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“Cheers to an unforgettable night,” I say as we clink our glasses.

We settle on a table a few meters away from the bar and sip our drinks, taking in the scene before us.

“Look at that woman’s dress.” Mary nudges me, nodding towards a guest wearing a gown adorned with what must be thousands of glittering sequins. “It’s like she’s wearing a disco ball.”

“More power to her.” Lil laughs, raising her eyebrows. “If I could pull that off, I’d wear it daily.”

The champagne bubbles dance across my tongue as I sip the crisp, cool liquid.

“See that couple over there?” Mary nods towards an older man in a tuxedo, his arm tightly wrapped around a much younger woman. Her dress is a shock of bright pink satin that clashes terribly with her orange tan.

“That’s Randolph Van Horn III with his new girlfriend, Bambi.” Mary gives us a conspiratorial look. “His wife caught them in bed together last month and kicked him out. But get this...”

She pauses for dramatic effect, leaning in.

“Bambi used to be their dog walker.”

Lil almost chokes on her champagne. “No way!”

“And rumor has it she’s already moved into his mansion in the Hamptons,” Mary says.

I snort. She somehow knows everyone’s business. Growing up, Mary was always the one with the hottest gossip. The girl who knew all the secrets.

My gaze travels over the other guests. A statuesque woman in a sleek black gown laughs loudly at something her date said. The diamond bracelet on her wrist likely costs more than my yearly rent.

Her head whips to the entrance, her posture stiff. Conversations quieten. My chest tightens as I follow their gaze.

Chapter 12

Across the room, dressed in a crisp black tuxedo, stands my one-night-stand from four months ago. Elijah.

The memory of him makes me clench my thighs together, but it’s the woman clinging to his arm that makes my blood run cold. Esther.

She clings to his arm, her sharp nails digging into his sleeve. A smug look spreads across her collagen-filled lips. She tosses her over-bleached hair and presses against him like he’s her property. My fists clench at the satisfied glint in her eyes.

Elijah’s turned slightly away, his arm looped with Esther’s. His short black hair frames his face perfectly, while his gray eyes hold the same power over me as that night. The tailored Italian suit accentuates his athletic physique and the crisp lines give him an air of sophisticated authority. He adjusts his cufflinks, looking around the room.

“Miltons,” Mary says.

“Who?” I turn to her.

“Elijah and Connor Milton. Very rich and successful—the total package. And, of course, Ms. Whitman has already sunk her claws into the older one. What a surprise…”

Would I be the one if I wouldn’t have been late to the date?

“Seems so.” I pretend not to care about the man who’s haunted my dreams for months.

Who am I kidding? He still does.

“Wait, the left one is Connor Milton? The one you told us about?” Lil asks.

“The one and only,” Mary says.

“Are you okay?” Lil’s head turns to me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I swallow hard. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Mary and Lil exchange a doubtful glance, clearly unconvinced by my bravado.

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