His bodyguards were stationed at the door, leaving me no way out. Trapped, I decided to do the unexpected. I grabbed a glass of wine and plastered on a fake, sycophantic smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Reynolds. You're too kind," I cooed, forcing myself to play along.
Through the clear glass of the private room, my eyes locked with Caleb's. His gaze was a mix of rage and frustration, burning through the distance between us.
I was betting on everything at that moment. I had to know if, somewhere beneath all that hatred, there was still a shred of genuine care for me.
For the rest of the party, I switched gears. I went from playing the meek, quiet girl to aggressively pouring drinks for the men, laughing and smiling like I wasn't falling apart.
If Caleb and Nina wanted to humiliate me, I would get my small dose of revenge, one way or another.
As I made my rounds, I heard someone mention that Lance Carter, the editor-in-chief of a major magazine, was here.
A juicy scoop about Nina, the rising star, and her history of bullying?
That could be worth something.