Page 82 of Billionaire Devil

He’s a few inches shorter than me. He has brown hair. I’m trying to gauge it and I guess he could possibly be described as handsome.

Troy Fucking Beckett.

The girl he’s with is very L.A., with bleach blond hair, way too many fillers in her face and fake tits.

“I have to go,” I tell my brothers.

They all look shell-shocked and concerned, but I’m too distracted to worry about it right now.

“Colton,” Alexander says in his Big Brother voice, but my heartbeat drowns him out.

“We can talk about this tomorrow,” I tell them. “I’ll call you when we’re on our way to New York.”

“Colt—”

I end the call.

Because Troy Beckett’s gaze isn’t directed at his bimbo date.

He’s riveted by the gorgeous little maid of honor in the tight, low-cut pink dress.

The one who’s more beautiful than anything I have ever seen.

The one who’s not wearing her wedding ring.

And that fucker is staring right at her.

27

“Tell meeverything.Colton FreakingMaddox? How did you meet him?”

“How do you even know who he is?” I ask Jess.

“I follow him on Instagram.”

“Youdo?”

“Lila, he’s got, like,millionsof followers. He’s not on there that much, but he occasionally posts photos of himself, like on super yachts or at an event in some swanky night club in New York.” I’m thankful she doesn’t say it.Surrounded by women.

“I’ll have to look him up.”Not.Unless I’m overcome with sadomasochistic curiosity.

My stomach does that swooping thing again, which happens every time I’m reminded of Colton’s playboy lifestyle, like I was so rudelyat 3 a.m. this morning.

“I’ll tell you everything, Jess—and I have alotto tell you. But it’s going to have to wait. Right now we’re focusing on you and your wedding.”Swoop.A vague memory resurfaces, of Colton on one knee in the chapel in Vegas, sliding the Tiffany ring he chose for me—the biggest, shiniest one, that I also vaguely remember costtwo million dollars. Surely I dreamt that. “This dress is so gorgeous.”

Jessie’s standing in front of a huge window with a view of the ocean down below. “It’s more understated than my usual.” The dress is a low-cut white silk sheath dress. My bridesmaid’s gown has a similar cut but is pink and shorter.

“I love it. It’s so flattering. And thishouse? Is this Jacob’s?”

“Yes. Can you believe this?” Jessie has tears in her eyes. “My baby’s room is going to have a view of the water.” My stomach does yet another swoop.

I really need to google a few things.

Some of Jess’s helpers and another bridesmaid arrive. The bridesmaid—I’m guessing because she’s wearing the same dress as mine—is holding three bouquets. She has long honey-blond hair and green eyes. She’s stunning.

“Lila, meet Lexi Black. Lexi and I met around a year and a half ago, just before you left for New York. She interviewed me about the short film I made—remember?—calledThe City of Guardian Angels. We’ve been hanging out ever since. Lexi’s the artistic director and co-owner of Downtown.”

Of course I’ve heard of Downtown. It’s a trendy andwildly successful company that has its fingers in a lot of pies here in L.A. They have a movie studio, a lifestyle magazine, a publishing company and a bunch of other divisions. It’s always being written up as one of the hip places to work in California.

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