Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 11

The room went quiet for a beat before a wave of laughter broke out, dripping with

sarcasm.

"Simon, you really called it this time."

Tonight, Simon hadn't brought Quinn along; instead, he had some new escort hanging on his arm.

The moment Simon spotted Clara, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by a resigned look. He frowned, setting his drink down on the coffee table. "Clara, aren't you tired of this nonsense?"

She'd already made a scene at Moonlight a few times, and now she showed up dressed like the staff. Each appearance seemed to cheapen her more.

Clara bent slightly, picked up the priciest bottle of Château Margaux, and flashed a smile at the crowd. "Who ordered this? Need a hand opening it?"

She had caught their chatter while standing outside the door. A twinge of bitterness tugged at her heart, but as she entered and saw their flashy, nouveau riche airs, it felt like staring at a gold mine. Maybe she'd rake in that hundred grand sooner than expected.

Château Margaux was a cool million a bottle.

None of them were strapped for cash, but they were way more invested in seeing Clara embarrass herself.

Nate's eyes lingered on Clara's figure before he nudged Colton with his elbow. "You gotta admit, she's looking hot."

were Simon's friends. They were always slandering Clara, and Simon never stepped in. Having a stunning girl cause a ruckus over him was a badge of

matter how stunning Clara was, she was a pathetic waste. "Clara, for every bottle you

money for sure, but he knew

really put

uncorked the bottle and was smiling at everyone. "Alright,

did say it. Go on, drink. And Clara, don't say I didn't warn you— Simon doesn't like you. Everyone here hates you. If you get wasted and make the front page tomorrow, no one's gonna pull

favored Quinn;

and drank until the bottle was empty. Then she started on the second,

smug anticipation turned to discomfort, as if ants were crawling all

showed no signs of getting drunk, as if she could tackle several more bottles. Three million had already been poured out, and no matter how wealthy

tense silence. Someone, anxious that Colton couldn't

"Enough, Clara, stop making a fool of yourself." Clara finished the fourth bottle, then smiled

kidding? Tonight's all about Simon, right? Though you did

the fifth bottle, and Colton's

Clara's wrist. "That's enough, stop before you

this gentleman can't cover

red with anger. "Clara, it's antics like these that make Simon despise you.

her last glass. "Oh, so

out, causing him to panic and instinctively

shoved

at your buddy's face. Maybe check if