“What?” Lexi asked, her head snapping back to Cierra.

“You look at her like she’s a thief.”

“Who?”

“Ms. Mackenson.”

“Oh…Parker,” Lexi said.

“You don’t have anything to worry about. He worships the ground you walk on.”

“I know.”

“He doesn’t look at her like he looks at you.”

“I know.”

“Then, stop worrying so much. Don’t let that Elisa girl get into your head. That’s what she wants. If you let it bother you, then she wins.”

Lexi bit her lip. “How can I not let it bother me though?”

Cierra shrugged lightly. “That’s between you and your man. I’m just saying, if I had a man who looked at me like that…I would be worried for the girl who stepped wrong in his path because he wouldn’t put up with it.”

“Don’t you have a boyfriend?” Lexi asked, trying to redirect the attention.

“Boyfriend? More like a plaything,” she said with a giggle.

“Oh Lord…”

“Yeah, he’s younger. Doesn’t know what he’s in for.” Cierra winked at her dramatically.

“Are you bringing him to the party tonight?”

“Oh!” Cierra said, her eyes lighting up. “I’m so excited for this party. I’ll have him in tow. You can judge him for me.”

Lexi just laughed. “I look forward to it. See you tonight.”

Walking toward the group of people that Ramsey was talking with, Lexi thought about what Cierra had said. Did she really look at Parker like she was a thief? Lexi didn’t mean to if she did. But it was so hard not to be concerned after the lying and then this huge debacle with Elisa. Lexi just needed to take a deep breath and let it go.

Maybe tonight would help.

Splurging had been well worth it when she saw the look on Ramsey’s face after she came out of the bathroom, all done up for the party tonight. The strapless plum dress ruched around the middle, and reached the floor with a thigh-high slit showing off her tan lean legs. She paired the dress with long drop earrings that nearly grazed her shoulders and mile-high black Manolos. She had woven her hair up into an intricately messy braided bun with soft curls falling around her face. Her makeup was smoky, giving her a cat-like, seductive appearance, and she wore soft nude lipstick that highlighted her natural beauty and the grace of the dress.

“No,” Ramsey said, shaking his head.

“No?” she asked, her smile faltering. “No, what?”

“You can’t leave the house in that.”

“And why not?”

“Every guy in the place is going to want to get his hands on you,” he said, walking forward and running his hands down her sides.

“They’re going to have a pretty pissed senior vice president to contend with if they even think about trying.” She slid her palms up the front of his crisp black suit.

“Damn right, they will.”

She pressed her lips lightly against his, not wanting to smudge her makeup before their debut. He didn’t seem to have the same idea as he crushed Lexi against him. She squealed, trying to push him back to avoid touch-ups, but he didn’t listen and just kissed her until she gave in.

“I know it’s been rough lately,” he said, drawing back, “but I love you so much. I’m glad you stuck with me through the bad. I promise to keep pushing to make it better from here on out, okay?”

“Okay,” she whispered, giving him the reassurance they both needed.

She wanted to believe what Cierra had said about him, and the easiest way to do that was to just keep saying it over and over. It would sink in eventually.

Their arrival at the party was with a big fanfare. Lexi thought it was mostly for Ramsey since he was a partner on the project, but with the way everyone kept eyeing her dress, she wondered if Ramsey had been right.

The party was set up at Opera in midtown, which on any other given day of the week was a packed nightclub complete with paid go-go dancers, a dance stage, and poles. The grandeur of the nightclub had been removed and replaced with an open dance floor and table with food. It had two levels, just like an old-fashioned opera house with balcony seating and crystal chandeliers.

The place maxed out at around a thousand people, and Lexi could see that they were likely going to hit capacity tonight. They had a lot to celebrate with the medical wing, and so many of the employees were here, dressed in their best. Bridges medical wing had only officially been open for a half day, and then tomorrow, it would be in full swing.

After Lexi and Ramsey managed to break through the crowd, they moved over toward the stage where Ramsey’s parents were in deep conversation with some other executives that Lexi recognized. Bekah was in a tight, floor-length bright blue gown that made her baby-blue eyes pop out and her thin frame even more evident. Her blonde hair had been slicked straight back into a tight bun. She wore no jewelry, save for her wedding ring and two giant diamonds in her ears. Her shoes were champagne-colored peep toes with rhinestones running up the heel. Lexi hated how much she liked Bekah’s outfit. If only the Bitch were uglier…

Jack wore a navy suit with just the top button clasped and a charcoal gray tie. He stood with one hand tucked into the pocket of his pants and the other hanging loose at his side as his eyes roamed the packed room.

Lexi and Ramsey made their way over to his family crowded together. She wasn’t sure what his parents thought of her. Sometimes, they acted like they thought she was nice, but more often than not, they acted like she was this weird growth that had appeared at their son’s side. She wasn’t sure what she had to do to get their approval or if anything would ever be enough. Maybe if she started working for Bridges as an attorney—no, she would rather die than give in to that!

“Ramsey! You’re finally here,” Bekah said with a big fake smile. “We thought maybe you were held up with Parker.”

Lexi glared at Bekah. Yes, she knew that Bekah was just trying to get a rise out of her, but damn, did Lexi want to throat-punch her for saying anything at all.

“Is Parker not here?” Ramsey asked.

“No, she hasn’t shown up yet either.”

“Yes, where is that Mackenson girl?” Ramsey’s father roared. “She was supposed to be here earlier, like you were.”

“I have no idea,” Ramsey said, shrugging his shoulders.

“She always has been a little flighty,” he mused. “At least I know that I can trust her to get a job done.”

Ramsey stared forward at his father, like he was a pig that had just sprouted wings and was about to fly around the room. His father didn’t give out compliments lightly, and to hear one about Parker and not directed at him must have been torturous. The clear implication in his father’s words was that he couldn’t always trust Ramsey. Even though he had done everything his father had wanted, Ramsey still had to deal with this type of behavior. Lexi wished they could just walk out.

“I’m sure she’ll be around,” Lexi said, leaning into Ramsey for support. “I’m going to go find the restroom. Come with me?”

“I have to stay here,” he said softly through gritted teeth. “Come back to me quickly.”

“Okay,” she said, wishing he had taken the out.

Lexi pulled Ramsey down to her by the front of his suit and kissed him on the mouth. He smiled against her lips as she showed him just how much he meant to her in that one motion. She pulled back marginally, and he was grinning like an idiot, looking down at her.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Lexi waited for him to nod before releasing him, and then she veered away from him to seek out the restroom. She glanced around at all the employees. She recognized so many, but there were far more she had never even seen before.