Chapter 464 - Back to Reality

Chapter 464: Chapter 464 - Back to Reality

By the time Roxie made it downstairs, she’d managed to cover most of the evidence of last night with makeup, a little concealer, and a scarf she had absolutely no business wearing in this weather.

It was alright. As long as she put on her sunglasses, nobody would find it weird.

Maybe.

Her outfit was taken care of. Her headache, unfortunately, was another matter.

Karen and Angela were already waiting near the hotel entrance, their luggage collected by the staff. Angela was sitting on one of the cushioned benches, scrolling through her phone, while Karen stood nearby, speaking to someone at the front desk.

"There she is!" Angela announced when she spotted Roxie. "Our missing person."

Roxie lowered herself onto the bench beside her, wincing slightly as she adjusted her position.

"Keep your voice down."

Angela turned toward her. "Jesus, you look terrible."

"Thank you. That’s exactly what I needed to hear this morning."

"Where the hell were you last night?"

Roxie pulled her sunglasses down over her eyes. "Sleeping."

"Sleeping?"

"Yes, Angela. It’s something people usually do at night."

Angela studied her face. "So you’re seriously telling me you went straight to bed?"

"Yes."

"Alone?"

Roxie turned toward her. "Would you like me to describe how I brushed my teeth, too?"

Angela grinned. "I’m just asking. You disappeared from the reception around the same time Zac did."

"Congratulations. You’ve discovered that people eventually leave weddings."

"At exactly the same time?"

"Other people left around the same time I did. Did I have sex with them, too?"

Angela’s grin widened.

"Sex?"

Oh, fuck.

She smirked, looking Roxie up and down.

"Well, well, well. I never said anything about sex."

Roxie wanted to slap that mouth of hers.

"Just shut up," she groaned, cradling her head.

Karen returned just in time to hear the last exchange.

"Are you two arguing again?"

"Roxie’s being suspicious," Angela answered.

"I’m hungover," Roxie corrected. "There’s a difference."

Karen looked at her more carefully. "You really do look exhausted. Are you feeling okay?"

"My head’s killing me. I think I drank too much champagne."

"Well, you were drinking quite a lot last night."

"Thank you!" Roxie pointed at her. "See? Someone here has a functioning brain. I was drunk, my head hurt, and I went to sleep."

Angela crossed her arms. "Fine. You went to sleep."

"Finally."

"Although that doesn’t explain the scarf."

Roxie slowly turned toward her.

"What’s wrong with my scarf?"

"Nothing. It’s just a little warm to be wearing one."

"I like it."

"Okay."

"Great."

Angela smiled.

Roxie hated that smile.

She leaned back against the bench and checked the time on her phone. Their car would arrive soon, and she still needed to stop at a pharmacy before they left for the airport.

Fuck.

She should have gone earlier. Instead, she’d spent too much time arguing with Zac, cursing herself in the bathroom, and trying to make herself look presentable.

"Morning, ladies."

Mason stood a few feet away, carrying a small travel bag over one shoulder. He wore a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, looking considerably more refreshed than Roxie felt.

"Morning!" Angela greeted.

Karen turned around, and Roxie immediately noticed the way her expression changed.

Oh?

"Hey, Mason," Karen said, smiling.

"You’re leaving already?"

"Our car should be here soon," Karen answered. "What about you?"

"Later this afternoon. Kyle wanted me to stick around for lunch before I leave."

Roxie snorted. "He probably needs someone to rescue him from Kendall."

Mason laughed. "I wouldn’t be surprised. She’s already got their entire honeymoon scheduled."

"That sounds like Kendall," Angela agreed.

Mason turned back toward Karen. "Actually, I’m glad I caught you. I wanted to follow up on what we discussed last night."

"The investment project?"

"Yeah. I spoke with one of our partners this morning. I think there’s an opportunity there, especially with your experience."

Karen immediately became more attentive.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I’ll be in New York next week for a few meetings. Maybe we could sit down and discuss it properly."

Angela and Roxie glanced at each other, smirking.

Thank God. They could finally discuss something other than her disappearance last night.

"I’d definitely be interested," Karen said.

"Great. Could I get your number? I’ll send you the details once I’ve confirmed my schedule."

"Sure."

Mason handed her his phone, and Karen entered her number. They continued discussing possible meeting dates, with Mason mentioning that he’d be in Manhattan for several days.

When Mason stepped aside to answer a call, Roxie leaned toward Karen with a grin.

"Success."

Karen looked at her. "What?"

"Your connections. Remember?"

"Roxie."

"What? I’m congratulating you. Business opportunities, new contacts, handsome men asking for your number. Very productive wedding."

"It’s work," Karen replied.

"Of course. Purely professional."

Angela burst out laughing, and even Karen rolled her eyes at them.

For a moment, Roxie almost forgot how miserable her own morning had been.

Then the entrance doors opened.

Olivia walked in first.

Zac followed a few steps behind her.

Fuck.

Roxie’s smile disappeared before she could stop it.

She immediately looked down at her phone, pretending to check the time. She’d been hoping to leave without seeing him again, especially after the way their argument ended.

Apparently, the universe had other plans.

"Oh, hey!" Olivia greeted brightly. "Good morning, everyone!"

"Morning!" Angela answered.

Mason turned around.

"There you are, man. I was wondering if you were still alive."

"Barely."

Zac’s voice.

Roxie tightened her grip on her phone.

"Rough night?" Mason asked.

"Something like that."

The bastard.

She kept her eyes on the screen, although she hadn’t even opened anything.

Olivia laughed. "I think everybody’s exhausted. I heard the reception went on forever."

"Worth it, though," Mason said. "Kyle looked like he was having the time of his life."

"Until Kendall started dragging him around for pictures," Angela added.

Everyone laughed.

Roxie forced herself to smile along with them.

She knew Zac was standing somewhere nearby, but she refused to look in his direction. She could recognize his voice well enough, and hearing it again after their argument was already making her blood boil.

The bastard had some nerve showing up here looking perfectly normal.

She had half a mind to stand up and leave, but Angela was sitting right beside her. Any sudden movement would probably lead to another round of questions.

And she had already made the mistake of mentioning sex.

Wonderful.

"Roxie, are you feeling better?" Olivia asked.

Fuck. Now she had to participate.

"A little. Just a headache," she answered, lifting her face with what she hoped was a perfectly ordinary smile.

"Too much champagne?" Olivia asked sympathetically.

"Apparently."

She adjusted her sunglasses and kept her attention on Olivia.

She could manage a conversation with Olivia. She could smile at Mason, answer Karen, and even tolerate Angela’s endless questions.

But she absolutely refused to look at Zac Prescott.

If he wanted to pretend nothing happened, he could do that somewhere else.

Mason turned toward him.

"By the way, I’ll be in New York next week."

"Yeah?"

"Got a couple of meetings in Manhattan. I’ll probably stay for three or four days. Thought I’d come see you while I’m there."

"Sure. Just text me."

"You still staying at the same place?"

"Yeah."

"Great. Maybe we can get dinner. I’ll see if Kyle wants to come out sometime, too."

"Sounds fine."

There was a brief pause.

"Man, you sound excited," Mason remarked.

"It’s early."

"It’s almost ten."

"And?"

Mason shook his head, laughing.

"Same asshole."

Angela chuckled, and Karen smiled.

Roxie remained quiet, secretly grateful that Mason was carrying most of the conversation. Zac sounded just as eager to escape as she felt, and his short answers made it clear that he wasn’t interested in socializing.

Well, that made two of them.

She kept her attention on her phone, occasionally scrolling through the same messages without reading a single word.

Olivia began talking to Angela about the wedding photographs, and Mason mentioned that Kyle had already received a few previews from the photographer.

"Apparently, somebody caught Jace falling over a chair," Mason said.

Angela burst out laughing. "What?"

"He claims somebody pushed him."

"Somebody probably did," Zac muttered.

Mason grinned. "You were standing right behind him."

"Exactly."

Everyone laughed.

Roxie managed a small chuckle, although she was beginning to feel ridiculous. She couldn’t even laugh normally with that bastard standing nearby.

God, when was their car arriving?

Then Angela turned toward her.

"Roxie, didn’t you say you wanted to see some of the wedding pictures?"

What?

"Oh. Yeah."

"You should ask Zac. I’m sure Kyle sent him some."

Fuck you, Angela.

Roxie kept her attention on her handbag, pretending to search for something inside.

"I’m sure Kendall will send us everything later," she said casually. "There’s no rush."

Nobody answered immediately.

Great.

She hoped Angela would simply change the subject.

Thankfully, Mason continued talking, drawing everyone’s attention away from her.

A few minutes later, one of the hotel attendants approached Karen and informed her that their car had arrived.

Oh, thank fuck.

"That’s us," Karen announced.

Mason immediately reached for her suitcase.

"Here, let me help."

"I can do it myself," Karen said, reaching for the handle.

"I want to help you."

Mason smiled so sweetly that Roxie almost gagged.

Oh, God.

It was nauseating watching the two act like leads in some romantic drama. And the worst part was Karen, who had apparently done a complete 180 and had been acting all sweet and proper for the entire wedding.

"Thank you," Karen finally said, allowing Mason to take the suitcase.

Angela gathered her handbag while Roxie stood, carefully adjusting her sunglasses.

"This is horrifying," Angela muttered, watching Mason and Karen.

"You said it," Roxie replied. "And she said Mason would never be her type."

"Look at her now."

Roxie almost laughed.

"Safe flight, ladies," Olivia called from the side.

"Thank you!" Angela answered.

Karen said her goodbyes while Roxie simply gave Olivia a polite smile.

She kept her gaze fixed on the entrance and followed Angela toward the doors, refusing to acknowledge the man standing nearby.

She’d spent enough time looking at Zac Prescott last night.

More than enough.

And after the things he’d said to her that morning, he could go fuck himself.

Roxie walked straight past him without looking up, though she remained painfully aware of how close he was until she reached the doors.

The moment she stepped outside, she felt as though she could finally breathe.

"Wow," Angela said, falling into step beside her. "Zac looks miserable."

Roxie nearly smiled.

"Does he?"

"Yeah. He looks almost as miserable as you."

"Fuck off."

Angela laughed.

They climbed into the car while Mason helped Karen with her luggage. Roxie settled against the seat, relieved to finally be leaving the hotel.

At least she wouldn’t have to see Zac again.

Not anytime soon, anyway.

That was perfectly fine with her.

They stopped at a pharmacy on the way to the airport.

Roxie told Karen and Angela she needed something for her headache, then hurried inside before either of them could offer to accompany her.

She bought the headache medicine first, then quietly asked the pharmacist about emergency contraception.

She was a grown woman, for fuck’s sake. She’d never felt so embarrassed buying something from a pharmacy. Then again, she’d never imagined she’d be buying emergency contraception because of Zac Prescott.

She swallowed the emergency contraceptive tablet with water, silently praying it would work.

God, please.

She knew it wasn’t a guarantee, and she would still need to take a pregnancy test later. But right now, she desperately wanted to believe that everything would be fine.

"Stupid fucking champagne," she muttered.

Although, if she was being fair, the champagne hadn’t made every decision for her.

When she returned to the car, she showed Angela the headache medicine before her friend could ask another question.

Then she settled into her seat, hoping to spend the rest of the drive in peace.

She’d survived the wedding, the disastrous night with Zac, the morning argument, and the awkward encounter at the hotel entrance.

Once she got back to New York, she could finally concentrate on her career.

Her phone rang.

Roxie glanced at the screen.

Harrison Caldwell.

Her boss.

She immediately sat up.

"Mr. Caldwell? Hi."

"Roxie. I hope I’m not interrupting your vacation."

"No, Mr. Caldwell. I’m actually on my way to the airport."

"You’re returning to New York today?"

"Yes. I’ll be back tonight."

"Excellent. I’d like you to come to my office tomorrow morning."

Roxie straightened.

Tomorrow?

"Of course. Is everything okay?"

There was a short pause.

Karen glanced at her, apparently noticing the change in her expression.

"I’d rather discuss it with you in person," Harrison said.

Roxie’s stomach tightened.

"Is this about my position?"

Another pause.

"Yes, Roxie. It is."

She gripped her phone.

"Should I be worried?"

Harrison sighed. "Just come see me first thing tomorrow. There have been some developments, and I think you should hear them directly from me."

Roxie stared through the windshield.

Developments?

What developments?

Had Evelyn made another complaint? Had the network decided to move her permanently to sports? Or had something happened while she’d been away?

"Mr. Caldwell?"

"Yes?"

"Am I losing my job?"

Silence.