Chapter 16

The night of the party, which was being held at the Grand Hotel in the ballroom, she was nervous as she picked out a dress to wear.

Her father was going to be making a special announcement, and she was sure it was that he was making her his partner. After putting the dress on, she put on the earrings her father had given her.

She just knew this was going to be an amazing night, and she was going to be there with the man she loved. She turned around when Dexter entered the room wearing a dark suit.

She felt a flutter in her heart when she saw how handsome he looked, and the way he was staring at her made her blush.

“How do I look?”

He stood there, just staring at her, moving his eyes up and down her body.

“My God, you look so beautiful,” he said as he moved closer, standing right in front of her. Using his index finger, he traced along the edge of the top of her dress.

His eyes glued to her amazing breasts, he could feel himself getting hard below. To take his mind off of them, he moved his hand away, going to the earring that was dangling from her ear.

“Your father has great taste. These look beautiful on you.”

“You don’t think I’m showing too much up front?”

“No, not at all, but the other men better be looking into your eyes and nowhere else.”

She giggled. “Someone is very possessive. We better get going if we’re to meet the others at the hotel.”

“Yeah, just give me a minute,” he said, going over to his bag. He took out his gun and placed it in his holster under his jacket.

Then he took out a small one and placed it under his pant leg. He also took out a couple of other items and put them in his pocket.

“You look like you’re getting ready to go to war,” she said as she watched him.

He looked up and smiled back at her. “Your life is in danger, and we’re going to a place that’s going to have a lot of people attending, so I’m going prepared.

“My friend Chad has arranged for a couple of his men to be there, so you will be safe.”

When they arrived at the party, he helped her out and handed his keys over to the man in charge of parking everyone’s vehicle.

She laced her arm through his as they walked inside. The place was packed with friends, employees, and strangers she had never met before.

When a waiter came by, he picked up one glass of champagne and handed it to her.

“Are you not having one?” she asked, taking a sip from her glass.

“Not tonight. I have something very precious to protect, and I need to keep my wits about me.

“But you go ahead and enjoy yourself. You deserve a night of fun. I don’t want you to worry about anything. I’m here for you.”

She worked the room with him by her side, greeting everyone she knew, and those that she didn’t know, she introduced herself and Dexter to them.

They spotted Thomas talking to some men. Claudia had her arm through his.

“I guess we better go over and say hi to my father.”

“All right,” he answered, looking around to see where Joseph was. Not seeing him, he hoped that the prick had decided not to come—better yet, that he’d left and gone back to Paris.

His hopes were dashed when he spotted the jerk off to the side, talking to a woman.

When they got to her father and he saw her, he smiled, pulling her in for a hug. “Everyone, this is my daughter, Roxie, and her friend, Dexter Sinclair.”

Thomas gave her a warm fatherly smile. “Sweetheart, you look stunning.”

Dexter stood back as they all talked. He was impressed with how she handled herself with such elegance and confidence.

When his phone buzzed and he saw it was Chad calling, he leaned into her ear. “I have to take this call, so stay here with your father, and don’t go anywhere.”

“I hope I haven’t called at a bad time. I know you’re at the party.”

“It’s okay. What have you got for me?”

“I checked into Mr. Greene’s first wife’s death. It was an accident, no foul play. Now his second wife, Claudia, was one of his models who had a thing for wealthy men.

“They were having an affair long before his wife died. But you probably already knew most of that. I also talked to the police, and get this: the blood on her dress is pig’s blood.

“There were no prints, other than the people who work for the company and the butler.”

“His prints would be on it. He was the one who accepted it from the delivery driver. Any word on the whereabouts of Ronald Reid?”

“No, no one can find him. His apartment is empty. We’re still checking the others out, and as soon as I know anything, I’ll let you know.

“Have a good time tonight. Oh, and the bartender and two of the waiters are my men, so you’re covered.”

~“Thanks, Chad. I owe you one,” he said before hanging up. He went back over to her, placing his hand on the small of her back. “Sorry about that. It was Chad.”

She turned to look at him. “Did he have any information on whose blood was on my dress?”

He wasn’t about to tell her how her father had been cheating on her mother with Claudia. That wasn’t his call.

“The blood on the dress was pig’s blood, but they couldn’t find any prints. So we’re no further ahead than we were before.”

“I need some fresh air. Will you take me out onto the patio?”

Putting his hand on her back, he walked past the others and stepped outside. She leaned up against him, her back resting on him as he wrapped his arms around her.

“I know how you’re feeling, but I promise you it won’t last forever.”

“It’s just that I’m so tired of living in fear.”

“I know, baby. I know. It sounds like they’ve started the music. Would you care to go back in and have a dance with me?”

A smile appeared on her face. “I would love to dance with you.”

They walked inside with his arm around her waist, and they went over onto the dance floor. He pulled her into his arms as they started dancing.

He was so glad that it was one of those slow romantic songs. That way he could hold her close to his body without anyone thinking there was more going on than just dancing.

When the second song started playing, Joseph went over and tapped him on the shoulder. “Mind if I cut in?”

Dexter gave him the death stare. “As a matter of fact, I do mind.” He moved his arms from around her and stood closer to Joseph, poking his index finger into the man’s chest.

“I told you to stay the hell away from her, so you can forget about dancing with her.”

“Why don’t you let the lady speak for herself?” said Joseph, looking over at her.

“You heard Dexter. I’m not dancing with you.”

“Roxie, you are trying my patience, girl. I’m giving you the chance to make things right with me. But if this is the way you want it, don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he hissed, turned, and walked away.

Going back into Dexter’s arms, she looked up at him as he started dancing again. “I wonder what he meant by that?”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure he’s got something up his sleeve.”

Two hours later, Thomas went over to the front of the room and, taking the microphone, started talking into it.

“I want to thank each and every one of you for coming to my party.

“As you have noticed, throughout the night several models come and go, each wearing a different outfit, one of my company’s creations.

“This is just a sample of some of the outfits we have designed. There will be many more at our runway show next month.

“I hope you will all show up then, and perhaps you would like to purchase some of them. I have a special announcement, but first I would like for my daughter, Roxie, to come and be by my side.”

She looked up at Dexter, suddenly feeling very nervous. “This is it, what I’ve been waiting for,” she said, her face lighting up.

He gave her hand a light squeeze. “Congratulations. Now go on and get up there,” he said, giving her a big smile.

She walked over to her father, his arm going over her shoulders. “Now most of you know Roxie. She is one of my designers and has come up with several beautiful evening gowns.

“She even made one for tonight that was her own design, one she had been working on for a long time, but unfortunately there was a mishap, and she was unable to wear it.

“But our people are working on making another one, which will be in our show.”

He looked at her with love in his eyes. “I’m so very proud of you, sweetheart. You are destined for big things, and I wanted you by my side when I made a special announcement.”

“Thank you, Dad.”

He looked back over at the crowd of people. “I have decided to take on a partner. Please give a warm welcome to Joseph Metcalf. Joseph, come on up here.”

Roxie’s mouth fell open. Her head jerked up to stare at her father. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Joseph smirking at her.

When everyone started walking toward him to congratulate the man she hated, she walked away and headed out to the patio. Dexter followed her.

When they got outside, he grabbed her arm, stopping her from going any further. When she turned around to look at him, he saw the tears in her eyes. His heart was breaking for her.

He knew how much this meant to her to be a partner, and for her father to give it to that bastard was unforgivable. “Honey, I’m so sorry.”

“How could he do this?” she asked, fighting to hold the tears back from falling.

“I don’t know. It doesn’t make any sense to me. He must have a reason for doing it. I just can’t figure out what it could be.”

“I can tell you.”

They both turned around when they heard Thomas and saw him walking toward them.

“How could you make that man a partner?” she asked, wiping her tears away.

“Sweetheart.”

“Don’t call me sweetheart. You knew how much I wanted it, and you gave it away to a man who is a sick pervert. Why?” she screamed at him.

“When you refused to marry him to be with Mr. Sinclair, Joseph made me another offer. Making him partner, he would make sure we got into Paris. I need him to help me.

“This won’t affect your job, and I’ll put you in charge of the office and the staff.”

“So getting into Paris is more important to you than I am; is that it?” she asked, burying her face into Dexter’s chest as she broke down and started crying.

Dexter put his arm around her waist, sensing she needed his support.

“Mr. Greene, I think you are making a mistake. I believe Mr. Metcalf has an ulterior motive for wanting to be your partner.

“Just do me a favor. Don’t sign any papers until I’ve had time to check him out. If you won’t do it for me, then do it for Roxie.”

Thomas looked at her. He never thought she would take it so hard. “All right, I can hold back for a while, since he’s going back to Paris tomorrow. Roxie, I’m sorry.”

She turned her head to look at him. “I don’t want to talk to you right now. I don’t even want to be around you.” She looked back at Dexter. “Get me out of here.”

“All right. I’ll take you home now.”

“No, I don’t want to go back to the mansion. Is there anywhere else we can go?”

He cupped her face in his hands, wiping her tears away with his thumbs. “There’s somewhere we can go and stay the night.”

They walked past Thomas, and she wouldn’t talk to him when he tried to get her attention. All he could do was watch as they left him standing there.

They had just left the building when Joseph came running after them. “Roxie, wait. I want to have a private word with you.”

Dexter stood in front of her, away from Joseph. “She doesn’t want to hear anything you have to say.”

“It’s okay. I have a few words to say to him. Give us a few minutes.”

He didn’t upset her any more than she already was, so he turned to look at her. “I’ll be standing right there,” he said, pointing to the door that was just a few steps away.

As he walked past Joseph, he stopped. “I’ll be watching you, and if you so much as lay a finger on her, you’re a dead man.”

“What are you up to?” she asked him.

“Roxie, if only you had gone along with marrying me, I wouldn’t have had to get your father to make me his partner. I don’t give a shit about his business or being a part of it.”

“Then why?” she asked, wanting to slap him.

“I told you if you refused to be my wife I would find a way to destroy your father. I’ll make sure his business is ruined, and it’s only the beginning of what I’m going to do to him.

“I may even take Claudia from him. Not that I haven’t enjoyed her company already. You still have time to change your mind and save your father.”

She was so angry that she raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face. Before Joseph could react, Dexter rushed over and got between them, pushing the man away from her.

Joseph ran his fingers through his collar and backed away. “If you change your mind, give me a call,” he said and turned and walked away.

“Are you okay?” he asked, putting his hands on her shoulders.

“Yes. Just get me away from here.”