Julia was temperamental, but she wasn't stupid.
Her brother's instincts were rarely wrong.
If Claire wasn't a threat regarding Elvis, what was the harm in getting on her good side?
Ignoring the burning gazes of the crowd behind her, Claire offered Dane a radiant smile. "What brings you here?"
Had Owen invited him?
Given how much Owen seemed to resent Dane, it was highly unlikely he'd extend an olive branch like that.
"I have a business dinner," Dane replied smoothly. "What about you? Class reunion?"
He cast a brief, assessing glance toward the crowd.
"No. Owen's company is officially launching. The first batch of the Experimental Scar
Gel sold out, so he's hosting a celebration party here."
"Since you're busy, I won't hold you up. I need to head upstairs anyway."
Claire checked the time.
Dane asked, "Which floor are you on?"
These events usually bought out an entire level.
"Top floor." Claire had never been here before; she just knew it was called The Starry Lounge.
"I'll walk you up."
Dane clearly had no intention of letting her walk away just yet.
Claire didn't mind either way. Escort or no escort, it was all the same to her.
But as they turned to leave, Sloane suddenly called out, unable to help herself. "Claire."
"Is there something else you need, Sloane?"
Claire glanced over her shoulder, her expression cool and indifferent. She obviously had zero desire to engage with her.
If she hadn't needed Sloane to publicly clear up the rumors, she would have left ages ago.
"It's nothing like that. I just wanted to make sure you weren't still mad at me."
"I'm not mad." Claire wasn't petty enough to waste her anger on someone like Sloane.
Sloane let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. "That's good to hear."
"Since there are no hard feelings, why don't you and your friend stay for dinner?" "We'll pass on dinner."
Claire rejected her effortlessly, pretending she didn't see right through Sloane's ulterior motives.
"I appreciate the offer, but we're going to be late."
Right in front of Sloane's eyes, Claire deliberately slipped her arm through Dane's.
Dane froze for a fraction of a second before smoothly playing along.
Seeing their casual intimacy stirred an uncomfortable knot in Sloane's chest.
But more than anything, it sparked a wave of bitter jealousy.
"Is this your brother?"
Claire found the question genuinely amusing.
There was no way Sloane hadn't dug into her background.
Other than Lance, she didn't have any brothers.
Sloane was only asking because: she desperately wanted to deny
Vigus romantic tensionnel
obvi
them. . FindNovel.net
"No."
Claire didn't offer a single word of introduction for Dane.
"Excuse us."
With that, Claire walked away, her arm still linked with Dane's.
Sloane had absolutely no excuse left to stop them.
Claire must have gotten access to Ridgeview Pass because of that man, right?
She just couldn't figure out who he was.
She turned to her cousin. "Macy, you're in the same class as Claire, right?"
"Do you have any idea who that man is?"
Macy
deer head. "No clue. I've
never seen him before, but he's
not her boyfr
belongs to swnovers
Who in their right mind would believe he wasn't her boyfriend?
They were literally walking arm-in-arm.
"Why do you say that?" Sloane asked, completely bewildered.
Macy didn't bother hiding anything from her cousin. "Because my Foommates and met her actual boyfriend a while ago."
"He was incredibly handsome too, but it definitely wasn't the guy from today."
"And her boyfriend seemed loaded. He drove a Porsche."
Sloane's eyes gleamed calculatingly. "Macy, you really shouldn't spread things like
that."
"If rumors like that get out, it could really ruin Claire's reputation."
Sloane made sure to emphasize the point to her cousin.