Page 255 of The Heart You Kept

Walking toward the front gates of the Prince of Monaco’s private residence. Holding the love of my life’s hand, who I anonymously met at a kink club three years ago and also happens to be a billionaire. I’m dripping head to toe in vintage Chanel, and my stilettos cost more than my car. The man walking beside us: a gorgeous male escort who somehow has become a trusted friend.

Shit like this just doesn’t happen, but whoever’s recently taken over as my guardian angel is doing a mighty fine job up there.

We walk along the pathway that leads around to a private road and a huge set of gates. There’s a giant twenty-foot stone fence covered in vines, and lanterns strategically light up the space. Guards are standing around, laughing and shaking hands when they see each other as if seeing long-lost friends.

My god….

It never even occurred to me that the guards of the rich and famous have their own social clique; they meet at these events regularly. I wonder if they ever exchange information about each other’s bosses…. Of course they would.

People stop talking and turn their attention to us as we approach. “Good evening, Mr. Prescott.”

“Good evening.” He nods.

Their eyes linger on me as they watch us walk by.

Edward squeezes my hand in his, as if reading my thoughts.

“Wiggle that ass, girlfriend,” Thomas mutters under his breath. “Give them something to talk about.”

A trace of a smile crosses Edward’s face as we walk, and I smile too, hopeful that in time Edward will come to like Thomas. They have a lot in common, sarcastic wit. One grumpy and one sunshine…opposite sides of a similar coin.

Though not the same.

We get to the front gates and the three guards standing in front of it, there’s three women in front of us, scantily dressed and hot as hell. “Identification and phones, ladies,” one of the men asks them.

“Of course.” The girls show them their licenses and their names are ticked off a list, they fill out a piece of paper and pass their phones over to a woman, she gives them a ticket and they walk inside. I watch the woman put them into a giant numbered shelving unit. They then walk through a metal detector.

Jeez….

Thomas and I exchange looks, a silent what the fuck?

The guards glance up and see us and move to the side. “Good evening, Mr. Prescott.”

“Good evening.” He walks straight through the metal detector, leading me by the hand.

“Ahh,” Thomas says from behind us. “I’m going to leave my phone too.” I glance back as he hands it over.

I pull Edward’s hand to make him wait for Thomas. “Wait,” I whisper. Edward subtly rolls his eyes. Thomas fills out the paperwork, hands his phone over, shows his license and then catches up with us.

“Why did you do that?” I ask.

“Because I’m not being the only fucker in a party with a phone.”

“Why not?”

“Because if something gets leaked I don’t want to be blamed.”

“Ah, smart.”

“Come.” Edward pulls me forward. “Are you my date or his?”

“So hostile,” Thomas mouths behind his back and I get the giggles.

As we walk through the private courtyard and around the large circular water feature, people stop mid-conversation to watch us.

All eyes on me.

The mystery woman with Edward Prescott.