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“What do you want, Bryce?”
“To see you. Baby, I need to talk to you.”
My nostrils flared in anger. I bit back the temptation to yell at him. It was bad enough I was showing a visible outward reaction when he wasn’t even in front of me. A lady never displayed her emotions.
“Do not call me baby. It’s so juvenile and…low brow.”
“Wren, I need you. I know I made a mistake, but?—”
“A mistake?” I laughed humorlessly at that. “Bryce, you were screwing a woman in public at a club. I’d say that’s more than a mistake.”
“It was the alcohol. You know how I get when I’ve been drinking.”
“Yes, and now the rest of the world does also. Thank you for humiliating me.”
“Wren…” His heavy sigh almost had me giving in. Bryce was a good guy most of the time. He was under a lot of pressure from his father, and lately, it was getting to him. I didn’t excuse it, but realistically, in our world, it wasn’t that uncommon for a man to stray. I just wished he hadn’t done it so publicly.
“Bryce, I need time.”
“I can give you time. I swear, I won’t ever do something like that again.”
I wasn’t sure I was ready to forgive him, but what we had wasn’t something I would easily come by again. I was the heiress to a huge fortune, and he would take over his father’s multi-billion dollar corporation in a few years. Together, we’d be untouchable. The world would be at my fingertips, and I would have my own mansion in the countryside where I could stay during the week while he was at work. It was the perfect arrangement.
“Well, I’ll need the appropriate amount of time. You know these things have to be dealt with carefully.”
“I know. I’m already being hounded at work. I can’t go anywhere without reporters following me around. Listen, I have to go. My father requested a meeting this morning. Can I call you tonight?”
“Well, I’m not sure that I’ll be available,” I said, biting back a grin.
“I’ll call you tonight.”
I hung up just as we arrived at the tearoom. I slid my sunglasses on like I always did, hiding my face from the paparazzi. As George came around to my side, I swung both legs out of the car, then very carefully stepped out, making sure I didn’t give anyone a show. I made it to the sidewalk before I saw the first man running toward me with a camera.
“Wren! Did you see the news? Are you still with Bryce?” one of the reporters shouted.
I never gave a story. I smiled for the camera and waved, but that was the extent of it. If you gave these little people an ounce of leverage, they’d take all they could.
The doors to the tearoom opened and I stepped inside, waiting for the maître d’ to take my coat. It wasn’t very chilly outside yet, but I loved a good fur coat. As he slid it down my arms, I spun, giving the photographers outside a great shot of my dress. I always knew how to work the camera, getting my picture out there without being obvious about it. From this vantage point, it would look like they were being intrusive instead of me giving them everything they wanted.
I slipped my sunglasses off and strolled over to the table where the ladies were already seated. I always arrived fashionably late, but this was pushing it.
“I’m terribly sorry,” I smiled as I took a seat. “George was gassing up the car.” I rolled my eyes, letting the ladies know how irritated I was.
“Didn’t he know you had an appointment today?” Marianna asked. She was old money from the Brunswick family. Her father was the owner of one of the largest privately owned oil companies. I wasn’t positive about what he actually did, but he invested wisely and kept the family almost as highly placed as my own.
“Yes, and trust me, I let him know I was displeased. So, what is everyone having?”
Serena Westbrook, my oldest friend and neighbor, fiddled with her earring. A smile crossed her face as she eyed me.
I gasped, clutching her left hand in my own. “Serena! When did this happen?” I asked, staring at the giant, rare Alexandrite gemstone on her finger. I admired the giant emerald-cut ring surrounded by diamonds on a platinum band encrusted with the most elegant diamonds. “It’s so beautiful.”
“I know,” she winked. “It happened last night. Of course, Henry was interrupted by some stock crisis.” She waved it off, just to let her ring flash in the light again. “It was not the most romantic proposal, but at least we were in a private room and nobody saw him talking on the phone.”
Except, the staff would have seen, and they couldn’t keep their mouths shut. But I wouldn’t say anything and ruin it.
“Well, it’s a gorgeous ring.”
“Five carats,” she grinned. “Of course, eventually, I’ll have to have the setting made into something more extravagant. It’s fine for now, though.”
