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Why do I get the feeling that everyone close to Lucas hates me?
I give him a curt nod. “Of course,” I breathe, my tongue loose. “Is that all?” I open the door, ready to go whether he wanted me to or not.
Samuel nods his head. “Yes, that’s all Rachel.”
I don’t wait. I don’t say goodbye. I turn on my heel and run down the hall towards the doors. As soon as I’m out of the building, standing near the corner of the street I burst into tears. I cover my face, trying to swallow down my sobs, but I can’t stop. It’s like the floodgates have opened and there’s no hope in turning them off.
“Rachel?”
I turn around, expecting to see Samuel behind me, wanting to say more cruel things. Instead I see Lucas, staring at me with surprise and worry.
“Are you alright?”
I shake my head and run to him. “No,” I sob, wrapping my arms around his waist and burying my face into his chest.
12
LUCAS
I stroke her hair and breathe in her floral scent, holding her to me and not wanting to ever let go. “What’s wrong?” I whisper while I continue caressing her, unable to stop. “What happened?”
She inhales deeply, trying to calm her sobs. I take her chin with one hand and lift her gaze to mine. Makeup runs from her eyes, giving her a bit of a raccoon look. But she’s my raccoon and I don’t think I can ever find her anything, but beautiful. She wipes her eyes under her ears, cleaning the smudges before taking a step away from me.
“I just-”She pauses, inhaling deeply and running a hand through her hair. “I just feel like I’m not doing anything right. I feel like your mother, Samuel, everyone looks down on me.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Samuel? What does he have to do with any of this?”
She sighs and her shoulders slump in defeat. “He called me today, asking if I would take his offer.”
My eyes widen. “I thought-”
“I know, I know,” she says quickly. “I wasn’t going to take it, but things at the Louvre suck and I thought it would be nice to do something I actually enjoy.” She sighs. “I messed up.”
I turn around, staring up at the building and feeling rage brim within me. “So, that guy made you cry?” I turn towards her as I feel the fire take over. I want to go inside that building and smash his precious chair over the top of his head. How dare he make Rachelcry.
Rachel shakes her head. “It’s nothing. Forget it.” She grabs my hand and tugs me toward her.
I’m tempted to go inside and have a word with Samuel, but at the same time, what’s that going to do. Lacing my fingers with Rachel I smile brightly. “Why don’t we do something fun? I have a big party I have to go to in about two weeks. Why don’t you be my date and we get you a fancy dress for the occasion?”
I watch her smile and nod. “That sounds great.”
I tug her towards me, already knowing the perfect place to go where we could try on clothes and have some champagne. It’s the kind of store my mother loved going to and thankfully it’s close by. Rachel giggles while she holds me close as we walk and I feel like her mood is already lifting.
We pause in front of the store to JeanVouighJean. Rachel’s gasp has me smiling. The shop can’t be found anywhere outside Paris. This is the only location and the way they treat their customers is absolutely brilliant. I nudge Rachel forward, my smile widening as I watch her slowly step beyond the golden doors, held open by butlers dressed in all black. I nod at their bowed heads in acknowledgement.
Rachel pauses once more inside the store. There are several steps in front of us, yet her gaze lingers on the extravagant chandelier, the shop clerks dressed in short red dresses waiting at attention, and the mannequins donned in silk and jewels.
“What is this place?” Rachel breathes.
I chuckle and tug her towards the steps. “Heaven,” I say, finding her reactions absolutely adorable.
“Excuse me,” says a shop clerk while she strides towards us in her red stiletto shoes. She smiles politely, yet there’s a scrutinizing gleam in her eye as she stares at Rachel. “Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but I’m Lucas Brent from the Brent family in New York,” I say.
“This place is absolutely beautiful,” says Rachel, still looking around in wonder. “How is this even real?”
“The Brent family?” The woman says in shock. “You’re Christina Brent’s son?”
