Stranded with My Stepbrother Chapter 140

McKenzie

Ike chose heels again, of course. On the one hand, they were quite pretty and matched the dress perfectly. On the other hand, I was still wobbly.

“I’m going to look like such a fool,” I murmured to Will as we exited the limo and headed up the hotel stairs. Slowly. With me clinging to him like a lichen.

He patted my hand, which had a death grip on his arm. “I’m not leaving your side.”

“You have to at some point. Bathroom. Pompous rich old fart needing a word,” I grumbled, wincing when my ankle almost gave. I was going to fall on these stone steps before we even made it into the building!

“If I have to talk to some ‘pompous rich old fart,’ I’ll make sure you’re seated at a table,” he said, suppressing a chuckle. I could hear it in his voice.

I swatted him with my clutch, which also matched the dress. “It’s not funny!”

“I’m not laughing at your predicament. I’m laughing at the ‘pompous rich old fart,’” he assured me.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know a few.” I sounded grumpy. I was. Damn Ike and these shoes!

“Will!” A boisterous voice broke through the chatter as we finally made it to the top of the stairs. Sure enough, a balding, red-faced man in his seventies with a woman who could have been his granddaughter dangling off his arm came pushing through the crowd.

“Don’t laugh,” Will muttered to me, even though I could tell he was trying very hard not to laugh himself. “Don’t.”

I bit down hard on my lower lip. “I’m not laughing,” I mumbled.

“Uh-huh.” Will walked us over to the man and his arm candy.

“It’s been an age!” the man said, forcefully taking Will’s hand and shaking it. “Where have you been?”

I leaned heavily on Will while he smiled down at me. “I’ve just been with McKenzie here. It was a whirlwind romance. McKenzie, this is Leopold Cross of Cross and Cross Ltd. Leopold, this is McKenzie Kent.”

“Soon to be McKenzie Masterson, if the rumor mill is to be believed.” Leopold chuckled and ribbed Will with his elbow. “My, and she is a pretty little thing. Maybe Gretchen here will be the next Mrs. Cross. What do you think?”

“Gwendolyn,” the young woman corrected sourly. Then she turned on her full charm mode. “You really think so, pookie?” She batted her eyelashes at him.

“It’s always a possibility, sugar.” Leopold smiled. He leaned into Will and whispered so loudly it was impossible for Gwendolyn and me not to hear. “They really lap it up, don’t they? Sad they don’t know there will be a new one next week.”

She pursed her lips.

It occurred to me then that she wasn’t much older than me, if she even was older than me.

“I think McKenzie and I could use some champagne,” she announced, reaching out and tugging on my arm.

It forced me to take a step, and my ankle wriggled like a fish was trying to escape my leg. “Eek!”

Gwendolyn noticed and stopped. “Let’s go like this,” she said softly and wrapped my arm through hers so she was holding me up.

“In point of fact, Leopold, though we haven’t made a formal announcement yet, McKenzie and I will be tying the knot,” Will said, frowning as she pulled me away.

I shrugged helplessly but indicated I was okay.

“We’ll be back,” she assured the men.

The long table of champagne flutes, as well as a beautiful champagne fountain, seemed to be a million miles away. However, we did manage to get there in one piece. Gwendolyn was freakishly strong, to be honest.

“Ugh, you work and work and work the circuit and end up being dismissed all the time,” she complained, handing me a champagne flute. “Though I’ve never seen you here before.”

“I’ve never been on the circuit before,” I admitted, sipping from my flute. It was very tasty. Then I pulled the glass away from my mouth. “I’m only nineteen,” I whispered. “Is someone going to get in trouble?”

She snorted. “Honey, I’m nineteen, too. Trust me, that sort of thing doesn’t matter at this level of society.”

“Oh.” I took another sip. “Thanks for getting me out of there. I really wasn’t impressed with that Leopold guy. No offense.”

“None taken. I mean, you did hear that he doesn’t even know my name, right? I suck his dick, and he calls me every ‘G’ name under the sun except Gwendolyn. I suppose I should just be grateful he gets the first letter right,” she said bitterly.

“I’m sorry. That sucks.” I tried to imagine being intimate with someone who couldn’t even get my name right.

She looked at me with a sad half-smile. “That’s just the way it is. I’m not destitute, but I’m not dripping in diamonds, either. So you just keep going from one to another and hope one decides to keep you as a mistress for a while. Well, maybe not you. Masterson seems to be eager to tie the knot with you. How did you do it?”

“I wasn’t even trying,” I said, realizing we hadn’t gone over our cover story. It wasn’t as though I could tell her we’d been chased, kidnapped, and were now being held hostage together. I glanced at Will then decided to just go for it. “He came to the U of M campus, and we met, and things just sort of… grew from there. He really romanced me. Jets. Spain. The whole nine yards. I’m still not sure what he sees in me, but I… I really do love him.”

Gwendolyn nodded and sipped her drink. “Makes sense. He went ahead and chose someone lower-class.”

I stiffened.

She must have felt it through the arm that was holding me up because she quickly continued. “No, that’s not a bad thing! I swear, I’m not insulting you. I mean, it’s probably even a good thing. You get a great guy; he gets someone… sincere. Honestly, most of the women here are gold-diggers. Including me.” She winked.

“You’re just doing what you need to in order to have the life you want,” I said. “There’s nothing wrong with that. And you seem like a really nice person.” I frowned slightly. “Why are you being nice to me?”

“Didn’t you see?” she laughed, gesturing to the room with her champagne flute. “We’re the two youngest, not upper-class women here. The older harpies are trying to stare us down even as we speak. We’re not welcome.”

I looked around and noticed that she was right. Women of every age and social standing were staring at us with distaste. Some were subtle. Most were not. “Oh.”

“Don’t worry. They only work in a few petty jabs when you’re with your man. I just wanted to warn you. Girls like us have to stick together,” she said.

“Thanks.” I glanced back over at Will, who was alternating between talking to Leopold—and a few other pompous old rich guys who had gathered—and looking at me. “Speaking of our men….”

“They won’t want us there, anyway. They’re discussing business. How about we go sit down? Comunidades en Común didn’t do assigned seating tonight, so we can just commandeer a table.” She helped me carefully wobble to one of the nearest tables.

I sat down gingerly.

Gwendolyn sat next to me. “This is about to get long and boring. Do you know if Masterson’s making a speech? I know his company is one of the top contributors to the organization.”

“We honestly have no idea. We just got back, so getting here was kind of done in a rush,” I explained. “Will was just wondering if he had to make a speech. I hope he has something prepared, just in case.”

“He will. Masterson is always very charming at these things.” She sighed. “You are so lucky, McKenzie.”

There was no arguing that. “I feel very lucky.”

“I leave you alone for two seconds and already you’re leaving me for another woman.” The boisterous Leopold interrupted our conversation.

We both looked up, Gwendolyn pasting a vapid, yet besotted, expression on her face, me trying to appear at least mildly polite. “Leo, darling!”

Leopold winked at us. “It wouldn’t be so bad watching the two of you go at it, though. Am I right, Will?”

Will joined us and frowned at him. “I’d really rather that not happen, actually. Call me old school, but I like it when my fiancée only has eyes for me.” He put his hands on my shoulders and kissed the top of my head.

“Just a joke, Will. Just a joke. My, but she does have you by the balls.” Leopold laughed.

Will ground his teeth but didn’t say anything, sitting down next to me instead. “Is everything all right?” he whispered in my ear.

“Yes. Gwendolyn’s lovely. Leopold doesn’t deserve her,” I whispered back.

He snorted. “Leopold doesn’t deserve a goldfish.”

Leopold sat down next to her and immediately started getting handsy, trying to get her to put her hand down his pants under the table.

It really grossed me out.

“Are you giving a speech today?” I asked Will, deciding the best thing to do was to ignore the situation.

With a wince, he nodded. “I found out just a few moments ago.”

“Do you know what you’re going to say?” I fretted on his behalf.

“I’ll think of something,” he assured me, taking my hand and kissing it. “I’ve been doing this kind of thing for a while now. I’m in my wheelhouse.”

I smiled at him. I was about to say something more when a woman in a long red dress, slit up to the hip, came sashaying over.

“Will,” she purred, putting her matching red talons on his shoulder. “It’s been forever! Why haven’t you called me? I heard you’ve been back in town for a few days now.”

His eyes narrowed, and he gently but firmly, flicked her hand off his shoulder. “Lisa. It’s been over a month. And I think you know I’m engaged.”

“To this little thing? Well, I wouldn’t say ‘little.’ I didn’t know they made couture in your size,” Lisa insulted me pleasantly.

I knew I was a bit curvy but hardly overweight. I managed a tight smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Lisa. I’m McKenzie.” I politely held out my hand for her to shake.

She looked at it as though I’d offered her a dead rat. “Hm. Yes. Will, darling, when you’re done playing with this one, you’ll remember to call me first, right? I’m the best of all the girls.”

“I won’t be calling you ever again, Lisa.” He was firm, and losing his patience.

She trilled a laugh. “Of course you will, darling. No one can suck you off like I can.” She made eye contact with me. “No one.”

“Good thing I’m eager to learn, then,” I replied sweetly. “Will, darling I’m really starting to understand why you left all your friends to come find me.”

He smiled and gave me a soft kiss on the temple. “They are rather insufferable, aren’t they?”

Lisa gave an indignant squeal, but we ignored her.

Will took my hand. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, McKenzie. Sweet, kind, funny, and authentic. I love you very much.”

Conversation at the table came to a halt.

“I love you, too,” I said into the silence.

“Will, you can’t possibly—!” Lisa protested.

“Lisa, I say this with as much grace as I can muster. Get lost,” he responded coldly.

She spluttered and turned then picked up a champagne flute. “I have never been so insulted!”

There was no doubt in my mind my beautiful dress was about to be doused. I held my breath as she glared murder at me and tossed the contents….

… onto Will, who had quickly moved to protect me.