Chapter Four

I stood in front of the mirror, holding my dress up to see how the ensemble would come together. My dark hair was curled and pulled back in a half-up style that was soft and feminine. I loved my makeup- not too much, but enough that my brown eyes looked big and my lashes could start a small windstorm. I felt pretty, and with my hair and makeup done, I just needed to get dressed, but I wanted a sneak peek of the final product.

“Not too shabby, Char,” I said quietly. “Not too shabby.”

Even on the hanger, the dress was beautiful. It was an off-the shoulder gown of royal blue and cut to hug the top half of my body before ending in a subtle mermaid tail at the bottom. The color was my favorite part, as well as the secret pocket where I could keep my phone without having to carry a purse all evening.

Ava's dress was perfect for her and this one was perfect for me.

I stared at the woman looking back at me for a moment. Sure, she had the same dark hair and dark eyes, short stature and same curves, but she didn't look like me. I'd done a thousand fancy galas, yet every time I looked in the mirror, I still saw the scrawny, terrified little girl with a runny nose.

Who would have thought that little girl would grow up to work with billionaires? I thought. Let alone own enough company stock to be set for life herself. It was a long way from the past she had left behind.

I was stronger now.

I smiled at the mirror, imagining tonight. The blue glinted in the light and shimmered, bringing out the highlights in my hair. I would look stunning in this dress. Maybe even stunning enough for Leo to finally notice and give me a chance.

Leo would take me in his arms, guiding me around the dance floor as if we were the only two people there.

“Why, Charlotte, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen,” Leo would say, his eyes darkening with desire. “I can't keep my feelings for you hidden any longer. I must have you.”

“Finally, Leo,” I would whisper, breathless and happy.

He'd tuck his hand behind my neck, dipping me as the song ends and then leaning down, bringing his lips closer to mine until they finally...

A knock on the door shook me from my daydream.

“Can I come in?” Bastian's voice came through the door. Leave it to my older brother to ruin my fantasies about boys.

“Come on in,” I called out, hanging the dress back up on a hook on the wall.

The door pushed open and my brother stepped into the room. He was already wearing his tux for the evening and looking handsome. I smiled. We weren't actually brother and sister, but as far as I was concerned we were.

Bastian and I were both foster children. When I came into the system, Bastian was the one who took care of me. My foster family had done their best to make us both feel welcome and loved, but it was Bastian who was my real family. We may not have shared genetic material, but I couldn't think of Bastian as anything but related to me.

“Can you fix my tie? I can't get the damned thing to do what it's supposed to do,” Bastian growled, holding out the tie in frustration.

I chuckled. I knew he could tie his own tie, but it was now a ritual. Whenever Bastian had a formal event, he would have me tie his tie. I wrapped the silk tie around the back of his neck and went about knotting it.

“Do you have a jacket or something you can wear with that?” Bastian asked, his voice low and dangerous.

I looked up and followed his gaze to the dress hanging on the wall. “We're in the Caribbean, Bastian. I don't need a jacket.”

“There's no way you're going out in that,” he said gruffly, frowning as I slid the tie over and under itself. He put his hands on my shoulders, looking down sternly at me. “It's too revealing. No.”

I rolled my shoulders, trying to loosen his grip. He didn't relax and his blue-gray eyes were serious. I knew he meant well, but I wasn't a little girl needing his protection any more either. Besides, this wasn't prom or a date. It was a billionaire's gala and the dress was perfectly acceptable. He was just projecting his heartbreak over his fight with Ava onto everything else.

“Sorry, Grump-face. This is my dress. Deal with it.” I finished knotting and pulled the tie up tight, choking him a little. The gold threads in his tie would complement Ava's dress nicely.

Bastian glared at me, pulling down on the tie knot so he could breathe. His shoulders were tensing and I could already hear the big-brother lecture coming. “Charlotte-”

“I don't want to hear it, Bastian,” I warned as he opened his mouth. “As much as you'd like to, you do not control everything. I'm a big girl and this is my dress. And put a smile on your face. You have investors here tonight.”

Bastian's frown deepened, darkening the scar that ran along the top of his eyes. I knew there were other, deeper scars, but that one was almost as good as a mood ring with him. Right now, it was telling me that he was far too wrapped up in his emotions.

“I do not try to control everything,” he replied sullenly after a moment.

“Just keep telling yourself that,” I told him. I stepped back and nodded at my work on his tie. He looked ready for Ava. “Now, unless you want to help me with my dress, you should get downstairs. The guests should be arriving and you're the main event.”

Bastian sighed and turned for the door. His hand paused on the doorknob. “Have you heard from Ava?”

There was a quiet desperation in his voice that almost made me tell him she was here. But, that would ruin the surprise, so instead I simply asked, “What do you think?”

“Of course not.” Bastian's shoulders slumped slightly. “She has someone else now.

“Bastian?” I asked, taking a step toward him. “Ava doesn't have someone else.”

He looked back at me, his gray eyes clear yet broken. His face was calm, but there was a soft heartbreak in his voice. “It's not important.”

“Bastian, she doesn't have someone else,” I repeated. I was about to tell him that she was here, that she had come for him, but then he put on his business smile, the one he only wore for meetings that betrayed none of his true feelings.

“You sure you can't at least wear a scarf or something?”

“No, Bastian,” I replied, shaking my head. He smiled, a hint of his usual humor shining through. I grinned back at him. He'd be with Ava in just a little bit. “I need to get dressed now.”

He opened the door and closed it firmly behind him.

“Good lord, that man needs to get laid,” I said under my breath. I thought about Bastian's “someone else” comment and shook my head. If that auctioneer had said anything, there were some hungry sharks that would get a free meal tonight.