Page 119 of Unbind

‘Who the fuck is that?’ Omar asks, his jaw practically on the floor. Given the crazily tight timeline between the deal closing and the launch of the new collection, we had to save the key pieces for the A-list celebrities who are in attendance—like Oscar-winning actor Elle Hart, who’s wafting around looking pregnant and stunning in one of our more ethereal gowns. Gen, therefore, is wearing oyster-coloured Valentino Haute Couture tonight.

‘My ex-boss,’ I inform him out of the corner of my mouth. ‘Genevieve Wolff. She runs Alchemy. Married to Anton Wolff.’

‘Ahh.’ He lets out a low, appreciative whistle. ‘It all makes sense. Look at that couture, darling. Look at thosecurves.I need to dress that woman.’

‘Get back in your crappy little demi-couture box,’ I tell him, but my tone is fond. Evan and I have begrudgingly back-tracked on our hatred of Vega. I’d hate to be the poor soul trying to manage him, but he’s been incredibly generous with his time and advice since I came on board.

‘Your ass must make men weep, darling,’ he proclaims as Gen sashays over.

She shoots him a vaguely surprised look before arching her brow. ‘It certainly does,’ she tells him.

He puts a hand to his heart and swoons dramatically. ‘I think I’m in love.’ With that, he takes his leave.

‘You look incredible,’ Gen tells me now, pulling me into a firm hug. ‘I’m so fucking proud, I can’t even tell you.’ She releases me. ‘Your boyfriend’s an embarrassment, though. He just wept openly when someone complimented him on your collection. Let’s hope he can pull it together for his speech.’

I laugh. ‘Oh my God. He’s been a mess all day.’

‘I love nothing more than seeing men championing their women,’ she says, ‘but he’s the real deal. I’m surprised he doesn’t have pompoms with him tonight.’

I put my hand to my heart. The way Adam has been there for me, day and night, over the past quarter is like nothing I could have imagined. He may be spending thousands on all these PR agencies for me, but I swear none of them have shouted Gossamer’s name—or mine—more loudly at any opportunity than he has.

‘He’s incredible,’ I agree.

‘He is. He’s also completely and utterly blown away by you, both emotionally and professionally. Just as he should be. How’s it going over at Wright?’

‘It’s amazing,’ I confess. ‘I always had it in my mind that if it wasn’t hard, I wasn’t doing it right, you know? Like I had to slog my guts out for every pound I made. But over there it’s effortless. Don’t get me wrong--I’m working my arse off. But it’s this strange new dynamic where I work hard and then good stuff happens. The work has a purpose, and it pays dividends. That’s one hell of a novelty.’

‘That’s precisely what it should be like,’ she says with a huge smile. ‘Also, if his team is anywhere near as smart andtalented as him, hopefully there’s an amplifying effect. They can take the magic you’re creating and blow it up far more quickly than you could ever do on your own.’

‘Exactly.’ I take a sip of my sparkling elderflower drink. ‘These billionaires are so… fearless. They’re such big-picture thinkers. They’re not afraid of risk or big numbers or failing. It’s really inspiring. I’m learning so much.’

‘I bet you are,’ she says. ‘Uh oh—speak of the devil.’

I look over to find my man approaching. He’s in a Tom Ford smoking jacket tonight, and he looks positively edible. He definitely looks a little teary-eyed, but his smile is so wide it could crack open his face. He comes around behind me so he can wrap his arms around my waist and bury his face in my neck.

‘The woman of the hour,’ he murmurs against my skin. ‘Are you having fun?’

‘I feel like I’m in a dream,’ I tell him and Gen, and he hugs me tighter.

‘I was just talking to Phoebe Dynevor,’ he says. ‘She wants an intro, and she said she’d like to put her stylist in touch with you, too.’

I stiffen in his arms. ‘Oh myGod.Seriously? I’m the biggest Bridgerton fan ever.’

‘No one would ever dispute that,’ he says drily. ‘You’ve got to give your speech in a minute—I’ll introduce you two after that. Okay?’

‘Okay,’ I say, turning my face so I can nuzzle against him. When I glance back up, it’s Gen’s turn to look weepy.

‘Not you, too,’ I say laughingly.

‘I’m sorry.’ She dabs carefully under her eye with her knuckle. ‘It’s just—when I think about what you two were like when you first met. Jesus, it was awful. And look at how revoltingly loved-up you are now.’

I giggle. ‘It was pretty rough. I’m sorry you got stuck in the middle.’

‘That meeting I had to host—it was like mediating bloody Cold War talks. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so uncomfortable in my life.’

‘Luckily Nat found a way to break the ice that evening,’ Adam deadpans, and I slap the hand that’s on my stomach.

‘That’s so rude! I still can’t believe you let him kidnap me,’ I tell Gen.

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