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Upon entering the house, he and Annabelle strolled across a red carpet that presented the pathway through the house. They encountered familiar faces from the real estate world and smiled at and greeted each person in turn, accepting words of congratulations from those who hadn’t attended the wedding but knew they’d remarried. They also passed by rooms where guests lounged on plush sofas and chatted with each other as they noshed on canapés and sipped mixed drinks offered by the circulating servers dressed in black.
Soft jazz music interspersed with sounds of laughter beckoned them to a huge room transformed into a casino. The space was illuminated by golden lights which reflected off the mirrored walls. Guests crowded around a blackjack table, baccarat table, roulette wheels, and two poker tables at opposite ends of the room. There was also a wheel of fortune, where guests placed bets for specific items, cheering when they won and groaning when they lost.
The five-piece band of jazz performers were out on the terrace, where additional invitees sipped on drinks and smoked cigars. This was the kind of world Dante had only dreamed about when he shined shoes early in the morning and then had to rush off to his second job, where he toiled in the hot sun as a laborer.
“Hello! Welcome!” Khuyen, Nolson’s twenty-five-year-old wife greeted them with bright, happy eyes.
Khuyen was Vietnamese American, a member of the large number of Vietnamese who lived in Houston. Her family owned several restaurants in the city, and apparently Nolson had been dining at one of them when he saw her and was smitten. His wife passed years ago, and Khuyen was not the first time Dante had heard his name linked with another woman. It was the first time, however, he had openly dated any of them. Whether their connection resulted from love or not, Khuyen and Nolson were married within six months and celebrated their third anniversary this past January.
Khuyen and Annabelle exchanged air kisses.
“I try never to miss your annual party. I heard the casino night theme was your idea, which I love, by the way,” Annabelle gushed.
She was in her element and was a sight to behold. She put the “social” in socialite.
“You’re too kind,” Khuyen said, looking pleased. “I thought I’d shake things up a bit. Thank goodness Nolson was open to the idea.” Her long black hair fell in body waves and spilled onto her bare shoulders, exposed in a strapless gold dress with a huge silver and gold bow over her breasts.
“This is my husband, Dante Escarra.”
“Nice to meet you, but of course I know who you are,” Khuyen said, extending her hand for Dante to shake. “I wish we could have made the wedding. We were traveling out of the country. Congratulations to you both. By the way, Nolson has been very impressed with your—as he calls it—meteoric rise in real estate.”
“I’m honored to meet you. I’ve heard only good things,” Dante lied smoothly.
As she was the same age as Nolson’s children, they were not pleased, and there were rumors of infighting among the family because of her presence.
Khuyen blushed. “Why, thank you.”
“Where is Nolson?” Dante asked.
“Around here somewhere,” she replied airily, waving her hand in the general direction of the baccarat table. “Do you mind if I steal Annabelle for a minute?”
“Not at all.”
“Good, because I heard the board at Buchanan & Buchanan is selecting you as the new CEO at this month’s meeting.” Khuyen arched an eyebrow.
“Oh, that. It’s not a done deal yet,” Annabelle said with false modesty.
“I want to hear all about it. Dante, please make yourself at home. You, come with me,” Khuyen said to Annabelle.
Before they walked away, Dante slipped an arm around Annabelle’s waist and pressed his lips to her cheek. She smelled like heaven, and having her soft body against his made him stifle an involuntary groan. “I’ll see you later,querida. Try not to lose all our money.”
She flashed a smile. “I won’t, darling. Though there’s plenty more where that came from.”
Khuyen sighed. “Newlyweds. Y’all get on my nerves.” Then she laughed and looped her arm around Annabelle’s.
Dante watched them walk away. The kiss had not been solely for appearances. The situation at home was better. They’d had sex almost every night in the past couple of weeks and ate dinner together on a regular basis, their conversations no longer stilted and awkward. She laughed more. She smiled more.
The perfume bottle he purchased in Las Vegas had pleased her more than he realized. After she moved into his bedroom, he noticed she placed it on the vanity tray with her favorite bottles. Her pleasure created a warm sensation in the pit of his stomach. He wanted more of her smiles. More of her pleasure. More of her happiness.
Such was his dilemma. Their marriage was supposed to be temporary, and ideally, they should be living separate lives, but he was going through an internal struggle. On the one hand, he didn’t trust Annabelle. She had broken his heart and trampled on his pride ten years ago. However, they were both different now. Older. He had money. He could offer her a better life than they had before.
Mierda. What was he thinking? Before Annabelle waltzed into his office, he never contemplated getting married again, so this train of thought was ridiculous and unwelcome.
Dante shook his head and went to purchase some chips. Then he made his way over to the roulette table. After several spins, where he ultimately lost over one thousand dollars, he spotted Nolson entering the room. He was in conversation with two women, nodding his head to whatever they were saying. Dressed in a three-piece suit with pinstripes, he wore a Rolex on his wrist. The vintage kind handed down from his father or grandfather.
He was in his late forties, with salt-and-pepper hair and beard and a softening body caused by the advance of age. Several more people gathered around, with Nolson the center of attention, nodding sagely from time to time and speaking equally with his mouth and hands.
Dante wanted to talk to him, but he wanted to do so privately. Almost an hour later, the opportunity presented itself when the crowd around the older man dispersed.
