Trying to control her racing heart, Runa followed the car in front of her, claiming a space in a cobblestone parking lot the size of a football field. She’d never been to a home that had its own parking lot. She estimated there were at least one hundred other cars parked alongside hers, her beat-up Volvo looking out of place next to the fancier models. The ancient vehicle didn’t quite belong, kind of like Runa herself.
Pushing her feelings of inadequacy aside, she hopped out of her car and followed the line of guests as they meandered from the parking lot down a marble path winding through an expertly trimmed formal hedge garden. The sculpted shrubbery zigged and zagged, forming a sort of maze. Runa was glad she was following the crowd; on her own, she would have surely been lost.
The perfect symmetry of the towering hedgerows opened up to reveal the most opulent courtyard she had ever seen. A large fountain, interspersed with both cherubs and gargoyles, bubbled to life before her eyes. On the opposite side of the water feature, two men in tuxedos greeted the guests as they arrived.
As she waited in line, Runa took in her surroundings. The grounds were more opulent than anything she could have imagined.
“If the lawn is this magnificent, the house must truly be amazing, just like Emily said,” she mumbled to herself, trying to calm her nerves. “I can’t believe I’m here.”
When it was Runa’s turn to enter the party, the servants greeted her, placed a flute of champagne into her trembling hands, and directed her through the floral archway toward a large enclosed outdoor building teeming with guests. The glass ceiling of the structure, draped with gauzy white fabric, was twinkling with interwoven lights peeking through the delicate material.
The room’s ambience was ethereal, making her feel like she was standing beneath a starlit sky. Four enormous chandeliers hung in each corner of the room. A black-and-white checkered dance floor was flanked on one side by a string quartet playing chamber music in the background.
Tables lined the perimeter of the room, each draped with elegant white linens and set with fine bone china dinnerware. Large flared vases overflowed with white plumeria and dangling green vines. Men in tuxedos mingled throughout the room, removing empty champagne flutes and replacing them with full ones. Everything was done so seamlessly it appeared to be a sort of choreographed dance.
Runa scanned the room for a familiar face but came up empty. Chase was nowhere to be seen, and she hated crowds. Her heart palpitated and her palms grew sweaty. She anxiously drummed her red fingernails on her champagne flute, debating how quickly she could make her exit before anyone discovered she was there.
She was just about to leave when she heard his voice.
“You’re here.”
Swallowing hard and trying to get her nerves in check, Runa turned and smiled at Chase, her eyes widening in shock and appreciation. He looked like he had walked off a movie set, sporting a black dinner jacket and matching trousers that fit him like a glove. His white shirt and black bow tie gave him an air of elegance and sophistication, and his perfect dimpled smile made her heart do jumping jacks in her chest.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t change your mind,” Chase said with a sparkle in his eyes. “You look absolutely gorgeous, by the way.”
“Thank you. I almost stayed home,” Runa admitted. “In fact, I was just about to run to my car and pretend I’d never come.”
Chase leaned down and whispered into her ear, “Looks like I got here just in time, then. I have no intention of letting you get away that easily.”
Goose bumps erupted on Runa’s flesh, and words failed her.
“Come with me and I’ll introduce you to my parents.”
Chase placed his hand on the small of her back and steered her through the crowded room. Runa allowed herself to be guided as she followed, almost in a trance. She was glad her legs remembered what they were supposed to do, because her brain had turned to mush. She was unable to form a coherent thought with Chase’s proximity. He was completely intoxicating, and in that moment, she understood she could easily fall under his spell.
They came to a halt in front of the head table, and Runa glanced down at the champagne flute she was holding. A small drop of the liquid sloshed onto her hand, and she realized she was shaking. Chase must have noticed the tremor as well because he took the drink from her hands, placed it on the table, and clasped her clammy palm inside of his.
At the table before them, a beautiful golden-haired woman was perched beside a stunning dark-haired man. The man was in deep conversation with one of the servers, and the woman was working the clasp on a gigantic diamond tennis bracelet.
“Mother, Father, I would like to introduce you to my date.” Chase cleared his throat in an effort to gain his parents’ attention.
The woman stopped fiddling with her bracelet and stood to face them. “Of course, darling, I would love to meet—”
The elegant beauty stopped midsentence and covered her mouth with her perfectly manicured hand in an effort to stifle the loud strangling guttural sound escaping her lips.
Upon hearing the strange noise his wife made, Chase’s father’s head snapped in their direction. His tanned face drained of color as he looked back and forth between Chase and Runa.
“Who…? How…?” the man stammered, clearly at a loss for words.
Runa’s eyes darted from Chase to his parents, a feeling of unease settling in her gut. Mother, father, and son stared at one another, their eyes speaking volumes, although no one uttered a word. They carried on a silent conversation which didn’t include her; Runa was simply a bystander, an observer of the strange scene playing out before her eyes.
Chase’s mother’s hands flitted about like tiny butterflies, unable to find a landing place. His father shifted his weight from one foot to another, staring at Runa and shaking his head.
Finally, Chase broke the awkward tension.
“Runa, this is my mother, Camille, and my father, Easton,” he said as he gestured toward his parents. “And this is Runa Brandon.”
Easton seemed to remember his manners first and reached out to clasp Runa’s hand tightly in his. He gazed at her with a look of blatant longing that made her feel strangely unsettled. Without breaking eye contact, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly.
“It is so nice to meet you, Runa. My, you are lovely.” Easton’s hungry eyes swept over her, lingering far longer than they should have. “My son has told us absolutely nothing about you, so you’ll have to excuse our shock.”
“Of course,” Runa replied uncomfortably.
She slowly pulled her hand away from Easton, having to tug a bit harder than she intended. He seemed intent to hold on.
“Mother? Aren’t you going to say hello?” Chase scolded.
“You’ve left me little choice in the matter, haven’t you, Chase?” Camille retorted sharply.
“Mother, I’m warning you…,” Chase began.
“What on earth do you think you’re doing?” Camille snapped at her son.
“Enough,” Chase warned through gritted teeth.
Taking a deep breath, Camille smoothed her shaking hands over her white dress. Turning her icy blue eyes toward Runa, she glared at the younger woman. The anger Runa saw behind those eyes made her take an involuntary step backward. She had no idea what she’d done, but obvious hatred emanated from Camille.
“You should not have come here,” Camille practically spat.
“Mother,” Chase warned again.
“You’ve brought this upon yourself, Chase. What were you thinking, bringing her here? What will people say?” Camille shook her head in disdain.
“Who I spend my time with is no one’s concern but mine,” Chase replied.
Mother and son locked eyes in a battle of wills. After several moments of strained silence, Chase stepped away from his parents and turned toward Runa.
“Since my mother can’t seem to remember her manners, Runa, we’ll take our leave. I’ll show you around the estate.”
Without another word, Chase draped his arm across Runa’s shoulders and steered her away from his parents.