Chapter 2

Sophia

My champagne glass nearly shattered in my grip. I blinked, forcing myself to focus. Had I really seen Nathan with his hand on another woman's ass?

When I looked again, Nathan was just standing there, chatting normally. The woman laughed at something he said, but there was nothing inappropriate about their body language now.

The stress of running my business while designing custom pieces was clearly taking its toll on me. I was seeing things.

Nathan caught my eye across the room and excused himself from his conversation. He moved through the crowd with easy confidence, smiling and nodding at guests but making a beeline straight for me.

"There's my gorgeous girl," he said, sliding an arm around my waist. His fingers played with the exposed skin on my lower back. "Have I told you how fucking incredible you look tonight?"

"Once or twice," I replied, relaxing against him. I'd definitely imagined that ass grab. Nathan might be many things, but he wasn't stupid enough to cheat right in front of me at his own party.

His lips brushed my ear. "I can still taste your pussy on my tongue," he whispered, his voice low and rough. "I'm going to bend you over my bed later and fuck you until you scream my name."

Heat pooled between my legs. "Promises, promises."

"Trust me, baby. I'm going to make you come so hard you'll forget your own name." His hand dipped dangerously low on my back.

Before I could respond, he pulled away with a wicked grin. "Duty calls. The McAllisters just arrived, and they're looking to invest in the next project."

I watched him walk away, admiring how his ass looked in those tailored pants. God, I was a lucky woman. Successful, gorgeous boyfriend. Thriving business. Life was good.

"If you stare any harder at his ass, you might burn a hole through his pants."

I turned to find Jack grinning at me, two champagne flutes in hand. He offered me one, which I gratefully accepted.

"Jack! I didn't know you were coming tonight." I gave him a quick hug, careful not to spill our drinks.

"And miss free booze and the chance to see you all dressed up? Not likely." He gave me an exaggerated once-over. "Nice dress, by the way. One of yours?"

I nodded, smoothing a hand over the silk. "Just finished it yesterday."

"Well, it's stunning. You're wasted on those society matrons who can't appreciate real artistry."

I laughed. "Those society matrons pay my bills, thank you very much."

Jack and I had been friends forever, bonding over cheap wine and grand ambitions.

"So what's the occasion?" Jack asked, nodding toward Nathan, who was now charming a group of older men in expensive suits. "Besides showing off how rich and powerful Nathan Carter is becoming?"

I rolled my eyes. "He closed that Westside development deal. Sold out all the units in record time."

"Ah, nothing says 'I'm successful' like throwing a party to remind everyone else how successful you are," Jack quipped.

"Says the man enjoying said successful man's top-shelf champagne," I pointed out.

He shrugged, not even pretending to look ashamed. "I'm a simple guy with expensive taste."

"Sophia! Jack!" A familiar voice cut through the crowd.

Mia barreled toward us, weaving through the crowd with remarkable agility, considering her four-inch heels. Her hair bounced around her shoulders as she pulled us both into a group hug.

"Oh my god, this party is insane! I just saw that actor from that Netflix show by the bar, and I swear the caviar spoons are actual gold!" She pulled back, eyes wide. "Sophia, this dress is everything! Did you make it?"

"She did," Jack answered before I could. "Our girl's got talent."

"Seriously, it's gorgeous," Mia gushed. "The way it hugs your curves but still looks classy? Pure genius."

I smiled, genuinely pleased by her enthusiasm. Mia worked at Eclipse Events and had the energy of ten people packed into her five-foot-three frame.

"How's the event planning business?" I asked.

"Crazy busy! Wedding season is killing me but in a good way. I'm booked solid through next spring." She took a sip of her drink. "When are you and Nathan going to let me plan your wedding?"

I nearly choked on my champagne. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Jack snorted. "Nathan's married to his real estate empire. Sophia is married to Bennett Designs."

I was about to respond when something caught my eye across the room. Nathan was talking to the same woman from before, tall, slim, with perfect hair that probably never frizzed in humidity. They stood close together, his head bent toward hers. As I watched, she laughed and touched his arm, letting her hand linger.

"Who is that?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual.

Jack followed my gaze. "Oh, that's Olivia. Nathan's new assistant."

"Assistant?" I repeated, watching as Nathan whispered something in her ear that made her bite her lip and look up at him through her lashes. That wasn't a boss-employee conversation. That was flirting. Blatant, shameless flirting.

"Yeah, he hired her about a month ago," Jack continued, oblivious to my growing unease. "Super competent, apparently. Has some fancy business degree from Columbia."

I bet that wasn't all she had that Nathan appreciated.

"Sophia?" Mia's voice pulled me back. "You okay? You look like you just bit into a lemon."

I forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just remembered I forgot to call a client back," I said lightly, but my eyes drifted back to Nathan and Olivia.

They were standing even closer now if that was possible. Nathan's hand rested on her lower back, exactly where it had been on mine minutes earlier. Their body language screamed intimacy, the kind that doesn't develop between a boss and his assistant in just one month.

Unless they were fucking.

The thought hit me like a bucket of ice water. Was Nathan cheating on me? Right here, in front of everyone? In front of me?

No. I was being paranoid. Nathan wouldn't risk everything we had for some assistant. Would he?

"Sophia?" Jack waved his hand in front of my face. "You're spacing out again."

"Sorry," I mumbled. "Just tired. Been working late all week to finish this dress."

"It was worth it," Mia assured me. "You look amazing."

I smiled weakly, trying to focus on my friends and not on the knot forming in my stomach. I was overthinking things. He wasn't stupid enough to cheat on me at his own party.

But as the night wore on, I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. I kept catching glimpses of Nathan and Olivia together, always standing too close, always laughing too intimately.

I needed to stop obsessing. I was being ridiculous. Nathan was with me. He wanted me.

But the seed of doubt had been planted, and I couldn't help wondering if I was being played for a fool.