Chasing Heartbreak (Dark Love #6) - Kat T. Masen Page 0,26

his personal life, then he shouldn’t ask questions about mine. But then Charlie’s words about him needing friends and her worry over him comes back tenfold.

“Charlie is worried about you.”

“The whole world is worried about me,” he deadpans, filling his plate quickly, looking desperate to escape the conversation just as much as me.

We sit down with our food, but both of us are barely eating. I’ve taken a few bites, noticing Noah picking aimlessly. While sitting at the table, my purse vibrates. Sliding my phone out, a text message from Bouvier Fontaine, a client of ours, is unopened on my screen. My eyes scan quickly over the text. Bouvier apologizing for having to postpone our discussion tonight. His father has fallen ill and has been taken to the hospital. I type a response, sending him prayers, then a quick text to my assistant, Emile, to remind me to check-in tomorrow with Bouvier to ensure his father is stable.

“Shit,” I mouth loudly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Client had something come up. He won’t be here, and I’m eager to finalize a deal we’ve been working on for quite some time.”

Noah shakes his head with a smug expression. “All work, no play. Who have you become?”

“I have fun,” I answer defensively. “There’s nothing wrong with attending to business during an event like this. The European market is different from the States. It’s about cultivating relationships and investing time into making it a strong union for both sides to come out winning.”

“Wise words said,” Noah chides. “Although I think it’s unfair to judge Americans for not cultivating relationships. Sometimes, you give it your all, your best. You work damn hard, but the other person doesn’t share the same vision as you. In the end, it all just falls apart, and you question the decisions you made, which led you to this outcome.”

The resentment in his tone lingers along with his words. I’m not quite sure whether we switched to talking about something else, and judging by the bitter expression, it’s a fair call to say we have.

“Well, that’s why you need to make your position strong from the beginning. Don’t let someone else dictate the journey. The best relationships last when two parties are in agreement.”

“And sometimes you’ve done all that, but it’s still not enough,” he throws back.

“Hey!” I cross my arms with frustration while raising my voice. “I don’t know what your problem is, Noah, but it shouldn’t be me. We’ve been around each other for like, what, five minutes, and you’ve got this chip on your shoulder. I don’t have time for your mind games or whatever the hell you’re doing. I came here to have fun, so excuse me while I go do exactly that.”

I yank the skirt of my dress so as not to trip, scanning the area before deciding to hit the dance floor on my own. Noah’s hand grips on my arm, causing me to stiffen.

“I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to…” He lets go, running his hand through his hair while pinching his lips together. “You’re right. This isn’t your battle, so I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

I’m about to tell him he’s right. It’s not my battle, so don’t include me in his mess until he extends his hand and softens his expression. “Let’s go dance.”

I follow him to the dance floor but not without our drinks. We dance to music, which isn’t as comfortable in our costumes. The more we dance, the more we drink. The more we drink, the more we laugh while the room becoming a hazy sight. Noah leaves to use the restroom, leaving me with Charlie as Lex wants a break.

We dance for what feels like hours. Charlie makes sure to take selfies to send to a jealous Eric. Somewhere during another fit of laughter, Noah and Lex join us once again. We’ve become friends with a group of girls and formed a small circle. Our bodies sway to the music, champagne spilling from our glasses while trying to drink and dance simultaneously. Arms wrap around my waist, providing me with the comfort I’ve missed. I don’t push Noah away, allowing him to hold onto me as he has done so many times. It pisses off two of the women who are trying to get near him, but what do I care. The room is my oyster or whatever the saying is.

You’re drunk. You can’t even get the damn saying right.

Tonight has been just what I needed, allowing me to unleash the