Lured into Love (Blossom in Winter #2) - Melanie Martins Page 0,105
already out.
“Petra,” Dad starts, his excitement growing, “I’d love to introduce you to our singer for the evening…”
“Ms. Krall,” I shout, not containing my emotion. My heart is thundering a thousand miles an hour. I just can’t believe it! “I’m, um, it’s, um…”
“Just call me Diana.”
Of course. Why not?
“I’m one of your biggest fans.” Sounds cliché as fuck, but it’s true. I know all her songs by heart. I can’t get enough of her music. “I’m so excited for tonight. I love everything about you. Your music is just fantastic,” I end up saying.
“Well, thank you very much. What’s your favorite song?”
“Um, there are so many… But ‘The Look of Love’ might be my favorite.”
“Ah, that’s a great one.” Her gaze darts down curiously. “Beautiful ring you’ve got there. Are you engaged?”
“Not at all,” Dad promptly interposes, clearly annoyed by the question. “It’s just a gift, a keepsake. Petra prefers to wear it on that finger because it’s more practical.” Bullshit. “Let me take a picture of you two.” Dad takes his iPhone out of his pocket and walks a few steps backward.
Standing beside each other, Diana and I wrap an arm around each others’ waist. Then, as we both look at the camera, I can’t help but notice Alex right behind Dad. A smile escapes me, but not the kind I want for a picture. Holding a glass of champagne, he seems to be happily chatting with Paulo and Mike. He doesn’t even notice me. And it doesn’t matter anyway.
Yeah, a keepsake from someone who broke my heart.
“One day I will be ready to take it off,” I tell myself quietly, but loud enough that I know Diana heard.
One day…
My attention shifts back to the camera, and I put on another smile—the one Dad expects me to.
Click.
I’m not surprised to find out Alex will be sitting at our table. In fact, I’m not even surprised that he’s been ignoring me the entire evening. Dad, Alex, Paulo, Mike, and two more execs have spent the whole dinner discussing how Asia is flourishing and how pharmaceutical and biotech investments have never performed so well. “The best year ever,” they mention between giggles and sips.
“They could’ve done this in the boardroom,” Emma rebukes in my ear. “I’m fucking tired of hearing about their plans for 2021. I’m even thinking of sell the info to BlackRock.”
I can’t help but chuckle at her statement. “And why BlackRock?”
“I’ve got some friends who work there.”
“Friends?” I look at her with a side smile, and she cracks one even bigger.
“Friends…” she replies back, before burying her naughtiness in a sip of wine.
“Thank you for being here, Emma.” I lay my hand on hers, and with all the sincerity in the world, I tell her, “I’m so lucky to have you.”
Emma observes me without saying a word, then her eyes dart down for a second, as she thinks something through, before meeting mine again. “I know it hurts,” she whispers in my ear. “But look at him. It seems like he’s already moved on.”
Oh, wow. Emma’s words have just slapped me in the face and created a deep knot in my stomach. Indeed, Alex might be sitting in front of me, but I remain invisible to him. He hasn’t said a single word to me during the whole dinner. I can’t help but wonder if this is his way to grieve, or if, as Emma just said, he really has moved on.
Jeez, the idea terrifies me, and I have to close my eyes to calm myself down. My God, it hurts. It hurts loving someone you can’t be with. And it hurts even more when that someone gives up on you. As I reopen my eyes, I see that Alex is looking at me. There is no smile on his face though, and I know it’s easy for him to figure out how I’m feeling inside. Oh jeez, why? Is he enjoying seeing me in so much pain?
It is what is. Just accept it and move on, I keep telling myself.
Recognizing the first notes of the piano, my ears instantly perk up.
“The look… of love…” I hear Diana crooning.
I’m not sure if it’s because of the music, but I give Alex a small smile as we both recognize the song. After all, it’s the song we danced to at our engagement party and the one we wanted for our wedding dance.
“Ah! Alex will give his speech right after this song,” Dad announces with a joyful tone.