Two of the women wandered off rather quickly after discovering Leah had no interest in Paris Fashion Week or anything to do with the wonderful world of shopping. That left her with a sophisticated librarian-type woman and another woman in her late thirties, maybe early forties, who actually had a small plate of food in her hand. An anomaly in this group. Leah didn't think she'd seen anyone eating anything all night. Her stomach gave a quiet growl and she remembered it had been a few hours since she'd chowed on anything.
She tried to ignore it and turned politely to the librarian woman who had asked her a question. "I'm sorry," she said. "Could you repeat that?"
The woman blew an irritated puff of air through her nose, but asked her question again. "I asked what it was that you did for a living, dear."
"Oh," Leah said, happy to talk about something other than shoes and bags for the moment. "I'm a teacher."
"Oh really? Where do you teach? My husband is a professor at Yale. He's on sabbatical right now working on his next book, but I'm sure he'd be thrilled to make the acquaintance of a fellow educator."
Leah smiled. "I teach a literature class at a private high school in the city."
She could have sworn the woman's eyes glazed over. "Isn't that nice. I'm so sorry, will you excuse me? I see someone I must say hi to."
Before Leah could respond, she had excused herself and was making her way across the room.
"Don't mind her," the other woman said. "My name is Miranda. These affairs can be a bit cliquish."
"I'm beginning to see that. Apparently a high school teacher even at private school isn't quite on par with a college professor, actress, or trophy wife," she said with a laugh.
Miranda laughed with her. "You get used to them. And they'll get used to you eventually. It's nice to have some fresh blood in here, though it seems there is a new crop of wives or girlfriends every few months. Not that you need to worry about that," she said with a knowing look at Leah's belly. "I don't think I've ever seen a man so besotted with his wife as your husband. I knew once Brooks met the right woman that would be it for him."
Leah fidgeted, hating to continue with the lie when the woman seemed so nice and genuine. But this was a work function for Brooks and she was there to make him look better if possible.
"How far along are you?" Miranda asked.
"Twenty-three weeks," Leah said. "I have to confess I'm a little nervous."
Miranda waved that off. "Oh, don't worry. There's a learning curve to be sure, but you'll get the hang of it. And you'll have Brooks to help."
Leah glanced at her, not sure how to respond to that. "Well, I'm not sure how much of a help he'll be."
Miranda laughed. "Yes, the men definitely are better at helping create the little ones than they are taking care of them."
She nodded across the room at where Brooks chatted with a group of serious-looking businessmen. He seemed to be enjoying himself. He caught her watching him and raised his glass to her with a smile. Leah smiled back before she could stop herself and Miranda grinned indulgently. "It's nice to see two people genuinely in love for once."
Leah's gaze shot to her in surprise.
"Well, I better go round up my own husband. It was nice to meet you," Miranda said. "I hope I see you again. It's been nice to talk to someone real at one of these things."
Leah smiled at her, genuinely happy to have met her also. "It was my pleasure, truly," she said.
She turned her attention back to Brooks, enjoying the view until his face froze and his eyes narrowed. Leah looked in the direction where he stared and sucked in a quiet breath.
Marcus.
She frowned. Brooks had never been anything but polite to Marcus. Not especially friendly, maybe, but definitely not antagonistic. But the look on his face as Marcus came toward him made her think Brooks had been hiding a few things from her.
She hurried over to the little gathering just as Marcus reached them.
"There you are," Brooks said, kissing her on the cheek before giving a pointed look to Marcus.
Marcus stepped closer and kissed her cheek as well. "How are you doing?"
"Great, thank you," she said, a bit bemused by the amount of testosterone that suddenly surrounded her.
"Well, Marcus Cassidy," one of the men who'd been talking to Brooks said. He reached out and shook Marcus's hand. "I hear you're doing big things over in the Asian market. Good to see you back in the States."
"It's good to be back. I had some pressing family matters to attend to," he said with a quick glance at Leah.
She held her breath, but he didn't go into further detail. They hadn't discussed their situation and what they would say to people, but she certainly didn't want to drop the whole "I'm-married-to-this-guy-but-carrying-that-guy's-baby" bomb on the night when she was supposed to be making Brooks look good.
"How long are you in town?" the man asked.
At that, Marcus's gaze darted briefly to her again, but no one else seemed to notice. "I'm not sure yet. Several months, at least, though I'm considering relocating back to the New York office permanently."
"Well, they'd be lucky to have you." He turned to Brooks. "Larson, why haven't you dipped your toe in the Asian market?"
"Ah, Brooks here likes the comfort of home, I think." Marcus gave Brooks a friendly slap on the shoulder.
"Well, when I have someone so lovely at home, why would I want to be anywhere else?" he said, pulling Leah in for a quick kiss.
"Oh, don't be so modest," she said. "Brooks actually has several exciting ventures planned for the foreign market. I've been very impressed. Don't let that pretty face of his fool you. The Harrington Corporation wouldn't be where it is today without him, and Cole would be the first one to tell you so."
Brooks beamed down at her with a smile that made her wonder how long it had been since someone had complimented him on something other than his looks. She'd have to make a point to do it more often.
"Is that so? Well, we might have to keep a better eye on you," the man said, raising his glass.
"Yes, but you really need to move those ventures out of the planning stage," Marcus said. "You always were too cautious. You need to seize the day, be a risk-taker if you really want to make your mark on the world."
Brooks's eyes narrowed a fraction. "I think the Harrington Corporation has proven it is more than capable of making its mark. We've been a leader in this industry for the better part of a decade."
"Well, take it from someone who runs a company that has been a leader for the better part of a century, if you want to be in it for the long haul, you have to get out of your comfort zone occasionally."
"Oh, I have no doubt that the Harrington Corporation will be around for the long haul, as you say. Cole and I have every intention of making sure our company continues to be a leading innovator for generations, as your father and grandfather, who, I believe, are still the heads of your corporation, have done for the company you work for. Choosing to settle down in my personal life," Brooks said, glancing down at Leah with a smile, "does not necessitate settling in business. Harrington has a great many plans on the horizon."
"In addition to the amazing things you already have going," Leah said.
Marcus gave Brooks a tight grin and raised his glass to him. The other men chatted for a moment before taking their leave, but Marcus stuck around. A couple waiters passed with more drinks and food. Marcus grabbed a fresh tuna sushi roll and handed it to Leah. She politely accepted it, not wanting to hurt his feelings, but Brooks plucked it from her fingers.
"Pregnant women aren't supposed to eat sushi," he said, snagging her a stuffed mushroom instead. He leaned over and quietly had a word with one of the waiters who nodded and hurried off.
"Same old Brooks," Marcus said with an overly bright smile. "Somehow every time we are in the same room together, things devolve into some ridiculous rivalry."
"Because I don't want my wife to be poisoned?"
Marcus glanced around and then said, "You don't honestly think I'd do anything to harm my baby, do you?"
Brooks shrugged. "Maybe not on purpose," he said, pausing to take a tall glass of iced cranberry juice from the waiter who had just returned. He handed it to Leah who sipped it gratefully, a happy sigh escaping as the cool liquid slid down her throat.
"Keep them coming," Marcus said, throwing a fifty on the guy's tray.
Brooks shook his head. "But you can't seem to help trying to one-up me. You've been doing it since the day we met. And you don't care who you hurt in the process."
"Now, I think those are sour grapes talking," Marcus started, but Leah butted in.