Let's Play A Dirty Ass Game, Mr. CEO

Chapter 12: A GIFT

LAURA

The audience serenaded me with a loud applause before they let me continue.

I could feel Madison’s suffocation from across the room, and I almost scoffed into the mic.

Bold of the bitch to think I would use ’my’ moment to glorify her deviling crime to the world.

A day would come for that. An inevitable day of reckoning for the woman who destroyed my reputation, career and confidence in one day. Not just her...but everyone else who contributed to that ruin.

Until then, it would be all smiles while I enjoyed this spotlight and success I’d worked hard for.

"I would like to thank the man who had stood by my side and cheered me on when I felt like I couldn’t go on." My eyes drifted across the audience, scaling Tristan’s burning gaze which had turned terrifyingly dark.

Or was I imagining it?

I moved along until my eyes fell on Harlan. And I offered the sweetest smile from the bottom of my heart. "A man who held my hand on the dark days, and guided me to the light. Without him, the Phoenix brand might not be in existence today."

Harlan smiled, and my heart melted.

"Ladies and gentlemen, my vote of thanks goes to Harlan Voss." I extended my hand in his direction, and a loud applause tore across the audience.

Heads turned to stare at Harlan in admiration. His gaze remained on my face, his eyes clouding over with an emotion I could not quite put a finger on. After what seemed like forever, he blew me a kiss and the audience cheered even louder.

I had no doubts that scandalous headlines would be spiraling out of control right this moment, speculating the existence of a romantic relationship between Harlan and I.

If only they knew that we’d suppressed the sexual tension between us for so long we don’t even know how to go about it anymore.

It was not the first time...and as usual, their speculations would be debunked.

My gaze eventually drifted from Harlan, and somehow landed back in Tristan’s direction.

And...he was scowling.

Madison? She looked like she just got her plastic face stuffed with her own shit.

This was just the beginning, I mused as I gripped the mic tighter. I would rub it in their faces until they could take it no more.

After I said a few more rehearsed words about my inspiration behind the dress, the auction commenced.

There was a mad rush for my design. People fought with their money to acquire it. The bids kept rising and rising...from five hundred grand. To a million. To five.

Until...one man won the final bid.

Somehow, I was not shocked—maybe a little bit— when Tristan called the last bid of ten million. Just for one dress.

No one else was willing to go that high for a simple dress. So he got it. My dress. And there was a knowing gleam in his eyes when he looked my way. One that sent heat washing through my veins.

The bastard. He was getting my dress for Madison. What other reason would he need a dress for? Unless he had side pieces...

The next item on the program was an interaction/networking session where guests mingled on an open floor. My heart began an intermittent race the moment soft music filtered through the speakers, ushering the guests to the floor.

"Come on, stay with me." Harlan took my hand, snatching my attention from the familiar couple that rose and made their way to the floor.

He grabbed two glasses of white wine from the fountain we passed by and handed one to me. "Cheers to more success."

Then the guests started pouring in our direction like a swarm of bees. "Ms. Hayes, I must say you’ve got an excellent eye for fashion."

"I’m a huge fan of your work."

"I would like to acquire some of your pieces exclusively in future. Maybe a collaboration or two. I’m quite fascinated by what you do."

The compliments poured in non-stop, heating up my cheeks to the extent that I felt they would explode.

I was so caked in the moment that I did not notice my archenemies approach until they were standing behind me.

"Laura."

Tristan’s deep voice jolted something deep inside me. It took every last nerve in my body to stay in control and not show him how his voice alone made me melt to fucking goo.

I felt Harlan stiffen beside me as I turned to acknowledge Tristan.

My face had locked into a perfect mask by reflex. And all I managed was the same professional smile I gave everyone else on the floor.

Except malice burned behind this one.

"Hello. Um..." I glanced at Harlan who picked the cue and slid into character.

"Tristan Pierce," he murmured, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Ohhh..." I returned my gaze to Tristan, who watched me with a deep, quiet curiosity, and a darkness in those midnight blue eyes that were now so familiar it hurt, looking into them. "That’s right. Tristan Pierce."

He took a step forward. Then, another.

My brain screamed at me to back away. But I was not about to show him how much he still affected me. He watched me carefully for a long moment, like he was assessing me, the heat radiating off him messing with my senses. Until it became uncomfortable, and Harlan slid his arm around my waist.

Tristan’s gaze lingered on that arm for another moment. Then he cleared his throat and spoke.

"Wonderful piece, Laura. Alluring, just like..." He seemed to catch himself at the last moment.

But I already felt my cheeks bloom hot. And Madison’s gaze, hotter.

"Thank you," I managed a plastic smile. "And please, Ms. Hayes is just fine."

"I never called you that."

My jaw hardened into a grim line. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

I felt Harlan’s grip tighten around my waist, and at that moment, I was so grateful that he was standing next to me. Because...I really could not trust myself around these two.

Madison had lost herself staring at me. More in disbelief than in admiration.

Until I turned and lasered her with the brightest fucking smile the world had ever seen.

"Oh, hi. Almost didn’t see you there."

Her face shrunk into a scowl big enough to leave me satisfied. "Hello there," she murmured. "Your dress is not so bad. I just thought it looked kind of tacky in a different light."

Tristan bristled in a very subtle manner, but I caught it.

I scoffed, because I saw just how threatened she felt. The bitch could not hide it. Our history wouldn’t even let her. "Well, your opinion does not matter. Not to me, at least."

Blistered, she turned to Tristan and whispered, "can we leave now?"

"Not yet, Madison. I have a gift for Laura here."

Everyone froze as he signaled to a uniformed staff who came scurrying with a wrapped gift box.

What the actual fuck?