The Arrangement (unenhanced Edition) by AnnaRCase (books to read now .txt) 📖

Amberleigh turned around quickly to discretely ingest the second shot of vodka to face this woman. Leo was by her side in a flash, and he gave her a peck on the cheek. Amberleigh plastered a smile on her face as Leo snaked an arm around her back.

“Darling, you remember Miss Tessin from the park, but you’ve yet to be introduced to her date Mr. Rothschild.”

“Please call me Bradford,” he said.

He reached forward to take Amberleigh’s hand to kiss it, but it took her a while to figure out his intent. She left him hanging awkwardly for several seconds.

“Oh excuse my manners Mr. Rothschild. Maybe I’ve had a bit too much champagne already,” Amberleigh giggled nervously, before placing her hand in his.

A shrill, high pitched laugh echoed from Courtney’s throat, “It’s barely eight p.m. But all my friends just call me Cortzy. So please do. Leo you must tell me more about how you and Miss Dupont met!”

                “It’s Miss Dubois actually, but we really should get out of their way in here. Miss Van Tessin, if you and Bradford would be so kind as to follow us into the sitting room. I believe the bar is open,” said Leo.

Amberleigh bit her cheek to avoid laughing at Leo’s lowkey burn of the export heiress. But Leo seemed to have a mostly good judge in character, so if he didn’t like her, there was probably a good reason why. More to this story indeed. Maybe something in the bro code, but if Grayson was the one who fucked around, ruined their engagement, why would Leo dislike Courtney?

 Bradford looked at the sausage platter sadly for a final time, before he asked, “Shall we?”

He escorted Courtney from the kitchen, though she didn’t look happy about it. Leo seemed to intentionally linger, no doubt hoping the heiress and her date would get involved in another conversation. He even poured himself a shot of vodka and downed it with a cheeky grin.

 He held his arm out towards her, “Shall we do this thing Miss Dubois?”

“We certainly shall Mr. Clemonte. And thank the Godwin for an open bar!”

                She was rewarded with a laugh from Leo. She would never grow tired of hearing it, it was like being wrapped in waves of smooth, warm chocolate. She imagined being wrapped up in him. His mocha body entwined with hers. She had naughty visions in her head when she exited the kitchen draped on Leo’s arm.

                That is until she noticed the couple walking in the door. The woman was beautiful no doubt, silky white blonde hair draped down her shoulders, a flowing blue gown, capped with a butterfly mask. But it wasn’t really the girl who grabbed her attention and held it there, but rather the man beside her. He wasn’t wearing a mask, instead he was holding it in his hand.

                “I’m not wearing this. It’s making my face sweat and I look ridiculous,” he said to the woman.

                But before the woman could get a word out, Courtney rushed across the main hall to greet her with a kiss on the cheek. But Amberleigh couldn’t stop staring at the young man with the sour look upon his face. He stuffed his mask into his breast pocket, as the women hugged.

                “Oh Valencia, I’m so glad you went with the blue gown! The purple one just washed all your color out little sister. And I see Mr. Van Courtlandt was able to make it this evening.”

                Amberleigh began to laugh and Leo looked at her worriedly. You got to be fuckin kidding me, she mussed. Her deadbeat baby daddy, whom she hadn’t seen in six years, had just walked into the party.