Page 166 of The Heart You Kept

“Yeah.”

“Then the guy on his left is Prince Theodore.” He continues.

“Yes, I know who he is.”

“Beside him is Jacques Vermont and then beside him is Alexander York.” He lets out a low whistle. “Fuck me, there is some serious money in that group.”

“Like what are we talking?” Helene asks.

“Billions, these men are all the rich of the rich. The most powerful men the business world has to offer.”

A woman with long black hair walks up to the prince and they begin to chat, he smiles as he runs his hand up her thigh and underneath her skirt. She keeps talking as if this is the most natural thing in the world.

“That’s not his fucking girlfriend,” I whisper, infuriated.

“I don’t think she’s his girlfriend. I think she’s just a placeholder.”

“So they all just openly fuck around?” I stammer.

“Why wouldn’t they?” Thomas replies. “I would too if I were them.”

“What are you talking about?” I scoff. “Nobody fucks around more than you.”

“True.” He laughs as he clinks his glass with mine.

Thomas and Helene change subjects and keep chatting but my eyes keep going back to Edward’s friends.

The Kingsmen.

Ugh, I’m so out of my depth with this guy. What was I thinking…that I was going to be the woman who finally tamed the tiger? He isn’t giving up this life anytime soon. Ha, what a joke. You are such an idiot, Alora.

The prince looks up and sees someone and waves, I follow his line of sight to see Philippe and Stefan wave back.

Fuck.

I spin so that my back is to them but I can still see their reflection in the mirrored wall in front of me. Theodore gets up and walks down out of the roped-off area and over to them as they stand against the wall.

I watch on as they talk and then Philippe points me out and Theodore looks me up and down. Theodore has obviously just asked who they are watching over.

Shit, shit, shit.

Theodore takes his phone out and calls someone.

Edward.

He says something and then laughs.

“This place is off the hook.” Helene smiles over the music. “We’re coming here every week.”

“Right?” Thomas agrees.

“Uh-huh.” I sip my cocktail as I dance to the beat to try and look like I’m not watching the prince’s every last move.

He keeps talking as his eyes linger on my ass and he says something and laughs again.

What is he saying…?

He nods and looks at his watch, says something else and then hangs up. He slaps Philippe on the back and then waltzes back to his seat in the roped-off area.