Boss Me (Private Listing #3)

“Is this your fiancée, Cooper?” The woman’s words carry in the silence before the next song can start. She gives me a look like I’m beneath her.

My heart stalls on the word fiancée. What the hell is happening? Some of the conversation with Heath makes sense now. Mostly.

“Leighton Porter, this is Madison Harris, my fiancée.”

I keep the smile glued to my face. Even though I’m shocked as hell to be called his fiancée. I want to give him a what the fuck look, but I can’t take my eyes off the woman in front of me.

This is Leighton. The woman Coop once loved. The woman who tried to break apart the guys. She’s taller than me, with sleek brown hair and startling blue eyes. She holds herself like royalty and looks down her nose at me like I’m a commoner.

“This is Drew Young, my date for the evening. Drew, Cooper Graham.” Leighton smiles at Coop like she’s caught him. Her gaze goes to my left hand on his elbow. “When you told me about your engagement, I couldn’t resist finding the lucky girl. I was hoping to see what diamond your fiancée chose from your family’s collection. I always loved the yellow diamond we talked about.”

“We haven’t had a chance to look over the collection yet.” Coop reaches out and touches my earrings. Our eyes meet briefly, and he gives me a little encouraging smile. “I think the one that matches this set will be perfect for her, but I wanted to let her choose.”

Leighton’s gaze roams over the jewels draped around my neck and dangling from my ears. I take in a shaky breath. She’s almost as terrifying as Elizabeth. Right now, my best bet is to remain quiet and let Coop weave whatever lies he needs to. I can’t imagine why I got an upgrade from girlfriend to fiancée though.

Noah and Sara stop beside us. I can’t meet Noah’s eyes. He wanted to be my date for tonight. He wanted to claim me until circumstance dictated Coop be the one to claim me. So I keep my smile on.

“I’m sure that will be lovely. Where is your family from?” Leighton’s blue eyes pin me in place. Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. Whatever I say, she’ll pick apart just like she hopes to do to me.

“She doesn’t have to answer your questions, Leighton.” Coop draws me tighter against his side. His warmth helps with the coldness. “This isn’t an interview.”

“So mysterious, Coop.” Leighton snuggles into her date’s side. He hasn’t spoken the whole time. Maybe he’s just arm candy. “I can’t wait for the engagement party.”

Can we have an engagement party if he hasn’t proposed to me? Dating Coop is already a stretch with what everyone, even Coop, said about his past. A thought pops into my head, right before Leighton speaks it into existence.

“I assume the tight timeline is because of special… circumstances?” Leighton’s gaze drops to my flat abdomen with an almost evil smile. If I was pregnant, I’d cover my stomach from whatever evil this woman cast on it.

“No other reason besides Madison being the love of my life.”

My eyes widen at the bold statement but I keep my smile soft. My heart trips over itself a little. Coop’s just playing a part. He doesn’t really love me. This arrangement isn’t about love. I have to remind myself of that until it’s lodged in my brain.

Leighton flinches slightly at that. Did she love Coop too? I’ve never learned the complete story besides her wanting Coop not to hang out with the others. I almost feel sorry for her for losing him.

Coop nods his head to Leighton and Drew. “If you’ll excuse us, we need to return to our party.”

As we walk away, Noah and Sara follow us.

“I didn’t know you two were engaged,” Sara exclaims as we reach the table. “Congratulations.”

I lift my eyes to the others. Blake looks like he wants to break something, and that something might be Coop’s face. Seth is quiet and still, but his eye twitches a little. Elizabeth seems taken aback.

“Kayla, why don’t you and the other women go dance?” Blake stands. A fast song plays on the speakers.

“You two will make the most exquisite children.” Kayla grabs my hand and tugs me away from Coop as the guys converge on him. I should go with the guys. This is about me.

Sara releases Noah, and that’s when I meet Noah’s eyes. For a second, we connect and nothing around us matters. I’m his and he’s mine. My heart settles with that knowledge. Even if everything else is crazy around us, we still have each other.

He nods as Kayla pulls me away. I’ll be in the loop later. For now, I guess I’ll dance.

Seth

“Elizabeth, if you’ll excuse us.” I don’t wait to hear what she has to say. I’m ready to be away from her. She keeps touching me, trying to build a new relationship on the toxic dust of the one we had in college.

It won’t happen. Not now. Not ever.

It wouldn’t matter if Madison didn’t exist. I could never trust Elizabeth. Her mother’s machinations will always rule her.

We move to the access door Coop took Madison out earlier. Blake leads the way to the Graham Wing and we fall in step. No one talks yet, but we need to know what the fuck Coop’s done.