“Tokyo? Hell yeah.”
Ian won’t get into what a lousy time he technically had in Tokyo. For fuck’s sake, he barely remembers most of it, just like he barely remembers what happened in his old frat. (Nothing good. Very little Kathryn would approve of on an ethical level. Well, maybe college-aged Kathryn would have approved. She went to her share of disgusting frat parties years ago.) “And you? Don’t suppose you’ve managed to avoid the rumor mill my mother started up at the beginning of the month.”
“Are you kidding? If Caroline of all people starts some shit, I’m one of the first to hear. Gwenny and I have been snickering over it for yonks. I used to be friends with Cassandra.”
“You were?”
“Sure were. My family goes back with the Welshes. Shit, I think we’re technically related by marriage. She’s French on her mother’s side, and my father comes from Nice, you know, so there’s some rumors there.”
“I thought you just said you were related…”
“Yeah, well, the French…”
Some families keep a little too close to their own, this is true, but James’s father and Cassandra’s mother would never fess up to the affair they had years ago in their families’ country of origin. It was extramarital when they were both already engaged to their future spouses, and as much as high society loves a good scandal, it’s the type of thing that could destroy perfectly good reputations.
“Didn’t you used to date her?” James says in an effort to redirect the conversation.
“Long time ago. I know for sure that I’m not the father.”
“Bet Kathryn’s happy about that.”
“Yeah, well, Cassandra got around. She’s not shocked that I was one of those men.”
“Hmm. I’ve heard that. Wouldn’t know what it’s like to date her. We were just friends.”
“Surely you saw what she was going through with her dating life.”
“I didn’t say we were good friends. Saw her maybe once a month for lunch or dinner. We’d talk about relationships, but nothing that heavy. She was more interested in my life with Gwen than talking about herself.”
There are other people in the room who don’t talk much about themselves either.
“Hello, everyone!” While nobody will say they are more than mere acquaintances with the new arrival, everyone does instantly recognize Judith the moment she saunters up to the table. Because what the group clearly needs is one more blond to liven up the eyeballs.
Not that a single other woman holds even a candle to Judith’s other physical assets. More than one pair of eyes go straight to her cleavage. And by more than one pair, this narrator insinuates every single pair… although she will admit that some linger more than others.
“Hope you all are having a merry time at the gala, because nobody knows what’s being discussed better than I do.” That is directed at Eva, who can’t even say she knows what is going on as well as Judith. “That said, friendly reminder that I’ve missed all of you at my quaint place of business.” She slams her hands on both Ian and Kathryn’s chairs. “Especially you two lovebirds.” Her eyes linger on Kathryn, who had once entertained the professional submissive with a rousing round of lesbian play back in the early days with Ian. “And you should come by again soon too. I’m sure Monica would be delighted to see more family around.”
Nadia perks up. “Again?” She rounds on Eva. “The hell is she talking about?”
“Take a wild guess, honey.”
Damage and mischief done, Judith too-da-loos and finally returns to her own table, where her irate date awaits. Because Seth hates nothing more than these fancy shindigs that demand his social attention. Especially when that social attention is commanded by his best friend, a man he can barely stand in small doses on a good day.
“What a swell party.” Only Zack would show up in something less than a tux. That isn’t to say he doesn’t look good. But he definitely isn’t up to snuff according to most of the people sending disgusted looks in his direction. Seth figures his friend has earned the right to do as he pleases at these things. He grew up in high society, as much as he tries to deny it. But unlike James Merange, who could still fit in even with a dubious personality, Zack chooses the bum look whenever possible. Having met some of the other Feldmans? Seth can’t blame him.
Besides, Seth is at the losers’ table. Okay, so nobody is outright calling it that, but with a table consisting of an ex-doctor-turned-artist, an heir who spends most of his days scruffin’ it on boats, and a sex worker notorious for being absolutely shameless about her job and work history… no wonder Judith keeps getting up to bother people. If they aren’t coming to her, then by God she is going to them!
“You really need to get a girlfriend,” Seth mutters. “Keep this up and people will start thinking we’re in relationship.”
Zack shrugs. “I’ve had many girlfriends this past year. Sorry one didn’t make the cut to bring to such a prestigious event as this. Besides, I wouldn’t have the proper attention to give a lady friend, considering the real reason I came here.” Zack won’t admit it, but the rest of his family is sitting on the other side of the room. They haven’t missed his presence. “Cassandra still hasn’t shown her face, and that makes me sad.”
“Don’t remind me about her, please.” Seth has been driving himself nuts with thoughts of being some child’s father. “It’s all Judith will talk about. Apparently every night at the Château has been a giant blabbermouth party about all the men they’ve slept with and who they think could possibly be the father. I feel sorry for Cassandra.” Seth would feel sorry for her even if he didn’t know her that well. What woman wants to have her entire sex life dissected in order to determine the paternity of her child? The sooner this all clears up, the better.
“Dude, everyone feels sorry for her. That’s why they’re so up the ass of this rumor. It’s schadenfreude at its best.”
“Not sure that’s how that phrase works.”
Judith drapes herself against Seth’s left side. When are they going to get dinner, again? “Do either of you boys know what time it is? Because I…”
“Mon cherie! There you are!”
One woman’s burst of joy is another man’s groan of disbelief. Because, seriously, who has told Miguel Bolivar he was allowed to come, let alone before the night was even over? Seth was guaranteed a night with his girlfriend before she jetted off to Monaco for the holidays. Doesn’t this man get to spend enough time with Judith? (Then again, she has to deal with his family on Christmas, and Seth is more than happy to miss that spectacle.)
“You don’t need me to make people think you’re gay,” Zack says with a chuckle. Both he and Seth watch as Miguel sweeps Judith up in his arms, the woman of the moment squealing in delight at the arrival of her other boyfriend. “If they find out what you get up to with those two, well, bye.”
“How many times do I have to tell you… no, never mind.” Seth doesn’t need reminding. How he feels during threesomes and how he feels outside of them are two different headspaces, and neither were any other man’s business. Not even Miguel’s most of the time. “Well, you said you wanted more people at our table, so here he is. Make nice with your new best friend.”
Certainly, Zack would. Because Zack got along with anyone who didn’t mind speaking with him in the first place. Miguel’s mutual love of marine life made them fast friends before they even knew they shared Seth as a common link.
Because it isn’t bad enough that he showed up at the last minute, Judith clings to him with that adoring smile Seth would rather hoard for himself plastered across her face. “Cómo estás?” Miguel gives Seth his full attention, which happens about as often as the two of them going out for drinks together. “Or was that not Latin enough for you?”
“Yes, yes, you and your Mediterranean wit have been sorely missed around here.”
“Seth is dying because he doesn’t know if he’s the father yet.”
Zach snorts in amusement at Judith’s assessment of her boyfriend’s situation. “With how much it costs to raise a Welsh baby, you can bet he’ll be asking you for a loan so he can pay the child support, Miguel.”
“I can afford child support, thank you very much.” Don’t people, even ones Seth cares about, have anything better to do than to speculate like this? He would never guess that a party is going on.
That same party is anything but heating up in other corners of the room, and not just because certain men are so antisocial that they can only stand the presence of one other couple and have asked the bodyguards to keep other visitors away. The only reason Damon Monroe condescended to attend this party is because he has a vested interest in what the Welshes are up to. Like hell he is going to find out from a troubled phone call that he is the father and thus involved in one of the biggest paternity scandals to hit the city since Margaret Winchester ran off to have a shotgun marriage with a Turkish soldier. Or was he Kurdish?