Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(77)

“It’s the truth. I know Pierre would have been your date. And I would have gladly bought a table to be with you tonight, even if I couldn’t be your official date,” he says, nuzzling into my neck as we step off the carpet and into the awards ballroom.

Giddiness bubbles to the surface—I think it might be time to grab a drink to ease my nerves.





“I’m sorry, Ivy,” Alex says as I place a fake smile on my face for everyone else.

“It’s fine,” I say, trying to put on a brave face as I grab a glass of champagne and take a sip.

“You’re an amazing designer, Ivy. You’ll get them next year.”

I turn and stare at his handsome face and run my hand down his freshly shaven skin. “Thank you. I did an amazing job on that design, but so did the winner on hers. As cliché as it sounds … being nominated is an incredible honor.”

Alex leans forward as his hand slides up the split of my dress under the table. “I know a couple of ways to help cheer you up.” His voice drops low and seductive, and my skin lights up like only Alex can elicit from me.

“That sounds like a great idea. Let me pop to the bathroom, and then I’ll be ready to go.”

Alex smiles and places a kiss on my lips as he helps me up from the table.

As I make my way across the floor, I run into people I know. We have a chat, they offer me condolences for not winning, and then I continue moving through the ballroom.

I need a moment to regroup. So I head outside into the crisp night air, suck in a couple of deep breaths, close my eyes, but the disappointment and anxiety are swirling around my body, and it won’t dissipate. I don’t want to be that one woman who isn’t supportive of other women in our industry winning, but for some strange reason, I can’t hide how I feel right now. I need to shake this funk off, regroup, and take my delicious man home.

“Congratulations, baby, I knew you would do it!”

Oh, good god! That voice chills me to my very bones.

My stomach churns, and I’m seconds away from emptying the contents of my dinner all over the red carpet. I’m frozen to the spot as I watch Steve kiss the woman who won my award.

Is she seriously dating that man?

Why?

No.

Panic races through my veins, and the terrible headspace I was in with that man starts barreling through my temple.

I can’t let him see me.

I need to go.

Now!

I move away from the entrance to a side path and press my back against the stone wall of the building as my hand clutches my chest.

Shit! I left my phone in my purse on the table with Alex.

Shit.

Alex, if he sees Steve is here, it’s going to go down, and I don’t want that for him. The last thing I need tonight is for Steve to even notice me. I close my eyes, suck in a deep breath, and hope for the best.

“Were you spying on me, Ivy?”

A quick gasp falls from my lips at hearing Steve’s repulsive voice so close to me.

“Why the hell would I be doing that?” I bite back.

Well, well, the last couple of years have not been good to him. His dark hair is beginning to thin and that ages him. He hasn’t been looking after himself as much as he used to and has grown quite the gut. I can see he’s tried Botox as his tanned forehead is flat and unresponsive—it used to always crinkle when he yelled at me.

“Because you’re jealous of Fiona. She seems to have everything you want … the award and me,” he states confidently as if he’s some sort of goddamn prize.

“She can have you. Believe me, I’m not interested.”

“You seem interested, considering you accepted the flowers I’ve been sending you.”

I still.

What did he say?

“Your face lit up each time they arrived, and that’s when I knew you still loved me,” he explains.

He’s been the one who has been sending me flowers.

I’m going to be sick.

No.

“I thought they were from my clients. Why the hell would I think they were from you?” I ask, raising my voice.

“Who the hell else would send them?” he asks as if no one else in the entire world would ever want to send me flowers.

“Plenty of people, actually,” I reply, standing my ground. “There’s not a day that goes by when you come across my mind. You were forgotten long ago.”

Geez, why the hell are you poking the bear, Ivy? Because I’m stronger now, and he can’t hurt me. Not with all these people inside, and Alex is there too. He must know if Alex sees him that he will try to kill him.

“Liar,” he growls. “I was the best thing that ever happened to you. I mean will happen to you.”

“You have an incredibly overinflated ego when you really shouldn’t,” I tell him.

Steve’s brown eyes turn dark. I’ve never spoken back to him before. Never once did I do that when we dated. He liked me cowering in the corner, mute and compliant.

That’s not who I am anymore. Alex has made me see that I’m not the broken girl I used to be, the same girl Steve got off on hurting. Alex has made me realize there are men out there that like their women to be their equal. That loving and supporting their partner is a turn-on not a turn-off.

“I’ve moved on, Steve, and if I’m not back inside soon, Alex’s going to come out here looking for me.”