I loved her. And the thought of her leaving me for that son of a bitch had turned me into a monster.

Lila wouldn’t entertain him, I was sure. So sure that I watched the doors of the ballroom, waiting for her to rush in and tell me everything, moving things around without purpose just to stop myself from going crazy. But the minutes ticked by, and still, there was no Lila.

She’s busy, I assured myself. She’s in charge of this whole operation, and Addison is here, looking for an excuse to hurt her.

The thought redirected my rage to Addison, a protective flare overpowering my jealousy and fear over Brock.

When I couldn’t stand Lila’s absence anymore, I exited the ballroom, heading through the grand hallway to the atrium, buttoning the top button of my suit coat on my way. I slid into the room with the stream of the wealthy, chattering guests, splitting off once I entered to snake around the back. Lila stood in the corner, visible enough that anyone who needed her could find her but discreetly enough that she almost blended in. When she saw me, her eyes lit up, her red lips smiling her relief that was cool rain on that fire in me.

She dismissed an intern as I approached, and I put all my energy into playing it cool.

“Look at you,” she said with an admiring sweep of my form. “I love this suit.”

“Same goes. The Armani?” I guessed, the twin black suit to her white one.

“It’s a special occasion,” she said with a smile.

“The wedding?”

“Only in that it marks the end of the whole ordeal.”

I couldn’t help but smile back, even with worry niggling at my heart. The conversation halted with an uneasy pause.

“So,” I started, hoping an opening would lead to an admission, “how’s everything going? Hit any snags?”

I could see it behind her eyes, the desire to tell me flitting around like a moth in a jar. But she shuttered it away, smiling instead.

“So far, so good, though not for lack of Addison’s digging.”

Disappointed but unwilling to push, I said, “She found anything?”

“Nothing. But the night is young. How about you? Everything going okay?”

“Fine,” I answered, unnerved by the stunted silence and superficial chitchat so unlike us. “Well, I’d better get back. Just wanted to check on you.”

“I’m glad you did,” she said with a smile, genuine and warm and reassuring. But it wasn’t enough to quell my doubts.