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"I’ll do it now, before dessert is served" He leans in and drops a surprise kiss on my cheek before he stands and heads for the other side of the roo in front of the wall of s that overlook the city

"What’s wrong with you? Why are you being so nice?" Rose whisper hisses

I shrug "You told "

"You called hier toward her le escapes me and I realize I’et I’ve been depending on it too much lately, but I don’t even care "So? I want hiuess," Rose mutters "More like torture for us forced to listen to hihtenthe perfect supportive position Rose keeps poking atlittle sister she used to be, and I hardly move save to jab my elbow in her direction every time she tries to touch me

"I want to thank everyone who caht here in New York," Zachary starts, a perfect s as if he’s really got this job in London when he doesn’t

But that’s okay We can let hi over when he first started working at Fleur, the guidance Father gave hile person in the rooh and cheer along with him, and I wonder how he can still charm everyone else but notsounds I send her dirty looks and she shuts up, but within ain Not that I can blame her This is the Zachary show and we’re all here just to watch and indulge hi about it, feels surreal I’m me but I’m not My body is here but my mind wanders I think of Ryder I don’t want to, but I do I can’t help it What is he doing? Where is he? Will he avoid ive hi away froht have started out as a trick, but our relationship turned into so so ed my life in so many ways, all for the better I’m a lucky man to know her, to have her insmile "Come up here, Violet, please? Join me"

I stiffen at Zachary’s words, at all the sincerity I hear in his voice At his request forhappy for hihand onwhether I should go up there at all And all I can do is stare at the open doorway At who I see standing there

Ryder

With Pilar standing next to hiht her I could kill hi him I don’t knohich one would co away fro h the tables, nodding at those I know, praying reetsme to his side He kissesus

"I plan onthis woman my wife someday," he says assuredly, and I don’t protest Just smile as everyone claps, with the exception of my sister and father

Oh--and Ryder and Pilar

I can’t believe he brought her I can’t believe he had the nerve to show up

I hate him

I oes straight to hiaze, the sneer on his gorgeous face A face that haunts my dreams, that makes me want to weep and s Zachary laugh and tug aze stays on Ryder’s He doesn’t look away either and I can feel his anger, though the chemistry between us is still there, too

He hatesh the roo where I don’t know, and I don’t care All I want is to see Ryder Tell him I hate him

Tell hi with thee trays Beautiful slices of chocolate cake sit on the little white china plates, but I’ry

"Hello" I stop just in front of him His scent reaches me Deliciously male and all Ryder His hair is a catastrophe He needs a haircut in the worst way There’s stubble on his cheeks and jaw and there are dark circles under his eyes He looks terrible

He looks a

And as usual, he doesn’t say a word Merely dips his head towardI’d brought Rose’s shoe withThat would be quite the way to end Zachary’s going-away party, wouldn’t it?

"You shouldn’t be here," I tell him He needs to know he’s not welcome The moment Zachary spots him, all hell could break loose "Zachary doesn’t want you at his party"