Never Say Never (The Price of Fame Series) by Aimée Duffy Page B

mother, she always wanted the best and made sure Royce, his father, gave it to her.
    Cassidy turned back to Chloe. “What do you do for a living?”
    Chloe’s gaze met his for support. He answered his mother. “Chloe works in a coffee shop at the moment, but she starts a new job at the studio in a few weeks.”
    “Oh?” Cassidy’s question was laced with sarcasm. His skin prickled. “Doing what?”
    “I’m a makeup artist,” Chloe answered, drawing his mother’s gaze. “I moved back to London from LA when I found out my mother was ill. Before that I worked full time on Crime Busters .”
    Cassidy’s brows rose. It was clear she hadn’t expected that, and Sander couldn’t hold back a smile.
    “It’s nice to see some children care about their parents’ well-being,” Cassidy remarked, and Sander gritted his teeth.
    He could see Chloe’s jaw clench, and her eyes burned amber, but she kept the polite smile in place. Remembering her disbelief and irritation when he’d told her about his parents never being around, his chest warmed.
    “There’s your father.” Cassidy held up a hand and waved with as much authority as a queen.
    He turned to see Royce stalking toward them, his face impassive, but the hard lines of his body radiated disproval even from across the room. The restaurant was littered with white covered tables which his father wove around easily. Stained glass windows gave the place an old twist on a modern theme. Chic wooden floors, modern art, and a truckload of celebrities all made up the most sought after place to dine in London among the rich and famous, though at that moment Sander would rather be eating fish and chips on a park bench than have Chloe here with his parents.
    He rose to greet his father, and Royce looked him over. Seemingly satisfied Sander’s suit was expensive enough, he nodded and slid into a chair across from his mother. Sander returned to his own chair.
    “Father, this is Chloe Butler. Chloe, Royce Chase.”
    “Please to meet you, Mr. Chase,” she said, but didn’t offer her hand this time.
    Completely ignoring either of them, Royce spoke to Cassidy. “The chef you like is in the kitchen tonight. I insisted he serve your favorite, although they ran out of the shellfish.”
    Sander fumed as Cassidy nodded. His father was like a puppy, getting anything his mother wanted for her. And in doing so, had ignored Chloe’s attempt to be polite.
    His mother must have noticed Sander’s rising irritation. “This is the girl Sander is dating now.” The way Cassidy over exaggerated a sweep of her hand in Chloe’s direction made him grind his teeth again. “She’s a makeup artist.”
    Royce laughed, not bothering to even give Chloe a courtesy glance. Sander clenched his fists on the table. “Well, darling, what did you expect from a man who joined a pop group ?”
    Cassidy chuckled.
    Sander picked up the glass in front of him and downed the champagne. Chloe’s gaze caught his and he saw a dash of pain for him crack through her irritation. He smiled in an attempt to reassure her. He was used to his parents, but he didn’t give a shit as long as the worst of their poison dripped on him and left her the hell alone.
    He had no idea what else the asshole who bought her the dress had subjected her to, but keeping her hidden—like a dirty secret—that alone would have grated enough on her self-esteem. She didn’t need cutting comments from Cassidy and Royce to rub more salt in the wound.
    A waiter arrived again with a vintage bottle kept for special guests and poured a small amount in a clean glass. Handing it to Cassidy for her approval, he waited with sweat beading along his hairline.
    After taking a sip, she swallowed, then pouted. “If it’s the best you have…”
    “I’m afraid it is, Mrs. Chase.” Sander saw the man’s hands shake slightly.
    Cassidy sighed. “It’s no Dom Pérignon, but I suppose it will have to do.”
    The waiter shifted the ice bucket with the