“God, imagine having the sort of money to buy something like that.”Gemma shakes her head and then catches herself and looks embarrassed.“Pretend I didn’t say that.”
“I’m deaf in this ear.”I tap it and wink.
“Thank you for saving me from my big mouth.”
I laugh and lead her a few feet away from the diamond, but she glances back at it a few times.“You are right, very few people on the planet could buy that diamond.”
And if I did, I’d want to fuck you while you wore nothing but the brilliant gem.
I am surprised she is so enamored with it.Gemma seems like the sort of person who would be more impressed with feeding the starving or adopting a kitten.
“Well.”She finally catches herself.“Right now, I’m focused on paying my mortgage, unlike most people in this room.”
There it is.
“You’d be surprised.”I lead her past the rest of the auction items and place a few more bids.
“How much did you spend?”Gemma asks, intrigued, and I think she might be enjoying watching me spend my money.
I should be triggered given what Sandy did to Jack, but I find myself enjoying the glint in her eyes.
“I don’t know yet.I won’t win them all.”
That’s by design.
The more bids, the higher the money raised this evening.That’s why we’re here after all.
“Must be nice.I know Anthony and I never struggled, but I can’t fathom having billions.Sorry, this is so inappropriate.I blame the champagne.”
Again, I should be triggered, but instead I glance down and note the regret on her face.She’s right, that drink is like a truth serum.
And it’s almost refreshing.Gemma is not intimidated by my wealth, almost fascinated.
“Well, you chose to be a mom, not a businesswoman.Am I right?If you’d wanted to pursue financial gain, you would have.”
“Well, I thought my husband owned a thriving business.Not that it’s why I married him, but when we got pregnant, we agreed I’d be a mother.That’s what you do when you are in partnership.”
“You trusted him that much?”
Fuck that.Having money gives me power, independence, and a sense of security that I’d never put in anyone else’s hands.
“Yes, he was my husband.”She frowns as if the question is irrational.“Of course I did.”
Sure, but how’d that work out for you?
That’s when I realize Gemma blames herself, not Anthony Ford, for the failure of Open Leaf.I study her as she takes another sip, and start seeing things from her perspective.
And I don’t like it.
Yet I can’t correct her without sharing some information that I don’t have confirmation on, and nor is this the time and place to do so.
“My point is,” I bring us back to the original conversation, “If I were a family man, raising a child, instead of intensely focused on my business, I wouldn’t be worth what I am.”
“Which is?”Gemma smirks.
I lift a brow as my lips twitch.“You googled me.”
“I doubt it’s accurate.”She shrugs.
