One night stand with my daddy's best friend
84

Bridget

I was looking forward to the charity event with Ethan. It felt a little bit like prom; dressing up, getting my hair done, and going to a party. My first bit of unease arrived when I saw Ethan looking like he came from old money. It was easy to forget that he came from a filthy rich family, except now in his tux.

When we walked into the ballroom, I knew I was out of my element. Women in shimmery, shiny, expensive dresses and jewelry that cost more than my car filled the room. My father had money, but he raised me and my siblings very modestly. Outward signs of wealth like this didn't happen in my family. That coupled with the fact that I knew I could be outspoken made me worry that I was going to mess things up for Ethan instead of helping him.

Ethan slid his arm around my waist and leaned in close to me. "Just imagine them all naked and they won't be so intimidating."

"If I imagine them naked, I might say something inappropriate."

He laughed. "Most of these people could use a dose of brutal honesty. Don't worry Bridget, once we get past my grandfather we can drink and have fun."

I let Ethan escort me toward an older gentleman who looked like he was holding court. More men in tuxes stood around him, vying for his attention.

His grandfather's gaze caught us approaching. "Look, it's my grandson coming."

"Good evening, Grandfather."

"I understand you're all having difficulty with Bran Erickson. You know,

if I were dealing with him the deal would be done."

Next to me Ethan stiffened but his smile never faltered. I on the other hand wanted to tell the old man he was being a jerk.

"I'd like to introduce Bridget Franklin."

I felt a little bit like a lamb going into slaughter, but I did my best to smile and extend my hand. "How do you do, Mr. Wheatley?"

His grandfather's steely gaze took me in. "Franklin? I don't think I know of that family."

This was the first time I wished my mother had become rich and successful so that I could impress the old man not because I cared what he thought about me but because I wanted to help Ethan in his quest to earn the right of taking over his grandfather's company.

"Well, there's Benjamin Franklin," I said, inwardly groaning at my stupid comment.

Mr. Wheatley's furry brow furrowed, clearly not impressed by me. Next to me Ethan laughed leaning over and giving me a kiss on the temple.

Mr. Wheatley turned his attention away from me and back to Ethan. "I'm not sure all this work you're doing with the MacLeod's is earning you any favor, especially with Dane McLeod now at the helm. I told his father that Dane wasn't up to the task and now he's going to ruin that company and take you down with it."

I clasped my hands together in front of me to stifle the urge to punch the old man in the throat. How dare he talk about Dane like that.

"I wouldn't underestimate Dane MacLeod," Ethan said. "I suspect Bran Erikson is going to learn that very soon.

"

Mr. Wheatley shrugged dismissively. "I would think my opinion would matter to you since you're trying to take over my company."

Ethan shook his head. "I'm trying to earn your trust once you've decided to retire."

Mr. Wheatley laughed but without humor. "Chances are, I'm going to die at my desk. "

I bit my tongue from saying something terrible about the old man's death. Mr. Wheatley looked at me again. "So, are you a woman up to the task?

Being the wife of a Wheatley is more than spending his money at the latest boutiques."

Ethan's hand gave me a slight squeeze at the waist. I don't know if it was a reminder to watch what I said or a sign of support.

"I'm here to support Ethan in any way that he needs it." I turned and looked up at Ethan hoping that I looked like a loving devoted girlfriend.

Ethan smiled at me and then turned back to his grandfather. "If you don't mind, Bridget and I are going to mingle with the other guests."

Mr. Wheatly made a flicking motion with his hand as if we were dismissed.

Ethan escorted me away.

"I thought you might kiss his ring or something," I said under my breath. "Don't give him any ideas. His ego is already difficult enough to deal with."

We reached the other side of the room, every now and then saying hello to people we passed. Ethan got us glasses of champagne and we toasted to surviving the first meeting with his grandfather.

As I tipped my glass back to drink, I stopped short. Dane stood across the room with the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. I recognized her because the rich and wealthy of Southern California were celebrities just from having money. Anne Francis could have been a model or a movie star but the way that she clutched Dane to her side and looked up at him with goo goo eyes made me think she was auditioning to be Mrs. Dane MacLeod.

I couldn't blame her. Dane looked devastatingly handsome like a movie star, and at the same time deadly, like James Bond. His tux fit him like it was painted on. He had a presence around him that couldn't be denied.

Everyone watched him. Knowing him, he'd think it was because of his history with his father. But he'd be wrong. All the men wanted to be like him. And all the women wanted to fuck him. Me included. Except no, I was angry at him for kissing and then avoiding me. I had to remember that.

I downed my champagne, handing my glass back to Ethan.

"It looks like that exchange with my grandfather took more of a toll on you than I thought." He took the glass, handing it to a passing server and grabbing another glass from the server's tray and handing it to me.

"How long do we have to hang out and mingle?" I stepped aside putting Ethan between me and Dane so Dane wouldn't see me. I wasn't sure why it was important to me that he not see me here.

Maybe it's because I worried that he'd think I was stalking him. Maybe he thought I wanted to trap him as it appeared Anne Francis was trying to do.

The thing was, Anne Francis was more in his league. She came from money just as Dane and Ethan and the rest of the people in this room did.

While my father knew many of the businessmen here, it was never important to him to be included in the rich club, so we were never involved in rich people's activities. As a result, I felt very much out of my element. "It's important that I be seen by more than just my grandfather. But we can do something that you enjoy. Do you like to dance? It looks like they have some nice hor d'oeuvres if you're hungry."

Drinking more sounded good except that I didn't want to embarrass myself by getting drunk. I liked food but I felt a little self-conscious eating in front of a group of women who wore size two or less. I wasn't ashamed of my weight but at the same time I didn't want to give these women a reason to look at my curves and think less of me. I wondered if a day would come when a woman's weight wasn't a measure of her worth in society.

I leaned slightly to peer around Ethan's large body to get a read on where Dane and Anne were. They were moving through the crowd stopping every now and then to chat with people. Anne never missed an opportunity to touch Dane or look at him lovingly. I wanted to rip her pretty blonde hair out. I took a gulp of my champagne.

Because Dane and Anne were moving in our direction, I slid my arm through Ethan's and maneuvered him to another part of the room without telling him that I was avoiding Dane. Of course, if Dane saw me, he'd probably avoid me like he had been doing at work.

We ended up closer to the back of the room where an older gentleman stopped Ethan to chat with him.

"Is your grandfather still giving you the runaround, young Ethan?" the baldheaded gentleman who looked like Daddy Warbucks asked him.

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Ethan smiled jovially. "He just wants to make sure the company is left in good hands, Mr. Carson. And I'm doing my best to prove that I'm that man."

Mr. Carson patted Ethan on the shoulder. "I'm rooting for you son. I don't much like that cousin of yours."

"Thank you very much. I appreciate your vote of confidence." Someone caught Mr. Carson's eye and he excused himself.

"Does Mr. Carson have any sway over your grandfather and his decisions?" I asked Ethan.

"Not as much as would be nice, but it doesn't hurt. "

Remembering I was trying to avoid Dane I scanned the room to get a sense of where he was. I had just caught sight of Anne and was looking next to her when I locked eyes with Dane.

He didn't look surprised. Maybe initially he looked perplexed but then his brows narrowed, and he began to walk toward me in a way that made me think I was going to be reprimanded for coming to the event.

Of course, I had every right to be here so initially I thought I would stand my ground. But then I realized that in doing so I could cause a scene for Ethan and since my being here was all about helping Ethan, I knew it would be best if I excused myself from the room.

Another man stepped in front of Dane stopping his approach. I took the opportunity to get out of dodge.

"If you excuse me Ethan, I'm going to the little girls room." I handed him my flute of champagne.

"I'll be here when you get back. "

I exited the ballroom and rushed to the restroom. Once inside I strode up to the mirror as if looking at and talking to reflection would help answer the question of what I should do.

Was Dane really upset that I was here? Why would he be? Maybe he thought only the richest and most powerful people should be at a function like this although Dane hadn't struck me as being elitist. After all, he'd walked away from his family for twenty years to be in the military.

Was he upset that I was with Ethan? Ethan did say Dane wouldn't like it. Maybe it was a rule at the office that colleagues couldn't date. Maybe I should have read the manual the HR person gave me more carefully.

The best thing for me to do would be to leave. I didn't want to get Ethan in trouble with his grandfather or Dane. I could tell Ethan that I wasn't feeling well. He could drive me home or I'd order a car. I'd avoid Dane altogether and hopefully by Monday, he'd be back to avoiding me at the office.

Deciding that I would feign an illness, I washed my hands, pressing the hot water on my cheeks to make them look flush.

I picked up my clutch, opened the door, and walked into Dane MacLeod.