Chapter 15: Megan
A woman. Of course, it had to be a woman.
I knew the moment that blonde bombshell appeared in front of us, all confident smirks and too-bright eyes, that she wasn't just some random person Caleb knew from work. No, this had ex written all over it.
Or worse, an old conquest. The way she ignored me completely and zeroed in on Caleb only confirmed it. My grip on his arm involuntarily tightened.
She was gorgeous, I couldn't deny that. Tall, curvy, with platinum blonde hair that looked like it belonged in a shampoo commercial. She had that kind of beauty that made you feel small and out of place just by standing near her. But I wasn't about to let her intimidate me.
Not tonight.
I leaned my head against Caleb's arm, making sure my body language screamed possessive.
"Baby," I said sweetly, keeping my eyes locked on the blonde woman. "Who is this?" I tilted my head ever so slightly, leaning in closer to him as if to say, He's mine, lady. "Is she one of the important people you wanted to introduce me to tonight, like you promised?"
The woman's perfect smile faltered, and I could see a flicker of annoyance in her eyes as she finally turned her attention to me. Caleb, meanwhile, grinned down at me, clearly enjoying the little game I was playing.
"No, baby," he said, his voice dripping with amusement, "she's not."
He turned back to the blonde, his grin fading into something more neutral. "Excuse us," he said, his tone polite but firm.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the woman's expression twist into something sharp, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she let out an exaggerated huff and stomped away, heels clicking furiously against the marble floor as she left.
I couldn't help myself. I laughed.
"Do you always leave a trail of broken hearts wherever you go?" I teased, giving Caleb a playful nudge. "She looked like she wanted to strangle me."
Caleb grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck. "Violette is… one of my mistakes."
I raised an eyebrow. "One of many, I'm guessing?"
He shot me a look, half-amused, half-exasperated, and I couldn't resist smirking. "Serves you right," I said with a mock pout, even though I knew I was pushing his buttons. But honestly, the idea of him having a history with women like her didn't surprise me.
He was Caleb Drake, after all. Rich, powerful, handsome—a dangerous combination. Of course there had been women. Plenty of them.
Probably a revolving door of Victoria's secret angels kind of women.
But tonight, he was with me. And that thought sent a strange thrill through me, even though I knew what we had was just… temporary.
Without warning, Caleb's hand came down hard on my ass, making me jump. "Caleb!" I hissed, my voice coming out in a scandalized whisper.
He chuckled, his hand lingering a little too long on the curve of my hip. "What? You like teasing me, don't you?"
I glared at him, my cheeks burning. "I'm not wearing anything under this dress, you know."
He gave me a wicked grin, leaning down to whisper in my ear, "I know. That's why I'm having such a hard time keeping my hands off you."
I swatted his chest, trying to keep the heat from rising further up my neck. This man was incorrigible. But damn, he was irresistible too.
My body responded to him in ways I couldn't control, and I hated how easily he could fluster me. It was like he knew exactly how to push all the right buttons.
We finally made it to our table, and I was grateful for the distraction as we sat down. The restaurant was as upscale as I'd expected—low lighting, elegant decor, and the soft murmur of conversations floating around us.
I picked up the menu, only to realize that it was entirely in Italian. Great. Just great.
I stared at the words, trying to make sense of them, but it was useless. I could feel the heat of embarrassment creeping up the back of my neck.
This was the kind of place Caleb was used to, the kind of place where people like him felt at home. I, on the other hand, felt completely out of my depth.
He must have noticed my hesitation because he leaned across the table, his voice soft. "I'm sorry, Megan. I didn't think about this when I chose the restaurant."
I shook my head quickly, forcing a smile. "It's fine. I mean, isn't this place famous? It's a good place to bring a date, right?" I tried to sound casual, but I knew he could see right through me.
He frowned, clearly feeling guilty for putting me in an awkward situation. "You can just get whatever I'm having."
That was a relief. "Thanks," I said, closing the menu with a grateful smile.
As we waited for our food, Caleb leaned in closer. "The people I want to introduce you to tonight, they can help you in your career. But it'll still depend on your talent."
My heart skipped a beat. He was serious. He wasn't just doing this as a formality. He actually wanted to help me.
Before I could respond, a familiar couple approached our table—Mr. and Mrs. Brent.
They were an older couple, elegantly dressed, and I immediately recognized Mrs. Brent. My heart leapt in my chest. No way.
Caleb stood to greet them, shaking hands with Mr. Brent before turning to Mrs. Brent. "Megan, this is Mr. and Mrs. Brent. Mr. Brent is a well-known director, and Mrs. Brent is… well, you know."
I was practically bouncing in my seat. "Of course I know! Mrs. Brent, I'm such a huge fan of your novels. Tying the Knots Series is such a masterpiece! I've forever fallen in love with it!"
Mrs. Brent's eyes lit up with delight, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Oh, how lovely! You're too kind, dear."
I couldn't believe it. Here I was, sitting across from one of my favorite authors, and she was smiling at me like we were old friends. My excitement must have been contagious because Mrs. Brent reached out and took my hand.
"You know, Megan," she said, her voice thoughtful, "you look just like the heroine from one of my novels. The resemblance is uncanny."
I blinked, stunned. "Really?"
She nodded, her smile widening. "Absolutely. You've got the right look, the right spirit. I think you'd be perfect for it."
Mr. Brent, who had been quietly observing the conversation, chimed in. "We have an audition coming up next month. You should give it a shot."
My heart was racing now, and I could barely contain my excitement. "I… I'd love to! Thank you so much!"
We chatted for a few more minutes before Mr. and Mrs. Brent excused themselves to their table, but I was still buzzing with excitement as Caleb and I sat back down.
"I can't believe that just happened," I whispered, giddy with happiness. "Mrs. Brent said I reminded her of her heroine. And they want me to audition!"
Caleb smiled, his eyes warm as he watched me. "I'm happy for you, Megan. You deserve this."
Dinner passed smoothly after that, and I barely noticed the rich food or the elegant surroundings. All I could think about was the opportunity that had just fallen into my lap. For once, something felt like it was going right.
After dessert, Caleb pulled out a sleek folder from his briefcase and slid it across the table to me. "The contract," he said simply.
I took a deep breath before picking it up. I flipped through the pages, skimming the legal jargon, but my mind was still on the idea of auditioning for Mr. Brent.
I signed the contract without hesitation. It was just a formality at this point.
As we left the restaurant, I couldn't stop talking about Mrs. Brent and her books. Caleb listened patiently, a small smile playing on his lips as I rambled on.
When we finally reached his car, I stopped, glancing up at him. "Thank you," I said softly. "For tonight. For everything."
His eyes softened, and for a moment, I thought he might say something serious, something real. But instead, he just smiled and opened the car door for me.
"Let's go," he said.
And just like that, the night wasn't over yet.