Chapter 4

That one sentence stopped Julian cold.

Did it feel good to hit back?

Yes. But the wounded look on his face still sent a sharp ache through my chest.

Have some self-respect, Hannah.

I forced that flicker of sympathy down.

“Hannah, the reason I left back then was—”

Click.

The door opened from outside. I lost my balance and fell backward, only for Julian to pull me tightly against his chest.

“Julian, there’s a limit to taking a joke. I had to bother the airport staff to open the door.”

Evan wore his usual polite smile. Julian rolled his eyes at him.

Without another word to me, Julian turned and left. Evan took it upon himself to explain.

“He scared you, didn’t he? He doesn’t mean any harm. He’s always had a temper.”

Really?

Then who was the Julian I’d known three years ago?

“Julian and I are brothers. The reason we have different last names is—”

“You don’t have to explain,” I interrupted.

“This is a business arrangement. Our contract says we stay out of each other’s private lives, remember? You don’t owe me an explanation.”

More than anything, I couldn’t bear to hear Julian’s name right now. I was afraid I’d lose the little composure I had left.

Evan nodded, then asked cautiously,

“Can I ask whether you and my brother know each other?”

No one would believe me if I said we didn’t.

I offered no explanation, only a polite, silent smile.

Evan understood and tried to reassure me.

“It’s fine. Tonight’s auction will just be you and me. Julian isn’t coming. What color dress would you like?”

I didn’t care. “Anything.”

But after I’d changed into the dress Evan had prepared, he called.

“I just heard Julian will be there tonight. He’s bringing Chloe Reed.”

Chloe was the curvy, sultry woman from the airport.

My first instinct was to hide.

“My stomach suddenly started hurting. I was just about to call you. Could I skip the auction tonight?”

It wasn’t entirely a lie. My period had started before I got changed, and the first two days were always miserable.

Evan fell silent, as if weighing his options. Finally, he spoke.

“I don’t want to make things difficult for you, but this auction really is important to me.”

He was polite, but I heard the order underneath.

Fair enough. I was being paid to do a job. Who was I to make demands or excuses?

“I’ll be there on time.”

When I saw Julian and Chloe at the auction, Julian was clearly back in control of himself.

Chloe still looked down her nose at everyone. She mocked me under the cover of a joke.

“Some people will do anything to marry into money. First she seduces the younger brother, then she goes after the older one. Wow.”

I wanted to snap back. But remembering Julian’s outburst at the airport, I swallowed it.

Evan was paying me. The least I could do was avoid causing trouble at an event that mattered to him. Upsetting the man signing my checks would only hurt me.

But Evan kindly stepped in for me.

“Do they let just any stray wander into these auctions now?”

Looking pleased with Chloe’s offended expression, Evan took two glasses of champagne and offered one to me.

I frowned and hesitated.

“If your stomach’s hurting, don’t drink.”

Since the four of us had met up, Julian hadn’t looked at me once. Now his gaze burned into me, though his tone stayed flat.

My period was always regular. Even more reliable than the date were the wrenching cramps during the first two days.

When we were dating, Julian used to track the days and make me a sweet red-berry soup, just to help me feel better.

Did he still remember?

I gave my head a small shake, trying to drive those thoughts away.

Julian’s words seemed to remind Evan that I’d mentioned feeling sick on the phone.

He gently apologized and took the glass back.

Once the auction began, Julian and I had no further contact. Afterward, Evan drove me home and dropped me off outside my building.

The instant I opened my apartment door, Julian pushed his way inside.