Chapter 297

Still, judging from Mr. Carter’s reputation, he’s really not much of a catch. Ivy smirked as she teased, “Mr. Carter’s been divorced twice, and he has three kids, doesn’t he? My girlfriends aren’t exactly looking to sign up for stepmom duty.”

Sheridan chuckled awkwardly, not sure how to respond, when the Windsors reappeared.

“Ivy, what’s so funny?” Rosetta walked up, shamelessly inserting herself into the conversation.

At her side, Emma piped up dutifully, “Hey, sis.”

Ivy spared them a glance. This time, instead of pretending not to see them, she replied coolly, “We’re just chatting with Mr. Carter. Did you need something?”

“Oh, nothing special, just thought I’d join the conversation.” Rosetta forced a smile, then turned to Sheridan. “Hope you don’t mind, Mr. Carter?”

Before Sheridan could answer, Emma jumped in with a bright smile, “Mr. Carter’s such a gentleman–of course he doesn’t mind!”

Sheridan followed the sound of her voice, his gaze lingering on Emma for a few moments before dropping–rather pointedly–to her neckline, his expression growing noticeably deeper.

Emma was dressed to impress tonight in a slinky evening gown that hugged every curve; her shoulders, neck, and much of her chest were left bare, boldly showcasing her confidence and allure.

Some thought flickered behind Sheridan’s eyes, and he smiled, eager to assure her, “Not at all. The more, the merrier.”

He continued to look at Emma and, taking the initiative, asked, “And you must be Miss Emma?”

Emma immediately offered her hand. “Mr. Carter, it’s a pleasure.”

“The pleasure’s mine.”

Sheridan came from a wealthy family–his father had built a business empire from the ground up, and there was plenty of old money to go around.

But Sheridan himself was a textbook trust fund playboy: no real accomplishments; always chasing new thrills, romance after fleeting romance.

He’d been married twice, his most recent divorce finalized only six months ago.

Officially, he was single, but that hadn’t stopped a steady stream of women from circulating through his life.

As the two shook hands–a perfectly ordinary gesture to outsiders–Emma caught the subtle pressure from his fingers, a secret signal not lost on her.

Her heart leapt; after a night of hunting, she’d finally found her target. It looked like she wouldn’t be heading home empty-handed.

Sheridan, for his part, was thinking the same. He hadn’t met Emma before, but the Windsor and Shepherd family scandal had been all over the society pages recently–he was well aware.

Emma had once been pregnant with Micah’s child, but suffered a miscarriage, and their marriage had ended not long after.

A woman like her was perfect for someone like him: both understood the rules, both wanted fun with no strings attached.

There was a spark between them, a silent understanding that needed no words.

Jamison and Ivy exchanged a knowing smile. They didn’t say a word–but they didn’t have to.

“Why don’t we find a place to sit?” Sheridan suggested cheerfully. “Standing around is exhausting.” Emma, eager for the chance, immediately agreed.

Jamison and Ivy, sharing a look of amusement, followed along.

Once everyone was settled, whether by accident or intention, Emma ended up right beside Sheridan, their shoulders nearly touching.

“Excuse me!” Emma signaled a passing waiter with a tray of drinks.

“Mr. Carter, what’ll it be–whiskey, red wine, champagne?” she asked, turning to him. Sheridan, playing the gentleman, stood and replied, “Ladies first. Miss Windsor, what would you like?”

Emma batted her lashes, “Red wine, please. Thank you.”

Sheridan handed her a glass, which she accepted with a coy smile before taking a delicate sip. Her gaze drifted–just for a moment–across the table to Ivy, a clear gesture of pride.

Whatever she was showing off, the two of them knew exactly what it was.

Jamison watched the whole exchange play out and couldn’t help leaning in to murmur in Ivy’s ear, “Isn’t this going even better than we expected?”

Ivy said nothing, but silently admitted that Jamison’s knack for predicting these things was impressive.

He’d said from the start that Sheridan wouldn’t disappoint.

As for why he’d picked Sheridan for this little scheme–well, there were two reasons. First, Sheridan’s reputation as a notorious flirt made him the perfect mark. Second, Sheridan owed Jamison a favor from a couple of years back, when Jamison had helped him out of a tight spot.

If this worked out, the debt would be paid.

Sheridan, of course, had no idea about any of this. At that moment, his mind was occupied with far more carnal thoughts.

The party carried on until ten. By then, Ivy was starting to feel sleepy, stifling a yawn behind her hand.

Jamison had actually managed to negotiate two business deals that night, though the details would be handled by his personal assistant. Whether either deal would pan out would depend on a thorough review.

He noticed Ivy’s tired expression and leaned over to whisper, “Just a few more minutes. I’ll say goodbye to Leroy, and then we can head home.”

“Alright.”

Ivy glanced at her phone–Katrina had texted, asking if she’d be coming home tonight. As Ivy typed her reply, Rosetta approached.

“Ivy, thank you,” Rosetta said softly, looking at her eldest daughter, her face full of tentative hope.

Ivy replied coolly, “Thank me for what?”

Rosetta smiled, “I knew you wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Your father and I made mistakes before, but we truly regret them. We hope you’ll bring Jamison home to visit more often.”

Ivy ignored that and instead asked, “You already know what Emma’s done to me over the years. Why do you still treat her so well?”

Chapter 298