lutel
up from his ti
ng to a gala with a thousand rich pe
an my old living room. He was getting ready for the Sterling Foundation Ann
oard will be there. If we don't show up together after yest
don't know which fork to use! I work a
do. He looked like James Bond if James Bond h
in a robe, no makeup, hair
You will hold my arm. You will smile. And when someon
ot a w
n a novel. That's what all trop
fe. The w
at I am? A
tonight, yes.
lowed.
er, I didn't re
ed out, with a slit up to my thigh. My hair was in soft waves. My makeup was per
ing in the doorway, staring. H
ook
ill give every man in that room a heart att
hat g
his arm. "Try not to fall in love with me t
joke. But his ey
ke a palace. Crystal chandeliers, champagne to
urned when w
s follo
. The books
ng actually br
ttier than
firm on my lower
mured in my ear
And I held hi
s wife. He never left my side. When a man stared too long at
l," he said, hand
ike I'm i
And you're
I saw
ne
s that screamed virgin but her eyes scre
he said, her voice sweet poison. She didn't even look at
stone cold
ooked at me, her smile fake. "Hi. I'm Vanessa. Damien's ex-fiancé
mach d
He was eng
," I said
tore, right? How... quaint. Damien alway
was
my face
voice lethal. "Vanessa, if y
and on his ar
anessa. A rea
last month begging for a job after your father's company went bankrupt. Damien told me. He said it was sad. But he'
perfect fa
ared at m
etely. But from her expre
e -" Vanes
mien's hand. "We have to go greet the mayor.
d Damie
ough, he stopped an
ell was tha
s being
up about her fa
uess
ughed. A real, loud, head-thrown-
, you are full
I do
hen his laugh faded and he looked at me, hi
d me your
Right there in the middle of the ball
umb brushing my cheekbo
dn't
granddaughter-in-law and come say hi t
his hand like h
yes never
night, he didn't let
, he kissed the back of my hand
ht in my red dress on
ing, thinking about a girl who was supposed to be fake but
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