Jade spritzed her wrists and neck with a light floral and citrus scent before running a brush through her high pony-tail one last time. She took a cursory glance at her phone; Amber Barnes would be here in less than twenty minutes to pick her up for the evening. Walking over to her small closet, she removed a black sleeveless jumpsuit. The top of the modern jumpsuit was lace with a nude underlay so it wasn't see-through, the V-neck decidedly modest and the pants tapered nicely to her ankles. There were zippers on either side, allowing for easy removal. She stepped into dainty silver sandals, adding two inches to her petite five-foot-one frame. Her battered pride demanded she look her best tonight, especially when it was for such an important event. She was dressing for herself, purely for herself and no one else.
Closing the wardrobe, she stepped back to survey her image in the full-length mirror. She looked pretty good, her jet-black hair pulled back to show off her high cheekbones, dainty jawline and long, graceful neck. Tonight was the beginning of the rest of her life, she vowed. She searched through the top drawer for a set of bangles and small drop earrings but encountered a long red velvet box instead.
Unexpectedly, a fresh surge of anger and pain raged through her. It was the gift he'd handed her the morning after their night together...a diamond tennis bracelet. That was what she'd been worth to him. She hadn't even bothered to look up the price, knowing that would only hurt her in the end. She didn't want to know the monetary value her love meant to him. Besides, the man probably had hundreds of these boxes to give out to all his conquests. Hadn't that Instagram model also been wearing a similar bracelet in that post?
Her phone beeped. It was a text from Amber that she was here and waiting downstairs. Grabbing her vintage blazer and small purse, she hurried to join her friend.
"Wow, babe, you look hot!" Amber exclaimed before pulling the car from the curb and into the hectic Saturday night traffic.
"You, too, babe." Jade grinned.
"Can you believe they're engaged?"
"I know! It's crazy but it's about damn time!"
"Hurry up and sign the card, Jade."
Jade reached down into the Target bag to do just that, grateful that they had decided to pool their meager savings together to get an engagement present for Quinn and Nicholas. Being lowly interns at Masterson's Group, it was an understatement to say that they made quite less than their friends.
"You holding up okay?"
They were heading across the lobby of the luxury hotel where the private party was being held, their heels clicking on the marble floors.
"I am, honestly. Thanks for asking, Amber."
But when the elevator doors swept open to the elegant restaurant on the sixtieth floor, Jade took one look at the animated crowd milling around, and felt suddenly nervous. The engagement party was in full swing, guests holding their champagne flutes and grazing on the butler-passed canapes with delight.
"Let's go find them." Amber linked their arms, lending support while leading Jade through the tastefully decorated space.
While greeting the engaged couple, Jade caught something in the corner of her eye, a shiver of apprehension straightening her spine. Her face paled when she saw a group of people shifted to one side...and there was an unmistakable creature among them. He was one of the tallest people in the room, standing out even from across the vast space. His dark head was thrown back as he laughed at something being said.
Jade's heart pounded uncontrollably as her shocked eyes took in his handsome face, the elegant ease with which he wore his impeccably tailored suit, the casual way he held his drink in his hand. She noticed every achingly familiar thing about him. And then she saw the strikingly beautiful blond beside him. She was smiling up at him while her hand rested comfortably on his sleeve...as if it belonged there. The woman was not the model...just how many women did the man have, she wondered even as anguish poured through her veins like hot acid, a rope of tension coiled around her chest threatening to suffocate her.
"Jade, hey, what's wrong?" Marcus Masterson touched her arm gently, drawing her attention.
Jade turned to find three sets of very concerned eyes fixed on her. As one, the friends closed in around her, going into protective mode.
"It's him...the m-man...Max Powers. He's here!" She gasped, motioning with her head to the tall figure at the opposite end of the restaurant.
"Wait?! What? How can that be?" Quinn held her hands before taking a quick survey around the room.
"We know everyone here tonight, Jade. And we most definitely do not know of a Max Powers!" Marcus insisted, his white complexion reddening in fury at the prospect of a party-crasher—the very same idiot who had hurt his sweet, innocent friend. Despite this being a special night for him and Quinn, he was one to stoop as low as to hit a man at his own engagement party!
"Are you sure, sweetie? What does he look like?" Amber frowned, looking in the direction Jade indicated. Her eyes widened in horror.
Daphne Jones, Stuart Phillips and the newly appointed hard-ass CEO of Masterson's Group were a part of that crowd. She really shouldn't be surprised seeing the top executives here; after all, Marcus was one of them.
Before anything more could be said, the sound of metal hitting glass grabbed their attention. It was Marcus' parents, Lana and Christopher Masterson. The older couple stood on the stage as they offered words of congratulations to the newly-engaged pair...words that Jade barely heard over the roaring in her ears.
Jade felt a light squeeze and saw that Amber had pulled her aside, guiding her away from the spotlight that now belonged to Quinn and Marcus. She allowed herself one more look at Max, who had yet to notice her—thankfully!—before tearing her gaze away. She inhaled several long deep breaths to pull herself together.
She had prepared for this, her nights spent imagining how she would confront him—if at all, should she ever see him again. Well, here was her chance to show him that he meant nothing to her! She looked her best and she was doing just fine without the lying bastard!
"Please raise our glasses in congratulations to the happy couple!"
Jade joined in the loud applause as the Mastersons ended their speech, laughing and pushing aside her pain.
"Come on, girl. I need something stronger than bubbly," Amber dragged her towards the open bar.
"Oh, geez, Amber...you're driving."
"We'll taxi home and I can pick up the car in the morning." The restaurant was close to their office building so her plan was solid.
"Are you okay?" Jade finally noted the rather subdued expression on her normally cheerful friend.
"Yea...I'm fine, I guess. I just didn't expect to see my boss here." Amber was referring to Stuart Phillips. She worked under him as one of his many personal assistants. It was obvious that Amber had fallen for the man if the yearning in her eyes was any indication.
"What a couple of lovesick fools we are, huh?" Jade joked. "Let's drink!"
During the next hour, they circulated among the guests, socializing with their many colleagues and even some university friends. The two were having a great time despite their broken hearts, smiling and laughing and sharing stories as they drank the free booze and indulged in shrimp cocktail, crab cakes and mini beef Wellingtons. Jade had to eat to combat the drinking, not the least bit embarrassed when Marcus and Quinn showed up with The Mastersons and her mouth was full of wild mushroom tartlet.
"This is Jade Jing-Joubert." Marcus made the introductions. "Jade, these are my parents, Lana and Christopher Masterson."
"She's one of my best friends." Quinn added, rolling her eyes slightly as they waited for her to finish chewing.
"Ah, we've heard so much about you." Lana said, her eyes twinkling kindly.
Jade shook their hands warmly, her grip firm. "Only good things, I hope." She quipped. "Thank you for having me."
"Where's Amber?" Quinn looked around for the willowy blonde.
"Powder room."
"Jing-Joubert? That's a very specific surname." Christopher commented.
"My parents wanted me to have both their last names…" Jade explained.
"Jade? Is your middle name Hua by any chance?" Lana questioned.
"Oh! Are you Jun and Alex's kid?" Christopher groaned, rubbing his jaw. "Your French accent…"
"Yes, yes." Jade looked confused. Her parents lived in France, still traveling the country in the same caravan she'd grown up in and as far as she knew, they did not have any wealthy friends.
"Funny story, actually...but we're old university friends," Christopher answered. "My brother-in-law, Peter, also knows them,"
Jade frowned before breaking out into a bright sunny smile. "Uncle Pete? The cranky hippie? I know him; he often stayed with us,"
"Yes, that's my twin brother," Lana laughed, pulling Jade into a warm hug. "I am so delighted. When Jun said her daughter was studying in the States, I never imagined that we would meet since the university is a few hours away and all!"
"We saw your parents just last week actually," Christopher continued.
"Wow, Jade, you already know my family?" Marcus was looking from his parents to his fiance's best friend—one of his best friends now, too—in astonishment.
"You're forgetting the most important family member, bro," The dry comment was said in a painfully familiar, laughing voice right behind her.