Find Me Alastar(31)

He sits on the hay bale and she passes him his scone. Their eyes lock on each other and she smiles shyly. Henry passes half of his scone back to Elizabeth. “Are you going to sit with me?” he asks.

She smiles broadly and happily sits beside him. This morning is turning out just as she planned.



* * *



It’s Friday night and I walk into the art gallery. This is all new to me and I am feeling totally out of my depth. My workmates are in a fluster and rushing around like maniacs, so I head over to Dulcie. “What do you want me to do?” I ask.

She looks around. “Can you just go and check that the canapés and champagne are getting round to the clients?”

“Sure.” My eyes wander nervously round the space. I know that Alastar may be here. He has three paintings on auction tonight. They’re gorgeous paintings, too—apparently earlier works of his. Who knows why he doesn’t paint anymore?

I walk into the kitchen to see a hive of activity.

Travis spots me and releases a low whistle. “Wow. Hot, Emerson.”

I smile as I look down at myself. I may have searched the whole of London for the right outfit for tonight. Sexy business is what Hank, Vanessa and Brielle have called it. I am wearing a black woolen pencil skirt and a black turtle neck woolen tight sweater that hugs in all the right places. This outfit cost a bomb but who cares. It’s only money, right? I may break my neck in these high stilettos by the end of the night, though. Sheer black stockings finish off my look. My blonde hair is up in a high ponytail and my lips are hot pink and glossy, with smoky dark eyes. I grab a glass of champagne as a man with a tray walks past me and wish to God I could drain it. Mark spots me from across the kitchen and smiles warmly as he approaches. “Hello.” His eyes scan up and down my body. “You look gorgeous.”

I smile.

He leans and whispers in my ear. “If I could kiss you hello, I would.”

Oh. I fake a stronger smile. Oh… shit. I need to knock this on the head. I have zero attraction to him and that’s only getting worse, not better. An hour, and a million jobs later, the auction starts and the staff stand at the back to watch the proceedings. I’m relieved I’m not on the actual auction team. They seem to be running around like maniacs. Alastar hasn’t shown up, so it looks like I bought this outfit for nothing. The night is loud and fairly uneventful, until about half an hour before it ends, Mark whispers into my ear.

“Lets go outside and get some air.”

“Okay.” I reply. For an ultra modern building, it is rather stuffy in here and I would like a break from all the shouting. It will also give me a chance to talk to him in private. I head toward the door.

“No, this way,” Mark replies as he heads down a corridor to the left. It is quiet and semi-lit. Oh jeez. He has something on his mind here, for sure. He opens a glass door out onto a courtyard. It’s small, square, and has a large oak tree in the centre with a spotlight shining up onto its trunk. It’s beautiful. A seat sits in the centre and Mark sits down and pats the seat next to him, I hesitate and then sit nervously.

“How are you liking the UK?” he asks.

“It’s good, I like it. I’m a bit homesick. I’ve never seen so much rain and I’m missing my parents and brother.” I’m rambling and talking way too fast.

“Are you going to go home before the year is out?”

I shake my head. “No, definitely not. We may even stay another year. I’m trying to talk my parents into visiting me.”

“I’m so happy you’re here. I...” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear as I hold my breath, but the moment is interrupted by the glass door opening. Both our eyes flicker up to the doorway. I immediately stand up guiltily. Alastar stands before me. Where has he been hiding?

His angry eyes flick between Mark and I.

“Hello, Star. You remember Emerson?

Alastar’s eyes glare at me. “I remember,” he breathes angrily.

He continues to stare at me but doesn’t speak. It’s Mark who breaks the silence. “Star is one of the top photographers in the country. You have some work for sale tonight, don’t you?” He nods as his hungry eyes drop down my body then rise back to my face. I stand still on the spot as I feel his fury seep out into the small courtyard. I flutter at the feel of his eyes on my body. Cut it out, you sex craved bitch.

“So you are in charge of customer relations?” he asks with a raised brow.

I nod nervously as I drain my glass. This is bad. Really bad. One guy I’m dreaming about and messaging, who I also told I was single, is now talking to the other guy who is dreaming about me and thinks we have a thing who I am trying to escape.

How freaking cozy.

“Can I steal Emerson to introduce her to a client of mine?” Alastar asks casually.

“Of course,” Mark replies, clearly annoyed by the interruption.

My horrified eyes stare him down. What is he doing? He fakes a smile.

“This way.” He gestures toward the door and Mark bends to pick up his glass. Alastar’s face falls instantly betraying his fury. Oh crap. I swallow the lump in my throat. Alastar opens the courtyard door and I follow him tentatively. We walk down the corridor a few feet and he opens a door and pulls me in, it seems to be a large storage cupboard. He flicks the light on. “What do you think you’re doing?” He growls.