The Game (Wagered Hearts Series, #3)(53)

"When can I see her?" I asked.

"I'll have to discuss it with Mel. She'll probably be pissed at you for what you did to Emilia. They've become good friends, you see. I'll have to convince her to help you," Ryan cautioned

I was ready to wrap my hands around Ryan's neck. One minute he was giving me hope and the next he was trying to snatch it from me.

"Could you just not mention to her what I did? Just tell her I need to see Emilia," I said.

"I'm sure by now Mel already knows everything anyway. My girl's a clever one. Besides, don't you think Lily would have told her?"

I sunk back on the couch and groaned. "Goddamn busy bodies everywhere," I mumbled.

"So, here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to try to convince my lovely fiancée to help you're worthless self out of this predicament. In the meantime, you need to think of what you're going to do when you have the opportunity. Don't waste it."

"Don't I know it," I said.

***

Somehow Ryan had worked his magic and convinced Mel to help me out. Technically, he said she'd talk to me and then decide what to do. That was good enough for me. I wasn't having any luck on my own so far, and needed all the help I could get. Besides, she was the one who had helped Roman when he screwed up with Lily, so if she could do that for me too, I'd be forever indebted to her.

We decided to meet up at her office in Soho. When I walked in, it was a frenzy of activity, with everyone running around carrying bags and boxes of God knows what. I could see Mel in her office behind the glass walls. She was talking to some woman. I didn't want to interrupt, but I was too impatient to wait, so I walked up to the glass and waved to make sure she saw me.

She glanced up briefly and continued talking to the woman for another five minutes. Finally, they got up and the woman walked out the office, giving me a curious look as she passed me.

"You're early," Mel said in greeting. Her voice sounded stern, but she still leaned in for a kiss on her cheek.

"I didn't have anything else to do," I said.

"So, Ryan told me what happened with you and Emilia. Not that he had much information. I had to go scouring the internet for the truth," she said.

"Don't believe everything you read," I said.

"Oh I know, but I also don't think Ryan was telling me everything. In any case, is it true you walked out on her at your parent's party with another woman?" she asked.

"Er--yes," I said, not able to deny it. "But nothing happened," I added quickly.

"I hope it didn't!" she said. "Otherwise, I'd tell you you're on your own."

"I would have never done it if I wasn't so eaten up with jealousy. She had been flirting with this guy--a real piece of work--and causing a lot of raised eyebrows. I just thought I'd give her a taste of her own medicine. I never meant to take it that far," I said.

"Well be that as it may, what do you need my help with?"

"I was hoping you could convince her to see me, or even just tell me where she is and I'll go see her myself," I said.

"I don't know, Rob. What is it about you and Roman that causes you two to screw up so majorly?"




"Ryan wasn't an angel either," I said defensively.

"True, but he never did anything close to what you two did," she said. "I mean, not only do you humiliate her, but then you go and blow her cover."

"Please don't remind me. I know what I did."

"Why is it so important to see her? If the engagement is fake--"

"Because I love her!" I burst out.

My hand instinctively went to my pocket and I felt the smooth texture of the velvet box inside. The engagement ring had arrived at my apartment yesterday. When I opened the package and saw that familiar blue box tucked neatly inside, my heart sank. I should have expected it, but somehow seeing the ring in the box and not on Emilia's finger made it that much more final. It had been a harsh reminder of what I'd done, and let get away. I knew I had to do everything I could to get her back.

A slow smile spread across her face and she nodded in approval. "Ryan told me you were in love with her, but I didn't believe it at first. Now I can see it's true."

"So, will you help me?" I asked.

Mel took a deep breath and bit her bottom lip in thought. "I'll see what I can do, but I can't make any promises."

"Thank you. Have you seen her?" I asked. I hadn't had any news of her for almost a month. Mel was the first person who could give me any information about her and I couldn't hold back my questions.

"Yes."

"How is she?"

"She seemed all right. We didn't talk much, you know. She just told me she needed me to dress her for the Golden Globes. I was surprised she was still going. I thought the snub would turn her off of it," Mel said.

"Snub?" I asked, confused.

She stared at me for a moment almost in disbelief before she spoke. "You haven't heard? She wasn't nominated. It was a huge snub since people thought she was a shoo-in for the win," she said.

I felt a wave of sadness wash over me. This had been her dream for as long as she could remember, and just as she was so close to achieving it, it was snatched away from her. I couldn't imagine the bitter disappointment and hurt she must have been going through, and I felt guilt over my role in adding to her problems.