After I Saved Him, My CEO Said We Were Strangers novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: The Notices

The Draycott Foundation gala was held every year on the top floor of the Draycott tower.

Every year Garrison used it to count his friends.

This time he planned to count the Ashworths too.

"He'll announce the acquisition from the podium," said Dorothea, at breakfast, over her eggs. "Every banker in Columbus will be there to hear it."

"So we shouldn't go," said Declan.

"So we should arrive early and stay late."

I was already holding out my good arm to him.

"Rule three," I said. "I start it."

He looked at my elbow, then up at my face, and a slow, helpless smile broke across his.

"Thank you for starting it," he said, and put my hand in the crook of his arm like it was made of glass.

The ballroom was glass and gold and two hundred people in black tie, with a jazz band under a banner that said DRAYCOTT FOUNDATION: BUILDING TOMORROW.

Heads turned as we walked in.

I wore the red dress again, with the sleeve over the sling and a silver chain that Dorothea had pressed into my hand.

Declan wore his black tuxedo and a tie I had picked out for him in a store he'd had to close early.

"Everyone's staring," he murmured.

"They're staring at you."

"They're staring at my wife."

"Say it again."

"My wife," said Declan, quietly, in my ear, and I nearly walked into a waiter.

Garrison stood at the center of the room, glass in hand, laughing with a circle of men in expensive suits.

He saw us and smiled his gracious, patient smile.

Camille stood a pace behind him in a gold gown.

She wasn't smiling at all.

At nine the band stopped, and Garrison climbed to the podium.

"Friends," he said. "Good evening. It's been a remarkable year for this city."

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