Page 121 of A Simple Reminder
“What? Why?” she asks, her brow furrowing, and then her eyes follow my gaze. Her jaw drops, and I can almost hear the gears in her head screeching to a halt.
Dominic Moretti strides over, his sharp suit immaculate, a confident air about him that only someone at his level can pull off. His eyes land on me, and a smile spreads across his face.
“This is one hell of a hotel opening,” he says, extending his hand to me. “You’ve done a great job, Ayoub.”
I shake his hand, glancing at Sophie out of the corner of my eye. She’s frozen, her mouth slightly open, staring at him as though he’s stepped out of a dream.
“It’s nice, huh?” I say, my voice smug.
Her head turns slowly to me, her expression torn between disbelief and awe.
“Dominic,” I say smoothly, gesturing toward Sophie. This is my fiancée, Sophie. Sophie, meet the legendary Dominic Moretti.”
He lets out a low laugh, shaking his head. “Legendary, that’s a new one.” He stretches out his hand to Sophie, who stares at it like it’s made of gold.
I nudge her.
Her reaction is immediate, her hand shooting out to shake his. “Mr. Moretti,” she breathes, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m a huge fan of your work. Your designs—your craftsmanship—it’s absolutely inspiring, and I’ve always admired how you blend functionality with such stunning aesthetics.” She pauses for half a second, then keeps going, her words spilling out in a rapid stream, “I mean, your use of reclaimed wood alone is groundbreaking, and the?—”
I clear my throat, and she suddenly stops, her wide eyes darting to me in panic.
He chuckles warmly. “I’m flattered, truly. And congratulations are in order. The Liam Ayoub is engaged—what a catch she must be.” His gaze shifts between us, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
“Thank you. She truly is a catch,” I reply smoothly, slipping an arm around Sophie’s waist as she looks like she’s still processing the fact that he’s standing in front of her.
He nods. “I’m in town for the week. We should set up that meeting to discuss the tables you wanted. I think we could create something exceptional for your next project.”
“Absolutely,” I say with a grin, shooting a glance at Sophie, whose jaw drops further, if that’s even possible.
He waves politely before moving to mingle, stopping to shake Lucas’s hand.
I turn to Sophie, her expression still frozen in pure shock. With one finger, I gently close her mouth. “Told you I knew him.”
She blinks up at me, her voice barely audible. “I hate you.”
I chuckle, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “No, you don’t.”
I glance around at the people gathered to celebrate, the ones who made tonight more than just a party. Lucas is standing near the bar, looking like he’s doing some sort of penance as Theresa—Adeline’s mom—snaps selfie after selfie. His smile is so strained it looks like it’s been surgically glued on. Honestly, it’s hilarious. Theresa is the kind of person no one can say no to, not even Lucas.
Adeline is laughing with Leora, her head tilted back as if they’ve just shared the best inside joke in history. Micah is across the room, deep in conversation with Adeline’s father. Less stressed now since he took on his case. More relaxed, though every once in a while, he sneaks what he probably thinks is a ”subtle” glance at Adeline. Spoiler alert: it’s not subtle. The guy’s smitten, and watching him figure it out is going to be my new favorite sport.
There’s only one more person I wish could’ve been here. Ammo Antoine. I can almost see him leaning against the bar with a knowing smile on his face, raising his glass to me in silent approval. I believe he would’ve been proud of me.
His voice echoes in my mind, clear as day, reciting one of his favorite proverbs:Success is getting what you want, but happiness is wanting what you get.He’s said that more times than I can count, and for this moment, I welcome it even more. Because I’m not just happy—I’m more than happy. I have everything I’ve ever wanted right here.
Sophie nudges me gently, her fingers brushing against my arm, bringing me back to the present. “He’s here with us. In spirit. He always will be,” she says softly, her voice carrying that quiet certainty that only she can manage.
I smile down at her, warmth blooming in my chest. “I wish he got the chance to really get to know you. He’d probably tell you to keep me in line.”
She laughs, the sound light and full of life. “Oh, don’t worry, I already do.” Her eyes glimmer with affection, and for a moment, the weight of what’s missing feels a little lighter.
Just then, a cameraman we hired for the event approaches. He raises his camera, gesturing toward us. “A photo of the lovely couple?”
I slip an arm around Sophie’s waist, pulling her closer. “Of course,” I say, leaning down to whisper in her ear, “You ready to be the star of this picture-perfect moment?”
She laughs softly, tilting her head to rest on my shoulder. “Always.”
The camera clicks, capturing what I hope is a snapshot of the best moment of my life. But as the cameraman steps back, an idea strikes me.
