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