46

Liliana

I glanced around the taproom to see the guests nodding their heads to the beat of the music and enjoying themselves. The DJ had kept the music playing, and the drinks seemed to be going over really well.

Reginald and Veronica had been impressed when they showed up a couple of hours before the tasting.

Alistair and Benedict had shown them around and now stood next to their table talking to them. Everyone was smiling.

The night was going perfectly for Hard Rock. I was a shoo-in for the next promotion at Donague thanks to this account.

If only things weren’t tense between me and Alistair, I could have relaxed and even enjoyed myself.

I sipped my ice water. I really could have used a drink, but it was important to stay completely professional. Alcohol also might have tempted me to try to talk to Alistair, and that had to wait.

Alistair glanced at me from where he talked to Reginald and Veronica. He gave me a nod and started to smile, so I nodded back and smiled before turning away.

I didn’t want him to worry about our conversation during the event, and I wanted to keep myself from being tempted to walk over to him.

I hadn’t talked to Alistair since the discussion about Julian over the phone. I had felt like he was accusing me, and that still stung.

I’d almost called him right back after he hung up. Then I realized he had a lot on his mind worrying about Julian, and I decided to give him some space, at least until after the event.

Everything could wait that long. The most important thing was that the tasting went off without a hitch first.

Someone shouted, a sort of high-pitched cheer that drew my attention. Several heads turned toward the doorway where the sound came from.

Oh no.

Julian stepped further into the room. He seemed to be talking to people as he passed them, his voice loud but not loud enough that I could make out most of what he said. I heard Alistair’s name a couple of times, though.

People were smiling awkwardly and looking at each other as he passed them. He stumbled but caught himself.

He’d clearly gone off the wagon. At the worst possible time.

Alistair spotted Julian and said something to Reginald and Veronica, then he hurried up to Julian and grabbed his shoulders.

It was difficult to hear him over the music, which was just loud enough to swallow up most of what he said. Between straining to hear and watching his lips, I thought he said, “Come on, Julian. Let’s get you into the back and get some coffee in you.”

Julian pushed Alistair away from him, then held his hands up.

“I’m fine, Alistair. Just here to see your triumphant night.” Then he looked around the room and I couldn’t figure out what he said because I couldn’t see his mouth the whole time.

While Julian glanced around, he spotted me. His mouth twisted into a mockery of a smile, and he started my way.

No, this wasn’t going to happen on Alistair’s big night. I could tell by the look on Julian’s face, I was in for an angry confrontation.

I headed for the doorway, thinking that maybe I could lead Julian outside, away from the other guests in case he got loud enough to draw people’s attention.

Julian caught me before I reached the doorway.

“Liliana, don’t you look lovely tonight,” he said with a sneer. “Dressing to impress, huh? I’ll bet itdoesimpress Alistair, doesn’t it?”

“Shh,” I hissed, stepping closer. “Keep your voice down, Julian.”

Only a couple of people looked our way, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long if he kept it up.

“Oh, keep my voice down, huh? You don’t want anybody to know about what’s going on, do you? I don’t blame you. It reflects poorly on a woman like you. So prim and proper with your fancy job but fucking your client behind everybody’s back.” He chuckled. “I never would have thought you’d do something like that, Liliana.”

His breath smelled like whiskey, and his eyes were wide and glassy.

Part of me felt bad for him because addiction had to be hell. But another part of me was furious because it seemed like he might have used being pissed about me and Alistair as an excuse to drink and get belligerent.

I tried my best to be understanding, but then he leaned close, his face only inches away from mine.

I could see Alistair looking our way, his face angry, and I hoped whatever happened, it didn’t cause a scene.

“How’s Alistair liking my sloppy seconds these days?” Julian said, directly in front of my face.

I gasped, shocked at the open hostility.

“You’re drunk,” I said, not hiding how I felt about that. “Go in the back and sleep it off, Julian. Or let me call you a cab to take you home.”

He grinned, an ugly expression, as he said, “I never would have thought you’d be such a whore.”

“Julian, please,” I hissed.

He leaned in closer and grabbed my arms.

“How did you like fucking my brother? Did he get you off better than I did?”

His words cut through me, and before I knew what I was doing, I threw my water in his face.

I regretted it immediately. It was an instinctive reaction.

At least it was better than slapping him, I reasoned.

Julian jerked me forward, his face screwed up in anger. But Alistair was there and grabbed Julian, pulling him away from me.

My arms throbbed where he’d grabbed me, and I wondered if I would have a bruise.

Julian, for all his problems with drugs and alcohol, had never put his hands on me when we were together. I didn’t think he realized how rough he’d been just then.

Julian tried to pull away from Alistair, looking furious. “You want to know how she likes to be fucked?” he shouted. “I can teach you—”

“You fucking—”

Julian tacked Alistair, ramming his shoulder into Alistair’s midsection and pushing him back a few feet. Alistair didn’t go down, though. He was bigger than Julian and sober, so he kept himself upright easily.

“Knock it off!” Alistair shoved Julian off him, but Julian came back for more. Alistair’s punch drew the attention of everyone who wasn’t already watching.

Reginald and Veronica both watched, eyes wide, mouths open. Veronica glanced at me with a questioning frown, shaking her head.

I should have gone to them and explained, tried to smooth it over somehow. I should have done something.

But all my guilt about Julian and the horrible things he’d just said to me seemed to take all the fight right out of me. I had to get out of there.

I ran out. I should have gotten out before Julian confronted me. And I shouldn’t have thrown my water in his face.

It wasn’t my fault he’d turned to substances again because he was upset. But I still felt like I could have handed everything so much better than I did.

I got in my car and went home, crying the whole way at how useless I felt, hoping like hell that the fight didn’t last long, and Alistair could explain things to Reginald and Veronica.