Without Warning: A Billionaire Romance (Playboys of New York Book 5), JA Low [book suggestions .TXT] 📗

out first, and I’m surprised by the flash of photography, and instantly he has people screaming his name. He holds out his hand for me, and I place my clutch in front of my privates as I step out onto the red carpet. I’m overwhelmed by the sudden flashes, people screaming at me, but I have no idea what they are saying.

I suck in a deep breath to calm myself to take the experience in. That is until I look up and read the sign that’s hanging above the old building reading ‘Davenport Foundation’ on the front.

What in the ever-loving fuck is this?

My entire body stills.

No, Emma wouldn’t bring me to a Davenport event, would she? I mean, I was just told to fuck off by them. Why would I want to be here?

“Breathe,” Emma says through gritted teeth as she gives the cameras her megawatt smile. She links her arm with mine, and slowly we make our way down the red carpet. The closer we get to the end, the more my nerves are frayed.

As soon as we exit the red carpet, I turn around and glare at Emma. “Did you know this was a Davenport event?”

“Ari…” She gives me a frown. “It’s the good Davenports, not the bad ones.” She smiles, waving my concern away.

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means… it’s not your boss and his creepy son’s event. It’s Marjorie Davenport, Rhys’ mother’s event. She’s lovely,” Emma explains as if somehow this fact makes it all okay.

“Rhys is going to be here?” My eyes bug out as I put two and two together.

“Of course, he will be. It’s his mother’s event,” she states, the bleeding obvious to me. What the hell? Panic laces my body. “You okay?” Concern falls across Emma’s face.

“No. I’m not. This is all too much.” Waving my hand around in the air, I continue, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because then you wouldn’t have come,” she replies honestly.

“Of course, I wouldn’t have. I want nothing to do with him. I told you.” I’m becoming agitated. I can’t help it.

“I’m sorry, Ari. I thought… I …” Emma’s genuinely surprised by my reaction.

“I need a moment,” I tell her.

Emma frowns but nods her head once.

“We are at table twenty-six,” she tells me as Anderson drags her away and into the crowd. I take off in a direction I have no idea where I am going to get myself under control. I pass the bar where people are mingling, diamonds are sparkling under the overhead lighting, which almost blinds me.

Where are the freaking bathrooms in this place? Looking desperately around, I spot a door down the end of a corridor that’s empty, so I follow the swirling designs on the carpet and push through the door, which leads me into an empty room. Shit! The entire side of one wall is glass, and it looks out onto the Manhattan skyline. I suck in a deep breath to try and calm my nerves and head toward the glass. Maybe watching the world below for a couple of moments will help to center myself.

Get my game face on.

I can do this.

Giving myself a pep talk as I stalk across the room, I place a shaking hand against the window and let out a heavy sigh.

“Ariana?” a deep voice calls from behind me.

I spin around quickly and find Rhys sitting in the dark with a glass tumbler in his hand. What the hell? My heart begins to run a million miles a minute at the surprise right there in front of me.

Dammit! The one person I was trying to avoid is the person I’m now stuck in this room with.

13

Ariana

“What are you doing here?” Annoyance filters in my tone. Rhys stands from his chair and stalks over to me.

I thought seeing him in a suit was too much, but him in a tuxedo is devastating. I hate that my body is responding to being near him, but I will stand my ground. I won’t let him see how much he affects me.

“This is my family’s event,” he declares. “So, I have to ask… what you are doing here?” Those aqua eyes run up and down my body, taking me in. “Are you here on a date?” Rhys’ eyes flare with something akin to jealousy.

“Maybe.” He doesn’t need to know I’m third-wheeling tonight.

“You look breathtaking.” He stalks closer, stepping out of the darkness and into the light.

What do I say to that? I suspect he doesn’t need me to say anything.

I swallow down my nerves as he prowls around, assessing me, devouring me with those hungry eyes as if at any moment he’s ready to pounce. The problem is, I think I like it.

“I’ll ask again, are you here with someone?” Rhys stops right in front of me, those aqua eyes imploring me to be honest with him.

“No. I’m here with friends.” Relief washes over his face. “Are you here with someone?”

He shakes his head. “Just family,” he tells me.

Not sure why I’m relieved over that bit of information, but I am.

“I resigned from your father’s business today.” Rhys’ eyes widen in surprise over my revelation. “It would be really great if I don’t run into him or Stanford,” I tell Rhys, my fingers nervously playing with the clip of my clutch.

“I highly doubt he will be here. This event is mainly my mother’s friend’s group, and they are not the biggest fan of my father.” That’s understandable. “Why are you hiding out in here?”

“My friends didn’t tell me it was your event,” I explain to him honestly. “And um…” I bite my bottom lip, “… I was worried about running into you.” Giving him a weak shoulder shrug because obviously, my plan didn’t work and here he is standing in front of me right now.

“Why?” he questions, looking a little hurt over my explanation.

“I don’t know,” I tell him truthfully. “I’m embarrassed over the whole catfish thing,” I explain. “I’m also embarrassed over you and me…” waving