Chapter 52

Octavia’s eyes burned holes in the ground as she walked. ~Whatever Lila’s plans are, she better not cause a scene, Octavia thought.~

She thought of Indira’s happiness at the event, of all the designers from Curie and Icarus who’d come to celebrate their hard work. She wouldn’t let Lila ruin it just to make some trivial point.

Octavia was still glaring at the ground when she rounded a corner and bumped into the man who had been standing there. He was obviously waiting for someone.

She was just about to apologize for nearly running into him when she got a good look at the man’s face.

“Excuse me—” Octavia had started. She stopped. “Oh fuck.”

Lucas gave her his white-toothed grin. “Nice to see you too, Octavia,” he said.

Octavia put her hands on her hips and glanced to the ceiling. “Is there any other person here now who I really don’t need to be here?”

“What? Aren’t you glad to see me too?” Lucas said.

“Not really,” Octavia replied.

“Hmm. Not the reaction I was hoping for.”

“I know for a fact you weren’t on the list.”

Lucas gave her a sly grin. “Oh? Were you looking out for my name? I’m touched, Octavia.”

“Do you just make it a point to be at every event Raemon is at?” Octavia countered. “Somehow I don’t see why a real estate guy would be interested in computer technology.”

Lucas didn’t lose his grin, but a darkness came over his eyes. “It’s ‘Raemon’ now?”

“That is his name,” Octavia said.

Lucas stepped toward her. “You didn’t listen to my warning.”

“I hardly listened to anything you said.”

Lucas searched her eyes for a moment, then sighed. “If you must know, I was invited.”

“By who?”

A familiar clicking of heels sounded, and Lila happened upon them.

“God, are you trying to steal my date too? You really are pathetic.”

Octavia couldn’t hide her shock. She looked wildly between Lucas and Lila. Lila calmly walked past her and slipped her arm into Lucas’s own.

“Miss Scott and I recently met at one of my client’s parties,” Lucas said, an air of superiority in his voice. “You could say we hit it off.”

“Lucas and I have so much in common,” Lila said. “And we have Raemon to thank for our first meeting. Where is that man?” Lila placed a possessive hand on Lucas’ chest. “We should totally say hi.”

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Octavia said truthfully.

Lila scowled at her. “Just keep your hands off what’s mine,” she said. She turned to leave, and Lucas dutifully followed.

Octavia shook her head to get the image of the two of them out of it. She would have found it comical if not for the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Whatever act they were doing, she wasn’t buying it. And she had a feeling Lila had made Lucas the date to Raemon’s event for reasons other than to simply make him jealous.

“What the hell’s wrong with you?”

Octavia jumped and looked up to see Gracie emerge from where Lucas and Lila had just left.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Gracie said, coming to stand before Octavia.

“I wish I had,” Octavia said.

“Hmm. You can tell me about it later,” Gracie replied. “Sierra’s having a mental breakdown.”

Octavia groaned. “I knew I shouldn’t have invited her. Wait, I left her with Lauren—how did you find them?”

“The sound of Sierra howling interrupted our conversation,” Gracie said. Octavia followed her as she led the way.

“Oh, yeah, you were with Quentin. Where is he?”

“He went to do some interview or something.”

“So…did you two…um…talk?”

“No, we stared at each other in an uncomfortable silence.”

“I guess I won’t ask any more questions, then.”

“A wise idea.”

Gracie led Octavia down a short hall and through a set of glass doors. They stepped out into a rooftop garden. It was another one of the venue’s spaces, but one that wasn’t being used that night.

Sierra had collapsed onto a loveseat next to a bunch of ferns, and Lauren had a comforting arm around her.

“Here you guys are!” Octavia said, rushing over to them.

“Were you looking for us?” Lauren asked. “Sorry, there were people in the ladies’ room, so I thought it might be better to go somewhere else. I just stumbled on this place. And on—”

Lauren stopped suddenly, shooting a nervous glance at Gracie. “Um…it’s nothing.”

Octavia looked between the two of them suspiciously, from Gracie’s stone face to Lauren’s nervous one. She decided to set aside her questions for later.

Octavia knelt in front of Sierra.

“Come on, Sierra. You’re missing the party,” Octavia said.

Sierra raised her tearstained face. It was a mess of smudged mascara with black streaks running over her skin from her eyes to her cheeks.

“He…he…he probably thinks I’m the most disgusting human being on the planet!” Sierra sobbed.

“No he doesn’t,” Octavia said, “I know that for a fact.”

“But I can’t face him again!”

“You don’t have to,” Octavia said, “we can hang out the rest of the night—you, me, Lauren, and Gracie. Trust me, he won’t even know you’re there.”

“I don’t want to hang out with you guys!” Sierra howled. “I want Raemon!”

“Well, she has spoken,” Gracie said, “let’s get back in there.”

“We can’t just leave her,” Lauren said.

“I don’t see why not,” Gracie said.

Octavia gave Gracie a look. “Why don’t you guys head back in?” she said. “I’ll…keep Sierra company, I guess.”

“Are you sure?” Lauren said. “I don’t mind waiting with her. Or how about I bring you back a plate or something?”

“Lauren, you should get to enjoy the party,” Octavia said with a weak laugh. “You can’t spend the night babysitting my housemate.”

Lauren hesitated. “Truthfully…it’s kind of fun.” At the incredulous look Gracie gave her, she quickly added, “I mean just hanging out with you guys…you know. Like in the limo.”

“Enjoy,” Gracie said, abruptly heading for the exit.

“Seriously?” Octavia called to her friend. Gracie didn’t even look back as she left.

Minutes passed by while Sierra continued to sob away. All Lauren and Octavia could do was sit by her and wait for the storm to end.

Lauren rubbed her back and tried to offer soothing words. Octavia piped in every now and then with whatever logical reason she could think of to convince Sierra the situation wasn’t as bad as she thought it was.

Eventually, Sierra’s cries subsided to more gentle sobs.

Octavia sighed and gave Lauren an apologetic look. “Sorry. I didn’t think the night would end like this.” They both looked toward Sierra, curled up on the seat and sniffing into the pouf of her dress.

“That’s okay,” Lauren said. “I actually had fun. It’s been a while since I went out with…you know, girlfriends.”

Octavia sighed. “Honestly, me too. Maybe because I really only have one friend. And we never go out. We mainly watch movies or play video games.”

“That’s one more friend than I have,” Lauren said.

Octavia grinned. “Now you’re up to three. Me, Gracie—I know she doesn’t seem like it, but she does make a good friend—and Sierra.”

Sierra sniffled at the sound of her name.

“That’s right,” Octavia said. “Friends who cry together…um…uh…become each other’s bridesmaids.”

Lauren smiled. “Good to know I already have bridesmaids in case I ever get a chance to be a bride.”

“I wanted to be a bride,” Sierra said in a small voice, “Raemon’s bride.”

Just when it looked like she would begin sobbing all over again, Gracie’s voice interrupted:

“Good, Sierra’s done wailing. Let’s eat.”

All three of the girls looked up to see her walking toward them carrying a mountain of food on a platter.

“Aw, Gracie!” Octavia beamed. “You didn’t leave. You went to get dinner for us.”

“No, I did leave,” Gracie said, holding the tray out before them all, “then someone started making some boring speech, so I figured I might as well be bored with you guys than bored out there.

“But no way could I be bored and hungry. Not even with you guys.”

Octavia looked to Lauren. “I swear she’s not as bad as she seems. This is how she shows affection.”

They crowded around the love seat, Gracie and Octavia sitting on the edge of a large planter opposite Sierra and Lauren.

The platter was passed among them, skipping over Sierra the first few times until she stopped sniffling long enough to grab a slider as the food went by.

While they attacked the various sliders and finger foods, they listened to Gracie tell how she’d smuggled trays of food from the kitchen.

“I didn’t bother trying to not be seen,” Gracie said, “I just walked in, picked up a tray, and walked out. The place was so busy no one glanced twice at me.”

She licked a stray drop of sauce off one finger. “But it’s all in the attitude. If I had glanced around nervously even once, the jig would be up.”

“I’m glad your knowledge on the psychology of theft was put to use today,” Octavia said.

Lauren laughed at the two of them. Sierra was still, nibbling on a chicken tender.

By the time the platter was clear, all four of them were stuffed.

“Damn it all,” Octavia said, “I should get back out there.”

“We probably all should,” Lauren said.

All three of them looked to Sierra.

Sierra raised her head and met their looks with red, glazed eyes. “Okay,” she mumbled.

“Maybe you’ll want to take a quick look in the mirror before you go,” Octavia said.

They headed out of the garden. Just before they parted ways, Lauren generously offered to escort Sierra to the bathroom.

As Gracie and Octavia headed back to the venue, they heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Raemon appeared before them and walked straight up to Octavia.

“Where have you been?” he demanded.

“Around,” Octavia said. She immediately stepped forward and pulled Raemon aside. “Look, before you get mad at me for something pointless, I have to warn you—”

“Later. You should get back to the launch party,” Raemon said, discreetly placing a hand at her shoulder and steering her back toward the event crowd.

“No, seriously. You won’t believe who’s here. I just met—”

“Raemon! So good to see you again!” Lila’s chirpy voice cut in. It was like she magically emerged.

Octavia threw her hands up in despair. “Clearly, I’m not allowed to communicate a pertinent thought.”

Raemon’s eyes had clouded over at the sound of Lila’s voice, but when he looked up and saw the man at her side, the clouds became thunderous.

“I’ve been looking for you, Raemon,” Lila continued. She mocked him with her tone, with the sweetness of her smile, and the triumphant glint in her eyes.

“Miss Scott,” Raemon said, “…Lucas.”

“Surprised to see me?” Lucas said. As always, he had on his easygoing smile.

“I shouldn’t be, I suppose,” Raemon replied.

“Lucas is here as my guest,” Lila said, keeping a sharp eye on Raemon’s face when she spoke the words. “We’ve been getting acquainted with one another.”

It was an awkward situation Octavia found herself in. Gracie, Lauren, and Sierra stood a few feet behind them, but all with eyes glued to the scene happening before them.

Lucas had a possessive hand around Lila’s waist. Octavia wondered how Raemon would react.

When it came to Lucas, it seemed as if the only thing you could expect from him was a violent outburst. And at their last meeting, Lucas and Raemon had been on the verge of a fist fight.

But they were so close to where the party was happening. If the two of them came to blows, it wouldn’t be long before the reporters—and their cameras—would find their way to the scene.

That was not the kind of press anyone wanted.

Lila calmly took a sip of wine from a large, full glass in one hand.

“We parted so abruptly when we were last together,” she said sweetly, “and under such…unhappy circumstances. Do I need to make amends with you, Raemon?”

Raemon’s eyes finally shifted to Lila. “No need. Why don’t you and…your date…go and enjoy yourselves?” he said woodenly.

His wooden, detached response was not what Lila had wanted. It showed on her face.

“Is that all you have to say to me?” Lila sneered.

Raemon regarded her with something like a smirk. “Actually, it’s a lot more than what I want to say to you.” He extended his look to Lucas.

Lucas did not lose any of his ease. “Lila, I think we should be going now. There’s nothing worth our time here.”

He then shifted his gaze to Octavia. “It’s too bad about everything, Octavia. You know I still mean everything I said to you back then, at the Golden Cove.”

Octavia knew enough of Lucas by now to not be surprised at his subtle reaffirmation of his undying passion while snaking an arm around another woman.

“How disappointing,” Lila spoke up, still looking at Raemon. “Had certain…people…not been in the way, I’m sure you and I would have made an amazing couple.”

It was also unsurprising that Lila would say something to that effect while another man had his arm around her.

“Don’t feel bad on my account,” Raemon replied.

“I won’t,” Lila snapped. “I’m not the one who’s alone. I didn’t let the perfect partner get away. Who do you have, Raemon? Who are you going home with tonight?”

Octavia inwardly rolled her eyes. My god, the woman doesn’t stop. She just keeps digging herself in deeper and deeper.

Raemon was silent.

“See?” Lila sneered. “I thought so. You should have thought about that before you left the Golden Cove.”

She sneered. “Makes you regret giving me up for the sake of your lowly assistant, doesn’t it?”

“Not really,” Raemon said.

Lila’s face flushed. “Oh? Is there suddenly someone in your life now? Someone better for you than me?”

There was no mistaking the glint in Raemon’s eye. “Without a doubt.”

“Who?” Lila demanded.

Octavia’s stomach lurched. She felt the presence of every single person in the space weigh even more heavily on her. And she had a feeling the next moment would bring that weight crashing down.

Raemon’s response was a cool “You said so yourself, Miss Scott. My lowly assistant, of course.”