But he was already gone.

Grey

He plowed through the snow, back toward the ballroom. His heart pumped furiously in his chest, his blood surging with hot, pulsing anger. She’d lied to him. From the very first day they’d met, she’d been shamelessly, flagrantly lying. Why? Because he was an easy mark, so turned inward, so obviously damaged? Because he was an Emerson and that meant he was subhuman, not worth consideration?

A brisk wind blew snow into his face, and Grey welcomed the stinging in his eyes, against his skin. While he’d been falling in love with her, she’d been someone else’s. When she kissed him, she’d probably been thinking of Kiran Hegde. And on the yacht, when she’d seemed so sad, just as lonely as him, it had all been an act. It was all an act, and he’d been thoroughly fooled. Well, now it was time for her to answer a few of his questions. It was the least Jaya Rao could do.

He marched onward.

Jaya

Jaya turned to Caterina, an anguished look taking over her face even though she was trying to stop it. Caterina’s face was pale and thin and raw. She shouldn’t be left alone. “Caterina…”

“Go,” Caterina said, her chin up. “I’m fine.”

Chewing on her lip, Jaya regarded her worriedly. She was anything but fine. Caterina needed a fr— Slowly, Jaya turned to study Rahul, a few yards away. Slipping off the table, she walked over to where he was standing like a footman at attention, just slightly off the dance floor. She straightened his bow tie and Rahul looked at her in surprise. “Ask her to dance,” Jaya whispered to him.

“Who?” he whispered back, completely oblivious.

“Caterina,” Jaya said, gesturing over to the table where she sat alone.

“Uh… no, I don’t think so,” Rahul said, and his golden-brown skin tinged bright pink.

Jaya studied him. The way he was fidgeting with his cuffs, staring at his shoes, the way his upper lip was prickling with sweat—he really, really liked Caterina. “You should,” Jaya said, and before he could argue, she added hurriedly, “Not for yourself, but for her. She’s in a bad situation right now, and she could really use a friend. Please, Rahul. You’d be doing me a giant favor.”

He looked at her, his brow clouding with doubt. Adjusting his glasses, he said, “Really?”

“Really.” Jaya made sure her eyes were extra wide and earnest. “I really don’t want to leave her, but… Please?”

“What are you two whispering about?” Caterina said, in what was meant to be a snarky voice, but really just sounded croaky and kind of wilted.

Jaya raised her eyebrows at Rahul, and swallowing so his Adam’s apple bobbed nervously, he stepped around her. “Um, I was wondering if… that is, if you’re not otherwise engaged, if you’d like to dance?”