Chapter 10 : A Party to Remember

**Cat POV I woke with a start. It took me a minute to realize something must of woken me, but as I looked around, I saw nothing. Aaron was still snoring softly on the couch. He muttered something and kept sleeping. I glanced at the clock. "Crap!" It was late in the afternoon. I had to get ready to go to the event! Carefully, I got up so I wouldn't wake him. When I walked through the living room, I realized the porch light was on. It was a motion sensored light, which meant that someone had been out there. Was that what woke me up? I peeked out the front door. There was no one there, but I could see something on the ground in front of the door. It was a box. Opening the door, I bent down and pulled the little note off the box. It was from Luke. A smile spread across my lips, but then I thought of Aaron, and the smile went away. What was I doing?? He wrote that this was a gift to get me through my first official event. It also told me a driver would pick me up at 7:00. Glancing at the clock again, I groaned. I had fifteen minutes to get ready! Snatching up the box, I carried the box to the bedroom. There was a dress inside. I gasped when I saw it, touching the fabric gingerly. Luke had really gone all out. This dress put my small cocktail dress to shame. I pulled the dress from the box and hung it up on the closet door. It was a dusty rose-colored, floor length dress. From the waist down, it had a long, flowy, gossamer skirt over a silky underskirt. The bodice was sleeveless and lacy. On the back, there was a corset lace-up tie. The front was low cut with a small piece of lace holding the V between the breasts together. It was a real ball gown. When I changed into the dress, I ran my hands down my hips and I looked in the full-length mirror on the closet door. The fabric was exquisite. It was real silk and the finest lace. My skin sang when the fabric brushed against it. I bit my lower lip and giggled in sheer, feminine delight. Quickly, I threw my hair up in a half-up do and grabbed a pair of shoes. The car would be there in just a few minutes. I double checked on Aaron to ensure he was still asleep. He'd probably wake up while I was at the party, so I wrote him a quick note. I didn't want him to think I'd abandoned him. Aaron would be waiting for me, right? All I had to do was show up at the party, say a quick "hello" to Luke and leave. Then Aaron and I could get back to what was important. I sighed, memories of look fluttering through my mind. But I couldn't pay attention to them right now. This was for the best. He was my boss, after all. The driver brought me to the venue. I twisted my hands in my lap. This was a big event for my career, and I needed to be focused. When I got out of the car, Barbs was waiting for me. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "I'm here to support my best friend," she said, winking at me. "I suspected this was the same event I was invited to. Business connections and all." I rolled my eyes. "Well, let's get this over with." We looped arms and walked into the venue. With a gasp, my eyes nearly popped out of my head as I looked at the party. Already, the venue was full. Everyone was dressed in nice dresses and fine suits. Looking around, I was glad Luke had given me a dress. The cocktail dress I'd picked wouldn't have cut it. Women were wearing beautiful ball gowns with lace, beads, and fine embroidery. Most of them had glasses of champagne. There was a pianist and a small group of musicians accompanying her on saxophone, trumpet, and violin. "This is a step up from the last party we went to," Barbs giggled. She grabbed us each glasses of champagne. We clinked glasses, and I sipped from mine. Barbs left me, and I was approached by a couple investors. They had to be investors, based on how much their suits probably cost. "You must be Luke Carter's newest acquisition," one of them said, grinning at me. "I am," I said, holding up my champagne. "It is wonderful to see some young, fresh talent on the roster. We're looking forward to what is to come on this development project," another one said. "I'll admit, I don't know much about it yet. I'm eager to get involved." I spoke to a few more investors and some of the guests. I'd been regretting this event from the time Luke had mentioned it to me. Now, I found I was having a really, really good time. Everyone sounded so encouraging and willing to throw money at the company. Their faith in Luke and his firm only made me happier that I had decided to stay. Still, I wanted to get home to Aaron. I'd done my duty and dropped my name around. It was time to focus on my personal life again. I finished my champagne and got ready to find the driver. "There's the girl of the hour," Luke said, approaching me with a new glass of champagne. I smiled shyly and took the glass. "Thank you for the dress. I promise, I'll pay you back." Luke chuckled and shook his head. "No need. It was a gift. Rather, an investment, since you are an investment of mine for the company." My cheeks burned, and I chewed my lower lip. Apparently, a quick "hello" and "goodbye" wouldn't work. "I'm glad you made it Cat. There's going to be a presentation later with all the current project details to hook the investors. Do you want to get a sneak preview?" he asked, giving me a suggestive look. My stomach twisted and my cheeks got hotter. "Um… I have to run to the bathroom," I said, excusing myself quickly. I handed Luke the champagne glass and ran to the bathroom. Why was I acting like some schoolgirl with a crush? Luke and I had agreed there was nothing more between us than our job. He still made me swoon. That was so wrong! Aaron, the man I loved, was back at my place waiting for me. Here I was making eyes at some other guy. I leaned against the sink and took some deep breaths, trying to steady myself. Looking at my reflection, I flexed my fingers, forcing the tremors away. My hair had gotten mussed during the party. I started to fix it when I heard hushed voices in one of the stalls. "I can't wait for you to meet him. My mystery man. I swear he is perfect. He's going to marry me," a familiar voice said. "How can you be sure? I thought he had other things going on," another woman's voice said. "And your mother would absolutely die of embarrassment." It was rude to eavesdrop, so I hurried to fix my hair. Then the first woman spoke again and I knew who it was. "Oh, he got over that. Now, he is mine, all mine," she said. Fiona. I held my breath and stood perfectly still. Their voices were soft and a little muffled. It was wrong, but I needed to hear more. This was the woman that had slept with my fiance! I snuck into the stall next to theirs and quietly closed and locked the door. "How long have you been with this guy?" Fiona's friend asked. "About three months. And let me tell you, he is insatiable. I don't think his ex ever slept with him." Both the women laughed. It reminded me of my friendship with Barbs. Only, instead of feeling happy, my stomach felt like it was filled with lead. "Three months, and you think he's the one? You really want to marry him?" the friend asked. "Oh, I know he is the one. And yeah, I'm sure he'll marry me," Fiona responded with so much confidence. "For me, not my name and family. I didn't even tell him my last name." My heart felt like it was being squeezed in a juicer. "How can you be sure? What if he decides to stay with his fiance?" Fiona's friend asked. They were definitely talking about Aaron. There were too many coincidences for it to be anyone else. "Well, let's just say, I have my insurance policy," Fiona said, giggling again. I heard her moving around, her dress shifting. "Wait. Fiona, you haven't had a drink at all tonight. You've been seeing him for three months, and now you're not drinking. Is this what I think it is?" her friend asked. I clamped my hand over my mouth, holding back my gasp of surprise. My legs trembled, and tears sprang to my eyes. It wasn't hard to figure out where Fiona was going with this. "Fi, are you pregnant!?" the friend gushed. "Shh!" Fiona hissed. "If you must know, yes, I am pregnant. I just found out. I'm taking this seriously, and I know my guy will too." "You haven't even told me this guy's name. Your mother is going to be so pissed!" "And you won't hear it until things are official," Fiona said. "If this gets out to the press…" The latch on their stall door clicked and I heard the women's stilettos click on the tile bathroom floor. They were still whispering and giggling to each other as they left the bathroom. My unsteady stomach flipped again. I whipped around and heaved, throwing up in the toilet. How could I have been so stupid? Thinking Aaron really wanted to get back together and work things out? I'd believed him when he said he'd only been with Fiona once. Groaning, I got sick again. I pushed the stall door open and went to the sink. Collecting water in my hand from the faucet, I scooped it into my mouth and swished it around. Then I patted cold water on my forehead and the back of my neck. My mind was numb. I couldn't form a thought. Nothing made sense. Dazed and confused, I wandered out of the bathroom and headed to where the drivers were parked. The car Luke had sent for me was still there, and the driver was waiting. "Can you please take me back to the guest house?" I asked, walking right past him and getting in the back seat. "Yes, of course, ma'am," the driver said, shutting the car door behind me. I stared out the window as we drove, but I wasn't seeing anything. Aaron had lied to me. He hadn't slept with Fiona once; it had been going on for months. He must have told her that he'd leave me and marry her. Why else would she think that? I kicked the seat in front of me and growled. Could I have been any more of an idiot? I'd wanted so badly to believe him. I'd wanted so badly to think he really loved me. He'd just said what I wanted to hear, and I'd fallen for it. Aaron was nothing by a liar and a cheater, and I'd been deceived not one, but twice.