Chapter 35

She dragged Octavia out the door and closed it firmly behind them.

“Let go already,” Octavia said, wrenching out of Adelaide’s grasp once they were outside the lounge. For the small wisp of a woman that she was, Adelaide had considerable strength.

Adelaide released Octavia, then faced her with her arms folded across her chest.

With her dark hair swept up in a neat bun and her starched knee-length gray plaid dress, she almost seemed like a teacher getting ready to scold a misbehaving student.

“What the hell was that?” Adelaide demanded.

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Octavia grumbled, rubbing a spot on her arm.

“God, you’re such an idiot,” Adelaide said. “You have no idea who that is, do you?”

Octavia sighed. “I’m really getting tired of that question,” Octavia said.

“That woman is Lila Bridlington-Scott. Of THE Bridlington-Scotts,” Adelaide said.

Octavia shrugged. “Good for her, I guess.”

“The Bridlington-Scotts own the largest shipping company in the world—Voyage Express. They practically control the delivery of all manufactured items across the globe.

“Their net worth is valued at over seventy million dollars,” Adelaide continued.

Octavia made a face.

“And just for that, I suppose, I should lay myself out on the floor for Miss Scott over there to walk all over me, shouldn’t I?” Octavia said, jerking a thumb in the direction of the door.

“Yes, that’s exactly what you should do,” Adelaide said. “The last thing you want to do is get on Lila Scott’s bad side, especially when she’s here to see Mr. Kentworth.”

“So she did have an appointment?” Octavia asked. “How come I didn’t see anything on his itinerary?”

“She didn’t,” Adelaide said, “she just showed up this morning and demanded to be taken to his office where she wanted to wait for him.”

“And you just let her in?” Octavia asked.

Adelaide threw her hands up.

“Obviously. If Mr. Kentworth were to have direct access to the Bridlington-Scott family, it could be a huge advantage for Icarus Tech. We couldn’t risk Lila Scott being turned out of our building. She’d be pissed.”

“What if Mr. Kentworth is pissed that you let her in?” Octavia said.

Adelaide was silent. The thought had occurred to her, and she was torn.

Octavia whistled. “You’re between a rock and a hard place there, Weston.”

Adelaide scowled at Octavia. “I know I did the right thing. Mr. Kentworth will think so.”

Octavia shrugged. “He already met Ms. Lila Bridlington-Scott, you know. At the conference. He walked right by her like she didn’t exist.”

Adelaide’s scowl didn’t fade, but it did become a little more pale.

“That can’t be,” Adelaide said.

“Have you ever seen him give a damn about anyone? Even if they do come from a prestigious wealthy family?” Octavia questioned.

“You’ll see,” Adelaide said, with more conviction in the context of her words than what lay in her tone. “He’ll be glad I did this, I know it.”

Suddenly the door they had been standing outside swept open, and Ms. Lila Scott emerged.

“Where is Raemon Kentworth? Has he arrived yet? Has anyone told him that I’m here?” she demanded.

“I’m sure he’ll arrive shortly,” Adelaide said hurriedly. “Can I get you something to drink in the meantime? Tea? Coffee?”

Lila’s eyes shifted to Octavia. “I gave you my drink order ages ago. You mean you still haven’t got it? Honestly, what good are you?”

Before Octavia could answer, Adelaide stepped in. “My apologies, Ms. Scott. I can get you whatever drink you like. What will it be?”

“Doesn’t matter, I don’t want it anymore,” Lila said, waving away Adelaide’s offer. “I want to see Raemon. Where is RAEMON?”

Right on cue, the door across the space from the three of them opened, and Raemon Kenworth glided in. He was dressed in a dark Armani suit and an ocean-blue shirt with a gray patterned tie.

Carrying his leather briefcase in one hand, he strode toward them wearing his customary placid expression, showing no sign of happiness at the sight of any of them.

“Mr. Kentworth!” Adelaide breathed.

Lila brushed past Octavia and Adelaide and stepped right up to Raemon, staring up at him defiantly.

“Raemon Kentworth,” she said, extending a hand, “we meet again.”

Raemon raised an eyebrow in her direction but made no move to take the hand she offered.

The doe-eyes Lila had aimed at Raemon’s face widened. “At the hotel? Remember?” She gestured in Octavia’s general direction. “Your idiotic assistant was on the floor swimming in paper towels.”

Octavia felt like it took an infinitely long moment for Raemon to decide how to act. He took Lila’s hand, briefly, and replied, “Ah, yes. Miss Lila Scott. What brings you to my office?”

The look of triumph in Lila’s eyes was barely masked by the sweetness she injected into her expression.

“Isn’t it a shame we’ve never been formally introduced? We’re so often in the same circles, you know. I’ve seen you at a few of the charity events I attend. I figured we should get to know each other.”

“Really?” Raemon replied impassively. “I’m honored.”

Seemingly carelessly, Lila ran a hand through her thick, long hair, letting her fingers brush the skin at her low neckline.

“I was just telling Daddy that you’d be the perfect guest for a beach trip this year. You know we have a place over at the Golden Cove,” Lila said.

“I don’t care much for beaches,” Raemon said, “thank you all the same. My secretary will show you out.”

But Lila was not going to be brushed off that easily. She planted herself firmly in Raemon’s way.

“The Golden Cove isn’t just any beach. Trust me, you’ll love it there. It’s impossible not to.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Raemon said.

“Oh, Raemon,” Lila said with a pout, “Daddy was so enthusiastic about having you over. He said he would have loved to talk all those, you know, business things with you.

“I thought the two of you might have a lot in common.” She placed a hand on Raemon’s shoulder and smiled coyly at him.

“I’m only the messenger here, really. Daddy’s the one who wants to invite you. Of course, I’d love to have you there myself.”

Octavia was riveted. She felt like a soap opera was happening before her eyes.

“Ms. Scott,” Raemon said finally, “I’m honored by your invitation, but I have a lot to accomplish today. Let me escort you to your car.”

She immediately slipped her slender arm through Raemon’s, before he even offered it.

“I’ll get a ‘yes’ out of you by the time we reach the lobby, Raemon Kentworth. I don’t take no for an answer,” Lila said.

After the two of them had walked out, Lila clinging to his arm like a sea barnacle to a ship, Octavia glanced at Adelaide and noted the look of flat despair in her eyes.

“I guess you did do the right thing,” Octavia said to Adelaide.

Adelaide seemed to snap out of whatever unpleasant thoughts she had been drowning in. She stared at Octavia with a scowl.

“Just get back to work,” she said, walking off.

“Always a pleasure talking to you!” Octavia called after her. She turned to head to her office, but then Lauren’s head popped around the corner.

“Octavia!” she hissed. She looked around furtively, assured herself that Adelaide was gone, and then rushed to where Octavia stood.

“Was that really Lila Bridlington-Scott?” she asked excitedly.

Octavia nodded. “So I’ve been told.”

Lauren breathed a sigh of awe and placed a hand to her chest. “Wow. She really is just as gorgeous in person.”

“And a little bitchy,” Octavia added.

Lauren glanced at Octavia in dismay. “That’s not true. All the magazine interviews make her out to be a really nice person.”

“I wonder why,” Octavia said dryly.

Lauren sighed. “Well, if you’re that famous and that gorgeous, you may as well be a bitch.”

“Exactly what is she famous for?” Octavia asked, “besides being a Bridlington-Scott?”

Lauren’s face lit up. “Oh, she’s not just an heiress to the Bridlington-Scott fortune. She’s also a supermodel.” Lauren pulled her phone out of her pocket and tapped the screen.

“Look.” She held the phone up before Octavia, its screen showing an Instagram feed. Octavia saw Lila Scott’s account and all the posts she had put up.

There were pictures of her behind-the-scenes getting ready for photoshoots, pictures of her posing with famous fashion photographers, designers, and editors.

And even more that were taken and posted just to show how much of a luxurious, high-class life she was living.

“See?” Lauren said excitedly.

“She’s not just the daughter of some rich guy. She has a career. She actually works. With her makeup line, lifestyle brand, and all of her endorsements, she’s basically a self-made millionaire.”

“R-i-i-g-g-h-h-t…,” Octavia said, handing Lauren her phone back.

Lauren sighed. “If only I could look half as nice as Lila Scott,” she said.

“She is the epitome of attractive,” Octavia agreed.

“I saw her leaving with Mr. Kentworth, and I couldn’t believe my eyes,” Lauren said. “I wish I could have gotten a selfie. Maybe she’ll come back here some time. OMG! Maybe they’ll start dating!”

“Maybe,” Octavia said.

“They’re perfect for each other, don’t you think?” Lauren said.

Octavia thought back to their meeting at the conference. All she knew of Lila were scornful looks, snapped orders, and venomous insults on everything she did.

She reminded her of how a certain someone else used to treat her.

Octavia grinned. “You know what Lauren? They really are.”