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One is wearing a shiny silver jumpsuit with tiny yellow bananas printed on the sleeves, one is wearing a skirt that looks like it’s made out of cardboard, and the last one has a long white t-shirt to its knees with Gabrown printed on it.
“What’s Gabrown?” Westin asks.
“Gabriel Brown,” I say with a bad taste in my mouth. “That’s the name of his designer label.”
I’d laugh if I wasn’t feeling so nauseous about all of this. Gabriel doesn’t have an artsy bone in his body and now he thinks he’s a clothing designer?
The last piece of art I remember him making was when he was six years old. It was supposed to be a boat made from dry macaroni glued onto construction paper. His was the worst in the class. There were only three macaroni noodles randomly glued on the page before he got bored and started stomping on the dried noodles. The teacher called home.
“There’s the star of the show,” Westin says as Gabriel walks into the crowded room with his chin in the air.
I quickly turn into Westin and smooth out his tie. I’m nervous to see my brother. I haven’t seen him since the wedding. We fought after dinner and I left early because I didn’t want to ruin his night.
It seems like we’ve been arguing every day since my father died. I hate it. I miss my brother. My old brother, not this big-headed new version.
“Hey,” I say when Westin’s cologne hits my nose, making me lightheaded. “I’m sorry I’ve been distracted.”
His arms are around me and it feels like it’s just the two of us in the crowded room.
“I’m just happy to be here with you,” he says, looking down at me with sensual brown eyes.
He really is a gorgeous man.
I’m looking up into his flawless face and his dark eyes with that possessive look and all of my problems and worries seem to just wash away.
I inch a little closer to his huge muscular frame and enjoy the feeling of being held by him. I feel so tiny in his arms. I feel like he would never let anything bad happen to me with the way he’s holding me like a delicate porcelain doll.
I’ve had to be so strong over the past few months with my father’s funeral and fighting with Gabriel over control of the business. I feel a warm comfort that I haven’t felt in a long time.
I just want to rest my head on his chest and let him take care of me. That’s not something I’m proud to say, but it’s how I feel.
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and drags the back of his hand along my jaw. My chin tilts up as my lips part, urging him to kiss me, urging him to take what I so desperately want to give him.
Not even James Bond can wear a tuxedo like this man can. He should be walking down the runway, over and over again. I’d pay to see that.
“It’s tradition for kisses to be at the end of a first date,” he whispers. I shiver all over as his hot breath washes over my tingling lips. “But I have to admit, I’m not one for tradition.”
“Neither am I,” I say as I stand on my toes, urging him to kiss me.
His mouth comes down and just as our lips are about to touch, a familiar voice interrupts us, yanking me out of my new happy place.
“Victoria,” Gabriel says in a sharp tone. “What are you doing here?”
I huff out a breath as I slide out of my date’s arms and turn to face my brother. “Why shouldn’t I be here? I paid for half of all this.”
“The company paid for it.”
“Which is half mine!”
Westin slinks back, giving us space, but he keeps his eyes on me the whole time. I feel indestructible with him in my corner. I feel like I can take on the world with him on my side.
“You’ll get it all back and then some when Gabrown is the hottest designer brand on the planet,” he says with his chin in the air.
I glance over at the mannequins in those ridiculous clothes. Three girls are giggling as they take pictures of it. They’re already mocking him, even as they eat his food and drink his champagne.
“We should be making these decisions together.”
He huffs out a breath. “It’s an investment, Vicky. The largest buyer of designer clothes in Europe is here tonight. One order and it’s going to pay for all of this.”
“How much?” I ask, afraid to hear the answer.
“What?”
“How much did all of this cost? The party, the marketing, the staff, the designs, everything. How much was it?”
He sighs. “Eighty million.”
“Jesus, Gabriel!” I shout. People are starting to look, but I don’t care. “We’re going to have to lay off workers over this! You’re putting Dad’s company in danger!”
