The Determining (8 page)

She looked away, still distracted by the idea that this man thought her attractive. With her mind elsewhere, her mouth spoke without her consent. “Maybe not, but in other ways I need more help than you might think.”

When Thayer inhaled sharply, she realized he’d heard her. She mentally berated herself. She wanted to pull out of his arms and end their dance, but she couldn’t, not without drawing attention. His grip tightened as if sensing her desire to flee, keeping her pressed to him as they moved around the room.

He leaned down, stopping when his lips were inches from her ear. “What ways?” His breath tickled her neck.

Her pulse quickened. “I couldn’t tell you.”

“No?” His voice had a smooth, disarming quality. “You won’t find help unless you ask for it.”

With her stupid comment, she’d relinquished control of their conversation. She didn’t like being at his mercy. “What makes you think I would ask you? We don’t even know each other.”

Thayer pulled back and looked her straight in the eye. “Why do you think I bid on the dance?”

“I assumed you wanted to make a play for my affections. With the outcome of my Determining, I’ve become a hot commodity.” Now that she wasn’t lying, she returned his direct look. “No one has approached me tonight simply for the pleasure of my company. I find it hard to believe that you’d be the first, especially for one million credits.”

“I never mix business with pleasure, Miss Grey.” A playful spark flashed in his eyes.

“So which am I?”

The spark his eyes turned intensified as he studied her. “I haven’t decided yet. But in this moment, you are pure pleasure.”

The last strains of the song played. With a flourish, Thayer spun her away then back in to him. She came to a stop with her body pressed against his. Both of his hands traveled down to her waist, holding her tight while his eyes drew her in, keeping her there in the middle of the dance floor. Around them the guests applauded, but the blood pumping in her ears made the applause sound far away.

It took Charlie a moment to snap out of her trance. When she came to her senses, the band had begun to play again. Other couples joined them on the floor, surrounding them with the swish of fabric and hum of conversation.

“Thank you for the dance, Mr. McLean.” She went to move back, but Thayer wouldn’t release her.

“No, thank you.” His gaze bored into hers.

Her skin felt like it was on fire. It took her a moment to snap out of the trance he’d put her in. Back in the present, she remembered Drew. She realized what they must look like, standing so close, and guilt washed over her. “If you’ll excuse me, I promised the next dance to a friend.”

He nodded and released her waist but captured one of her hands. “Be careful, Miss Grey. As you said, you’re a hot commodity.” His eyes traveled around the room before capturing her again. “You never know who might be waiting to take advantage. Don’t trust anyone.”

A chill raced across her skin. “What?”

He didn’t answer her. With one more look, Thayer brushed a kiss across her knuckles and slipped away into the crowd.

“Wait!” She darted between dancing couples, straining to keep Thayer in her sights. “Mr. McLean!” She’d just made it to the edge of the dance floor when Margaret’s warning tone stopped her.

“Charlotte.”

Charlie spared her mother a glance. “Not now.” She stepped forward, intent on following Thayer.

Margaret grasped her arm, pulling Charlie away from the dance floor. “Don’t you dare make a scene. Not in the middle of the waltz.” The winning smile on her face didn’t match the malice in her voice.

“I really don’t care about my image right now.” Charlie broke free of Margaret’s grasp but didn’t leave.

“Start caring.”

Charlie glanced across the ballroom, searching for Thayer. She spotted him near the band, talking to Cornelia. Both their fathers were Council members, so it wasn’t surprising to see them together. But, after Cornelia following her to the balcony and Thayer’s warning, she couldn’t stop suspicion from filling her.

“I don’t have the patience for you. I’m leaving,” she declared.

Margaret grabbed her again, her grip like a vice. “Where could you possibly be going?”

“I need to speak to someone,” Charlie snapped, trying to pull away.

“Thayer McLean?” Charlie ignored Margaret’s question. “I can’t believe that horrid display during the auction. Councilman McLean should learn to control his offspring.”

Charlie scoffed at Margaret, but kept her eyes trained on Cornelia and Thayer. “I thought you would be over here planning our wedding. What other woman can boast that her first dance was auctioned for one million credits? You should be pleased that a single man, better yet a Councilman’s son, took such an interest in me.”

“He is the wrong Councilman’s son. You should be entertaining Mason Novack.”

“What, they aren’t rich enough for you?” Charlie’s snide comment was met with a scowl.

“The McLean’s business is something neither your father nor his partners are interested in, a fact you would do well to remember as the future CEO.”

“Maybe Richard should be interested. For all we know, the man who bought my first dance might very well be my future husband. Right, Mother?” Charlie pulled her arm free, smirking defiantly at Margaret.

Margaret grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter. She swirled the crimson liquid in her glass before taking a long drink. “I assumed Mason would win.”

“I hate to tell you this, but now that my Determining is over, you won’t be able to control the outcome of my life.”

A superior smile appeared on Margaret’s face. “Over? The Determining doesn’t end when you scan your chip in the headmistress’s office. The Determining is every day for the rest of your life. It is the clothes you wear, the place you live, the man you marry.”

Charlie’s pulse quickened at her mother’s threat. Margaret placed her free hand on Charlie’s shoulders. She leaned in, kissing Charlie on the cheek. The smell of wine on Margaret’s breath made her stomach roll.

“Look sharp, Mason is coming this way. If he asks you to dance, you
will
say yes.” She punctuated her command with a sharp, painful squeeze.

Charlie extricated herself from Margaret’s grip. “I don’t have much choice.”

“How right you are. Smile. You’ll get wrinkles if you frown too much.”

Mason appeared before Charlie could respond. “Miss Grey, would you care to dance?”

She glanced back toward where she’d last seen Thayer and Cornelia. They were gone. Her eyes darted frantically around the room until she spotted them, leaving the ballroom. As they exited, Thayer looked back at her. Their eyes met, then he was gone. It took Charlie a moment to remember that Mason stood in front of her.

She turned to him. “Thank you, Mr. Novack. I’d love to dance.” As she spoke, she spotted Drew over Mason’s shoulder. She couldn’t get out of dancing with Mason and she tried to convey that with a look as she moved onto the dance floor.

It took her less than a minute to decide that Mason didn’t improve with a third encounter. It actually seemed that he’d grown more despicable as the evening wore on. Or maybe it was the alcohol. She couldn’t tell for sure.

“You don’t like me, Miss Grey. It’s written all over your face.” His forthright comment didn’t surprise Charlie.

“Does that bother you, Mr. Novack?”

“No. Though I imagine our future marriage will be slightly more tolerable if you at least try. I myself am trying very hard to overlook your faults.” His eyes traveled down to her chest, lingering there.

Fury rose up in her, and she had the overwhelming urge to slap him. “Any faults I may have are far outdone by your own.”

He chuckled, flashing a cruel grin. “You look luscious when you’re angry. I’ll have to remember that.”

Charlie forced herself to take a calming breath, plastering on a serene expression. “Don’t bother. There is no you and I.”

“I doubt you’ll be given much of a choice.” The smirk on his face begged her to hit him. Hard.

“You must have forgotten that the Compatibility test requires consent. I choose who goes with me and I won’t choose you.”

Now Mason looked amused. “When you’ve exhausted all your options, I’ll be here waiting.”

“You’re an idiot. Why would you bother waiting?” Charlie was honestly perplexed. “I’ve made it clear that I don’t want you. Why waste your time?”

“It’s simple. We belong together.” Charlie couldn’t contain the burst of laughter that erupted from deep within her chest. “Laugh if you want, but you’ll see. I’m the heir to Novack Enterprises and you’re the heir to Grey Technology. Combined, we’ll have almost unlimited control. There are people in high places that have made it their business to ensure our companies join together. We are an inevitability.”

“I’m assuming the people in high places you’re referring to are the Council members.” When Mason didn’t contradict her, she continued. “I know about the corruption in the Council, but I also know that every member is looking out for himself. They wouldn’t allow two members to have so much control. They won’t give up their power just like that.”

Mason shook his head. “You really are as naïve as everyone thinks.”

Charlie wouldn’t put up with his arrogance anymore. “I make up for any naїvety with sheer stubbornness.” With as much force as she could muster, Charlie stomped the heel of her shoe onto Mason’s toes.

His face turned purple and contorted with pain as he hopped on one foot. “What the hell?” He spat at her.

“Thank you for the dance, Mr. Novack.” Charlie brushed pasted him, trying to ignore the shocked looks the other dancers shot at her. When she spotted Margaret waiting for her wearing an expression of pure rage, she walked in the opposite direction.

Charlie’s feet carried her to a relatively quiet corner of the ballroom. She didn’t notice Ruth until they stood less than a yard apart. Ruth’s eyes were glassy, bringing Charlie’s guilt rushing back. She didn’t know what to say. They stood in silence, watching one another. The music swelled to a crescendo as the band played their final note. In seconds, they began an upbeat swing number.

Not knowing what else to do, Charlie moved to stand beside Ruth. She looked out over the ballroom. Couples twirled to the music, groups of people chatted at tables, and nearly everyone wore a smile. She observed the array of colors on the dance floor. It looked like a rainbow swirling under the warm lantern lights. The movement was starting to make her dizzy when Ruth broke the silence.

“Thanks for asking how I feel. I’m fine, by the way. The fact that the man I’m expected to marry just paid one million credits to dance with
you
doesn’t bother me at all.”

Charlie sighed in exasperation. “You’re crazy if you think I was happy to auction off my first dance. And I didn’t ask Thayer to bid; he did that on his own.”

“Well, you didn’t have to enjoy it so much.” Ruth crossed her arms, but her eyes weren’t shooting daggers anymore.

“I couldn’t help myself. Like you said, he has a really nice body.” Charlie joked.

“You think this is funny, don’t you?” Ruth scowled.

The question surprised Charlie. “I don’t find this funny at all.”

“Then why are you making jokes? Do you know how much pressure my parents are putting on me to marry Thayer?” Her head whipped to face Charlie, making a few of her lose, red curls swing. “I shouldn’t be surprised that you don’t understand.” She gave a humorless laugh. “The Determining might consider you an adult at twenty, but you’re still just a spoiled child. You have no idea.”

Charlie stiffened. “Don’t start with that. If anyone understands, it’s me.”

Ruth kept talking, like she hadn’t heard a word. “I’m almost twenty-two and I’m finishing University soon. If I graduate without getting engaged, I’ll have to put my name in the Lottery.” Her voice lowered to a hiss. “That would be degrading. A woman like me shouldn’t have to lower herself to the type of man I’d get out of a Lottery marriage.”

Charlie remembered the last affluent girl who resorted to a Lottery marriage and shuddered. Once it came out that her husband had been selected randomly using the Lottery program, she’d been shunned. Society considered it a mark of shame when one relied on a computer program rather than their own appeal to find a partner. Thinking of Ruth taking on that shame made her cringe.

“I’m sorry you’re under so much pressure, but I don’t know why you’re so upset with me. I’m not trying to steal Thayer from you. And it was one dance, it didn’t mean anything.”

Ruth laughed in disbelief. “He spent one million credits on you. That
has
to mean something.”

“Ruth, you don’t know if you two are Compatible. You aren’t even in a relationship with him.”

“That’s the point! I’m supposed to be winning him over and now he’s bidding on a dance with you.”

“What did you want me to do, refuse to dance with him?”

Ruth stood quietly, her body deflating as if the will to fight had left her. “I don’t know what to do. Not after he’s shown interest in you.”

“I don’t know if this will make things better, but I don’t think he liked me.” Charlie thought of him complimenting her and blushed at her blatant lie. “Anyway, I hate to keep reminding everyone but I’m dating—”

“Would you shut up about your charity case boyfriend? No one cares. And back to the topic of compatibility, when did you and Drew get tested?”

The sudden turn in conversation startled Charlie. “We aren’t at that point yet.”

“Then why the hell do you keep bringing him up?” Ruth paused before her face morphed into a cruel sneer. “Did you two sleep together?”

Charlie reared back. “You know what happens to people who sleep together without getting tested.” Everyone knew that consummating an Incompatible relationship meant a one-way ticket to the islands. The government wouldn’t risk the spread of disease or the melding of conflicting DNA. No matter how passionate their moments together, neither Drew nor Charlie were willing to risk exile.

Ruth chuckled, unconvinced. “You did, I can see it in your eyes! I hope he was good. If he wasn’t, you’ll have wasted your life for nothing.”