The Pretend Girlfriend (A Billionaire Love Story #1)(88)

It was Liam, the rude guy from the race. And hanging from his arm, Beatrice. She smiled when she saw Gwen.

Gwen broke away from Aiden and started towards her friend. She didn't know how Beatrice found out about this, and didn't care. It only mattered that she was here.

"B! This is amazing! I was just thinking about how much you would have loved to be here," Gwen said.

"That's nice," B replied. Then she turned back to Liam and whispered something in his ear and they both smiled at some inside joke. It was like B didn't even recognize her.

For a second, Gwen thought she'd made a mistake. But it was definitely Beatrice. In a nice salmon-colored dress and wearing a thin golden necklace that accented her neck. Her hair was up, too. But it was definitely her.

Aiden came up beside her. "Liam, nice to see you. Your patronage is always welcomed." The tone of his voice made it clear that he meant the opposite.

"Wouldn't miss it!" Liam said. He slapped Aiden's shoulder and grinned.

More and more cars started pulling up, disgorging men in tailored suits and women in various designer dresses and skirts and shoes. Pretty soon that bored-looking guy manning the ticket booth turned into the frazzled guy manning the booth as he accepted checks and envelopes and handed back silver tickets.

People started coming up to Aiden and speaking to him, telling him what a great idea this was and whatnot. The tide of humanity pulled him away from her, and a little island of space existed around Gwen and Beatrice as though the people could feel the tension around them and steered clear.

"What's going on, B? Why are you here?" Gwen said.

Clearly the wrong questions.

Beatrice's eyebrows climbed up her forehead, "What? Am I not allowed here? I didn't sign a contract with Liam, so that means I'm not good enough or something?"

That stung, and Gwen bit her lip. She didn't want to make things even worse. B feels betrayed by me, Gwen thought. The mention of the contract also sent her peering around at the crowd, checking if anyone listened in. That would be the last thing she and Aiden needed.

Showing her palms, Gwen said, "No, no. Of course you're allowed here and that you're good enough..."

Beatrice put her hands on her hips, her elbows pointed out defensively. And then she bowed, lowering the top half of her body. "Why thank you, your majesty. That makes it all better."

Mouth agape, Gwen didn't know what to say. How could you apologize if the other person refused to listen? Aiden's absence ate at her. He would know what to say or do, putting on that professional veneer of his and somehow just knowing the right words to put the other person at ease.

But at the moment, Aiden stood in a small group closer to the entrance doors, shaking hands and smiling like a mayoral candidate on campaign.

And then Beatrice started walking away. Reaching out, Gwen snagged her friend's elbow. When Beatrice spun to confront her, a look of betrayed anger tinged her pretty features red.

"What?" Beatrice said, tugging at her arm, trying to free it.

People around them started taking notice. A woman with platinum hair and a pearl necklace so big it was a wonder she didn't fall forward from the weight indicated them with her hand to the tall guy she was with. "Isn't that Aiden's fling?"

Gwen ignored the stares, or tried to, at least. This might be the only chance I get to make my case to her! Gwen thought.

"Can't we just talk? I know it was wrong to keep it from you, and I'm sorry. I really am. I wished I'd told you right away. Can't you forgive me? You mean too much to me to lose."

Beatrice's struggles relaxed a little, the anger in her face softening. For a moment, Gwen dared hope, letting her fingers loosen around B's wrist.

With a yank, Beatrice pulled herself free. They had quite the audience now, everyone looking at them askance, their conversations muted and forced as they did their best to eavesdrop. Nothing beat some juicy gossip, it seemed.

Beatrice practically basked in the attention. Meanwhile, Gwen's throat started closing at the same time as her heart tried to climb up through it.

The relative silence of the crowd snagged Aiden's attention. She could see him from her peripheral vision, trying to get her attention. Probably trying to get me to stop, she thought. She ignored him.

"I don't think I can, Gwen," B said, turning to head for the doors. The crowd began parting around her.

Throwing caution aside, Gwen said, "So why did you call him to help me, then?"

"Because I think you two deserve each other, that's why," Beatrice replied. She accepted Liam's outstretched hand just as an usher opened the door and said that people could begin seating themselves.

Aiden fought through the current to get to her. "What's going on? It doesn't look like you two managed to make up. Come on; if we want the good seats we need to get going." He grabbed her hand and started guiding her to the doors, holding out those silver tickets so that the usher could tear them and give back the stubs.

"My publicist tried to get a hold of Billy Crystal to do an introduction, but apparently he wasn't available..." Aiden said, clearly trying to cheer her up. He continued the trend by buying her popcorn (no one else got any) and a diet soda to wash it down.

The seats were hard and old (though Aiden did get her favorite spot, three rows up from the front and right in the middle), and Gwen kept shifting around, but couldn't get comfortable. Someone had given the place a thorough clean, judging by the heavy lemon-cleaner scent that just barely masked decades' worth of stale popcorn. And she didn't see much of the movie, mostly just flickering lights and colors that tugged at her attention but never managed to seize it.