“Oh! Manhattan’s newest billion-dollar darling who I read makes the dearly departed John-John look like Quasimodo.”
She nodded. “Yes, he does. William was handsome years ago, but now ... wow.” She fanned her neck with her hand.
“Is he ... the son ... Anne Darcy’s son?”
“Yes. She introduced us.”
“This is ... oh dear ... what else happened? Spill. The. Steaming. Tea. All of it—all over me!” He placed his thumbon his lips and shivered with glee. Squealing, “It’s gettingtresjuicy!”
“William punched George in the face,” she moaned, cradling her forehead in her palm.
“Finally, someone had the cajónes to do it! Simplymagnifique!” He pinched his fingers, kissing their tips.
“Not funny.”
Pouring two coffees, he said, “It most certainly is, my little dove. Your fiancé is a certifiable slimeball, and you are far too good for his sorry, flat ass.” He placed her Monet Water Lilies mug on the desk, then dragged a chair across from her. “Tell me more about the old flame billionaire, the drunken client, and the perverted slimeball. I’m all ears.”
“The knockdown was so bad, Guy, it was all over the internet this morning!”
“You made the news?”
“Not me. I ran out of the reception before the press could get their hands on me.”
“Good thinking. Scandal is the last thing an art gallery needs. We’re not Hollywood.”
“Exactly. Oh, and Jane was at the wedding, too. Shewasdating the client’s brother, Charlie.”
“Yeesh. One big happy family.” He grimaced. “I see where this is going.”
“You couldn’t possibly imagine just how bad it was. William knows it was Jane who had a hand in breaking us up, and he told his soon-to-be brother-in-law slash personal lawyer, Charlie, which caused Jane to have a raging breakdown on the way home because the guy wisely dumped her.” She shook her head. “It’s such a mess. I’m afraid to call her because she blames me for everything. We’re in the stonewalling stage now, but not before she told me what a terrible sister I am. Me! The doormat that manages her life and emotions because she’s too entitled.”
“Ah, Jane, the agent of chaos strikes again.Mon Dieu! It’s not like I haven’t told you: ‘Don’t set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm’.”
“But ... this time it was me who messed up, not her. I danced with William ... and ... and it was so good. I’m so ashamed, Guy.”
He gasped. “You slept with him!” He clapped and cheered. “Good girl!”
Again, she cradled her forehead. “Worse. I seduced him when he was drunk. Oh, God. I couldn’t stop myself. I still love him.”
“This is like watching one of those deliciously crazy Mexican telenovelas! Sex! Cheating! Emotional vampires at every blood-sucking turn, and gloriousamore! What could possibly go wrong that a good shag can’t remedy?”
“He’s engaged to the client.”
“A small impediment, and you’re engaged to the slimeball.”
“Yes, but not for too much longer. I was an absolute idiot to think I could spend a lifetime with George.”
“Well,thattakes care of the impediment and is mucho, mucho good news!” All smiles, he sang, “It’s a beautiful day today!”
“As soon as I see George, I’m going to break off the engagement. Ugh,” she sighed. “That’s not a conversation I’m looking forward to.”
“Shall I call a locksmith?”
“There’s no need. He’s harmless, but I have to put my big girl panties on sometime and face my fears.”
Guy leaned forward and whispered. “You must spillallthe tea. Was billionaire sex good?”
She chuckled. “It always was good—even before he was a billionaire. I felt like I reconnected with the other half of my soul. It was the most incredible night of my life.”
