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“Oh, so you do remember me,” Kira said sarcastically. “I told Igor it couldn’t be you, that it must be another Jasmine because there’s no way my best friend would get married without telling me.”
They hadn’t talked in five years, but she wasn’t going to argue with her. “It happened very fast.”
“And you couldn’t shoot us a text?” Kira countered. “I called Penny, knowing if anyone knew, she would. She had to call yoursistersfor confirmation. This is unacceptable.”
“I…” She glared at Penelope, who nodded in agreement.
“If you wanted to make a splash, you succeeded,” Kira continued in a clipped tone. “My phone has been ringing off the hook. Of course, everyone called me to find out how this came about because I should know these things. Do you know how embarrassing this is for me?”
She didn’t give Jasmine a chance to respond.
“We were thick as thieves.” Kira’s accent thickened as she grew more impassioned. “The princesses who were going to rule the world, remember?”
She, along with Penelope, Kira, Daiyu, and a few others, were part of a small club of billionaires’ daughters who grew up together. They saw one another once or twice a year at important events and became each other’s confidants. They attempted to visit when they were in each other’s country, but they drifted apart once they graduated. Many of them got married right away, while the others went off to college. They led entirely different lives, but they understood things about each other that no one else would.
Maximus had been quite fond of Kira’s father, a self-made Russian billionaire, who made his fortune in oil, banking, and telecommunications. Kira went against her father’s wishes to invite Jasmine to her wedding, despite the scandal. She had politely declined, but she had never forgotten Kira’s moment of loyalty, standing by her when even her sisters had shunned her.
“Did those pinky promises mean nothing to you?” Kira demanded.
She couldn’t stop the grin that spread across her face as Penelope giggled. “I’m sorry.”
“As you should be,” Kira snapped. “Roth met with Igor last month, but he didn’t mention you were together! What is with you two being so secretive about everything? The first timeandthis time. I mean, at least you told us then, but this… This isn’t right, especially considering who he’s become… You know we’re thrilled for you. We always were because he made you happy.”
When she walked away from her family, she left these people behind, too. It was easy to believe they didn’t care because she was no longer part of their world, but Kira and Penelope were proving her wrong. Her smile faded. Was it a coincidence that Roth was doing business with another close friend of her father’s?
“That dress…” Kira took a deep breath. “I couldn’t believe Daiyu made it.” Her voice soured. “I knew she was good, but I didn’t know she wasthatgood. I called her, and she said I had to schedule an appointment.Me! Can you believe that? She’s always been a gloating bit—”
“I’m glad you two talked,” Penelope cut in before Kira could finish her curse. “You two haven’t spoken in ages.”
Kira made a sound like a hissing cat. “She hit on Igor.”
“She hit on Roth, too,” Jasmine said with a shrug.
“That little—” Kira began.
“This is so lovely, all of us reconnecting again,” Penelope said brightly to stop Kira from going on a rant.
“Anyway,” Kira said in frigid tones. “We can see each other in February. I’m coming to New York to support you, not her. I want to believe that wedding dress was a fluke, and she’s going to embarrass herself.”
It took Jasmine a second to realize that the comment had been directed at her. “Support me for what?”
“Daiyu said you’re walking in her show.”
Jasmine’s mouth dropped. “What? I didn’t say I would do it! That bit—”
Penelope patted her knee to stop her from swearing. “That’s a wonderful opportunity, Jas! You didn’t tell me that!”
“I’m not doing it,” she said through clenched teeth.
“You shouldn’t,” Kira agreed. “She’s using your press to hype up her fashion line. What a way to reclaim your spot in society—by snapping up the most eligible bachelor for the second time. All eyes are on you. Anything you want is yours—invitations to the most exclusive parties, the cover of any magazine you want, interviews… I’m a little jealous, to be honest.”
“I didn’t do this to come back into society.”
“Of course you didn’t, but if the world is at your fingertips, why not take advantage?”
Penelope gave her puppy dog eyes. “I really think you should walk in Daiyu’s show. She’s our friend, and really, Jas, that dress was divine.”
“She hit on my husband!” Kira bellowed.
