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I chuckle as Hades comes over with a glass for me, giving me an approving nod. “Not fucking bad, man. Not fucking bad at all.”
“You know I’m not actually trying to upstage you, right?”
He grins. “I mean, youare, but I know it’s not intentional. I’m still borrowing that sick-ass plane next week.”
“Deal.”
He nods past me, to where a grouchy looking Castle is having the finishing touches on his tux taken care of by one of the in-house tailors.
“What do we think, buddy,” Hades smirks at Eilish’s former bodyguard. “You ready to drop that chip on your shoulder?”
Castle scowls. Then a familiar laugh rings out across the boutique, and we all turn to where Eilish is modeling an absolutely stunning green gown. She turns in front of the mirror, and when her eyes catch mine, her cheeks flush and her smile splits her face almost in two.
“Thank you,” she beams. “I love it!”
Castle sighs, pulling my attention back to him.
“All right, all right,” he grunts. “I yield.” His gaze lands on me. “You keep making her smile like that, and we’re good.”
“I think I can manage that.”
I turn to watch her twirl some more for her friends. And I can’t look away.
At all.
This is becoming…real.
No, not “becoming”.
It alreadyis. And I don’t know how to pretend I’m not happier about that than I’ve ever been about anything in my life.
27
EILISH
It’shard to call it a Cinderella moment, because it’s not like I grew up in rags, living with hardship. But even with the life I’ve had, the gala is next level.
Gavan was right: I know millions. But the wealth and glamour on display at the Bijou Gala at the Musée d’Orsay is truly that ofbillions. I might have grown up wanting for nothing, with nice cars, nice clothes, and all of that. But this is the world of the top elite. And that’s why I feel like an actual princess as Gavan leads me through the evening.
There’s ballroom dancing with music provided by the orchestra of the Paris Opera. We get a private guided tour through a few of the Impressionist collections of the museum, where Elsa almost starts crying at seeing some of her favorite pieces in the flesh. We meet royalty—like legit, actual royal figures. First there’s an English duke whom Gavan seems to know personally. Then, there’s a collective sound of our jaws hitting the floor when he introduces us all to Misha Tsavakov and his wife,PrincessCharlotte Bergendem of the Kingdom of Luxlordia, who is next in line to be queen.
It’s a glimpse into a world not even Dimitra Drakos with her English mansion sitting on top of a forty-story building over Central Park knows. And it’sspellbinding.
“Come here.”
I arch a curious brow, blushing as Gavan takes my elbow and pulls me away from the circle where Neve and Callie are geeking the hell out talking to the world-famous model River Finn—who also happens to be married to Gavan’s friend, Yuri Volkov, head of the Volkov Bratva family.
“What’s up?”
Gavan smirks darkly as he spins me around so that he’s at my back.
“The dress is perfect. But I got you a little something to finish it off.”
I gasp as the cool string of diamonds drapes over my collarbones. He fastens it at the nape of my neck before turning me slowly to face a gilded mirror hanging on the museum wall.
My eyes bulge at the gorgeous choker—diamond and silver, with a stunning green emerald at the center.
“Gavan…” I swallow, my eyes locked on the necklace. I shake my head side to side. “I can’t accept—”
