“What are you doing here? What brings you to L.A.?” she says as she leads me to a private room and has me sit with her on a soft leather couch.
“Shopping for rings for me and my husband.” I show her the cheap ring on my finger. “Can’t wear this, can I?”
Lucie lets out a horrified gasp. “No, most definitely not. Where did you evenfindthat? It looks like stainless steel.”
“Seriously?” I examine the band more closely. “The guy selling it swore it was white gold.”
She snorts. “And I’m a unicorn.”
I laugh. “Well. It wasn’t that expensive.”
“Better not have been. They’d have to pay me to wear it.”
“You have an image to maintain as a jewelry mogul.” My gaze drops to her ring. It’s made with a gorgeous sapphire and a diamond, encircled by tiny diamonds. “Like that. Very unique.”
She smiles. “I know, right? My husband’s design.” Her gaze softens, and all of a sudden, she’s just a girl in love.
I envy her. What wouldn’t I give to find a man who’d love me unconditionally and support me? Sebastian Lasker is a wealthy man with his own career and interest, and has no desire for anything of hers except her heart. The story of their marriage was one of the most sensational news items in Nesovia for a while, especially since both Lucie and her husband are young and beautiful. And there was a Hollywood glitz angle, since her husband is the son of a famous Hollywood movie producer.
“How romantic.” I exhale softly.
“You can do something similar.”
“As much as I’d love to have something custom-made, I don’t have the time to wait. Who knows when I’m meeting his family?”
She lets out a wistful sigh. Guess she can’t understand the point of giving up an occasion for pretty jewelry. “You could go ahead and order a set, and then we could give you one to wear until the order is completed.”
A great idea, but Ares and I won’t be married for more than a few months, so it seems like too much effort. “It’s fine. Maybe next time.”
“Nexttime?” She stares at me for a moment, then lowers her voice. “Is this a marriage of convenience?”
“More or less. My step-cousin was desperate to marry me, and I basically had no choice.”
“Rupert, right? Rupert Fage?”
“Yeah.”
Lucie narrows her eyes. “Never liked that guy. Always so…” She thinks for a moment. “It’s like he has dollar signs in his eyes.”
“Like in a cartoon,” I say, snapping my fingers and laughing.
“Exactly! Besides, doesn’t he have a girlfriend?”
“Yes. Parker Jacoby. She was willing to let Rupert marry me so he could ‘take care of’ my finances. Apparently, the plan was to divorce me and marry her once he got all my money.”
Lucie laughs derisively. “The things women like her dream about.”
“I know, right?”
Jasper brings in a tray of bands, placing it discreetly on the table in front of us. I sweep my gaze over them until I see a set of platinum bands with three beautiful sapphires. I pick one up and scrutinize the stones under the light. They’re the exact shade of Ares’s eyes.
I smile. “This,” I say to Jasper.
He nods politely.
“Good choice,” Lucie says. “You always did have great taste.”
“Got it from Mom. I miss her so much.”
