schoolmarm publicist over here.” Charlotte straightened her dress and adjusted the man’s tie affectionately. “I’ve played my part and if you two just keep your fucking mouths shut, we’ll all be…fine.” She turned and finally noticed the cameras capturing her hypothermic bitchiness. “Turn that off right now or so help me god I will make you pay!” Her screeching voice had everyone taking a giant step back. She used the space to duck out of the closet, towing her boy toy along with her and with the cameras following.
Andrew felt her hand in his a second before she tugged him into another room and slammed the door shut behind them. “What are we doing?”
She pressed two fingers to his mouth to quiet him for a few seconds before she spoke. “Okay, they all followed her. I just didn’t want to stand around while the gossip started and I figured you could use a moment away from the prying eyes of the camera.”
He was beyond stunned. That smile and the gesture that came with it was from the Courtney he knew five years ago. “Thank you, Court.” Andrew didn’t know why but that action, that glimpse of the young girl she used to be gave him hope. “That means a lot.” More than she knew.