“That was my reaction, too.” She slides a hand across her chin. “But they’re serious. Apparently she’s really popular in Korea.”
Agitation churns in my gut. Now I wish I hadn’t had anything for lunch. “There are other models. And they must’ve seen all the love-triangle stuff gossip sites are saying about me, Sebastian and her. Having her could damage the brand.”
“I know.”
“And I was thinking about using local celebrities.”
“I told them that, but they seemed pretty set on Gabriella Ricci. Although he never said anything really, you know, explicitly.”
“They never do.” Leaning back in my chair, I put a hand over my throbbing forehead. Maybe Karen’s right. I need to find a new partner, one that’s more sensible.
“But I got a sense that maybe there’s some kind of external pressure for them to do this.”
I straighten, dropping my hand. “What do you mean?”
“It’s just the way he phrased it.”
“So Eugene Hae wants to use Gabriella?” I ask, trying to get a clear picture of what’s going on. When he and I spoke, he seemed fine with selecting Korean celebrities to promote the brand.
“No, I don’t think so. It’s hard to say for sure, but it’s like the decision came from somewhere outside the group. Chul-Su kind of hinted that that’s why it took so long for them to get back to us.”
“Pressure from outside the group.”
“Yeah.”
“And enough pressure that they won’t go through with it without Gabriella.”
“Well… It’s hard to say for sure. But Chul-Su said it would be ‘difficult to proceed’ if Gabriella Ricci isn’t the launch ambassador.”
Chapter 32
Lucienne
By the time I’m home late evening, my head is about to explode. From the way pressure squeezes my skull and my temples are throbbing, it’s the beginning of a nasty tension migraine. The bombshell demand from the Hae Min Group has been on my mind all afternoon. As well as that damn picture of Sebastian and Gabriella.
Gabriella’s agency doesn’t have enough influence to force a Korean conglomerate like Hae Min to do anything. That leaves two other possible outside forces with any say in the project: Peery Diamonds and Sebastian Jewelry. And I certainly don’t want her.
So that leaves Sebastian.
It’s perfectly understandable that he’d want to keep her close. She’s the face of Sebastian Jewelry, and she’s the one he loves. The former is public knowledge, and he told me the latter before we got married.
There’s no reason for me to feel this sick.
But hot fury and betrayal have been clawing at me for hours. I could barely get through my meetings. Thank God none of them required me to make any big decisions.
James stops the car and steps out to open my door. I take a moment, my eyes closed.
This is just an arranged marriage. I havefondfeelings that might border on a girlish crush for Sebastian. But the intensity of the pain that’s been plaguing me says “fond feelings” is insufficient to describe what’s in my heart.
Still, I re-create the mask I need to face my husband. It’s the smooth one I put on every time I see a nasty headline about myself. Carefree. Proud. Impervious.
Only when I’m certain of my composure do I step out of the car. “Thank you, James. Good night.”
I step inside the house. I pray Sebastian’s working in his home office, but he’s at the kitchen counter with his laptop. He looks relaxed and at home in nothing but shorts.
If I hadn’t seen the photo of them at the hotel or if I hadn’t heard the Hae Min Group’s demand, I might be admiring the gorgeous, lean muscles of his chest and abs. But right now, toxic thoughts bubble in my heart.
Did he do more than justseeGabriella at the hotel? Is that why he changed into another outfit?
