Chapter 68
The bar was alive with energy, filled with the hum of conversations, clinking glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter. Margaux followed Kate, Raph, and William through the entrance, spotting a cluster of familiar faces at a large table near the back.
“Look who finally showed up!” Archie called out, waving them over.
Kate slid into a seat beside the group, quickly getting caught up in a discussion about cocktails. Raph was right beside her, already joking about the menu, while Margaux hesitated for a moment, scanning the room.
“Not a fan of the seating arrangement?” William teased from behind her.
Margaux shot him a look, but before she could respond, one of their friends beckoned her over to an empty chair. She obliged, sitting down as everyone started chatting.
Despite the lively atmosphere, Margaux found it hard to focus. Her mind kept wandering back to the events of the past few days—shopping with her mother, the tension with Pierre, and now being back in London. It was all a bit much.
William, ever perceptive, seemed to notice her distraction. After a few minutes of small talk with the group, he leaned toward her and murmured, “Want to grab a drink at the bar?”
Margaux hesitated but eventually nodded. “Sure.”
The two of them walked to the bar, weaving through the crowd. Once they’d ordered their drinks, William turned to her, his expression curious.
“So,” he said, leaning casually against the counter, “how’s Adelaine?”
Margaux stiffened, immediately regretting agreeing to this conversation. “Why do you want to know?”
William raised an eyebrow. “Just making conversation. You seemed… tense earlier, and then she showed up. Thought there might be a connection.”
Margaux crossed her arms, her drink forgotten. “Of course there’s a connection. She’s my mother. And she’s exhausting.”
“Sounds about right,” William said lightly, taking a sip of his drink. “What did she do this time?”
Margaux narrowed her eyes at him. “Why do you care?”
William smirked. “I don’t know. Maybe I just enjoy watching you get worked up. It’s kind of entertaining.”
Margaux glared at him. “I’m glad my suffering amuses you.”
“Come on,” William said, his tone teasing. “I’m just trying to understand why you’re in such a mood tonight.”
Margaux sighed, setting her glass down on the bar. “Fine. If you must know, she spent the entire shopping trip criticizing me, making digs about my dad and my stepmom, and then had the nerve to swoon over you like you were the second coming of Christ.”
William blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Me?”
“Yes, you,” Margaux said, her voice rising slightly. “Apparently, you’re everything she’s ever dreamed of for her precious daughter. Which is ironic, considering you drive me insane.”
William laughed, his shoulders shaking. “Well, I’m flattered, I guess. Though I have to say, I’m surprised she didn’t try to set us up on the spot.”
“She didn’t need to,” Margaux muttered. “She was already mentally picking out a wedding venue.”
William’s grin widened. “I’m honored, really.”
Margaux rolled her eyes, taking a long sip of her drink. “You’re impossible.”
“I’ve been called worse,” William said, leaning closer. “But admit it, you kind of enjoy it.”
Margaux raised an eyebrow. “Enjoy what?”
“The banter. The back and forth,” William said, his voice dropping slightly. “You’d miss it if I stopped.”
Margaux opened her mouth to argue but found herself hesitating. Damn him for being right.
William noticed her hesitation and smiled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “See? I knew it.”
“Don’t get too full of yourself,” Margaux said, trying to regain the upper hand. “You’re not that charming.”
William leaned in even closer, his voice low and teasing. “You sure about that?”
Margaux quickly turned back to her drink, determined not to let him see how flustered she was.
“Relax, I’m just messing with you,” William said, leaning back slightly but not enough to give her space. “You’re so easy to rile up. It’s cute.”
Margaux’s glare deepened. “I’m not here to entertain you, De la Roche.”
“Oh, but you do,” William said, his tone smug. “Admit it—you enjoy our little exchanges.”
“You’re delusional,” Margaux retorted, though her voice lacked conviction.
William chuckled, studying her with that infuriatingly amused expression. “You know,” he said, his tone thoughtful, “your mother might be onto something.”
Margaux whipped her head around to glare at him. “Excuse me?”
William stepped closer, close enough that she could feel the heat of his presence. His hand reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. Margaux froze, her heart hammering in her chest.
"Well," William’s smirk softened into something more dangerous, more intimate. “She has good taste.” Before Margaux could respond, he added, his voice low, “By the way, you look real cute all blushed up.”
Margaux’s breath caught, and she took a step back, trying to compose herself. “You’re insufferable,” she managed to say, her voice shaky.
William grinned, clearly enjoying her reaction. “And yet, you keep ending up alone with me. Funny how that works, isn’t it?”
Margaux shot him a look, grabbing her drink and turning back toward the group. “Enough of this. Let’s go before people start wondering what we’re doing over here.”
“Whatever you say, Margaux,” William replied, his smirk still firmly in place as he followed her.
As they walked back to the table, Margaux couldn’t help but feel the weight of his gaze on her. Her cheeks were still burning, and her heart hadn’t quite returned to its normal rhythm. She hated how easily he could get under her skin—but what she hated more was how much a part of her didn’t mind it at all.