Chapter 2

2.

After leaving the party, I called my best friend, Harper, and met her for drinks at a members-only bar in Manhattan.

When she arrived, she saw the two empty wine bottles on my table and knew immediately. "Let me guess, Preston has a new toy? Hollywood starlet or Ivy League college girl this time?"

Hearing his name felt like a needle in my heart. "He threw a wedding for someone else today."

After I told her everything, Harper slammed her glass on the table. "You should have dumped his ass ages ago. I know a ton of guys. I'll set you up on so many dates."

Suddenly, my phone started buzzing nonstop.

I glanced at it.

In less than a minute, I had over thirty new friend requests on Snapchat and Instagram.

"I'm going to the restroom."

In the hallway, a man in a bespoke suit leaned against the wall, smoking. A few buttons of his shirt were undone, and he had a cold, unapproachable look on his face.

He sensed me looking and frowned in my direction.

Damian Cross?

The "corporate raider" known for his ruthless tactics in mergers and acquisitions. What was he doing here?

I walked over to him with a small smile. "Mr. Cross, got a light?"

He raised an eyebrow, his voice deep and magnetic. "Didn't you become a good girl after you got with Preston? You're not afraid he'll find out you smoke?"

I didn't answer. He leaned in closer, his tone teasing. "I heard he threw a big wedding party in the Hamptons for some girl today. Does this mean you two are finally breaking up?"

I reached into his pocket and pulled out his cigarettes and lighter.

I lit one with practiced ease, took a slow drag, and blew the smoke out, looking at him with a half-smile. "Damian, want to come over to my place tonight?"

Our eyes met.

The meaning was clear between us.

Damian stubbed out his cigarette and let out a soft laugh.

I suddenly remembered the rumors that he wasn't into women, that he might even be asexual. I was about to say I was just kidding.

But then he said yes.

Damian used my fingerprint to unlock the door to my penthouse apartment. The next second, he had me pinned against the mirror in the foyer.

His hand tangled in my hair as he crushed his lips to mine.

"Easy, Caroline," he murmured against my mouth. "Are you trying to draw blood?"

I frowned slightly. "You talk too much."

...

The entire night.

Damian proved, in every way possible, that you should be careful what you wish for, because it might just come true.

I finally drifted off to sleep around dawn, only to be woken by my phone ringing.

I couldn't open my eyes, so I just fumbled around on the bed for it.

I heard a soft chuckle beside me, and Damian found the phone.

His expression darkened when he saw it was a FaceTime call from Preston.

He handed the phone to me, pulling the covers up to hide my collarbone.

I answered, my eyes still heavy with sleep.

Preston smirked. "I thought you said we were over? Then why did you―"

"Who told you I called you? Are you delusional? What the hell is wrong with you this early in the morning?"

The moment I spoke, I froze.

My voice was completely hoarse, like I'd swallowed sand.

Preston sounded confused. "Do you have a cold?"

I smiled, my gaze hazy. "Come on, Preston. We're both adults."

The meaning dawned on him. He leaned closer to the screen, his voice rising. "Where are you? Who the fuck are you with right now?"

"Mr. Vanderbilt, we are not together anymore. Where I am, and who I'm with, is none of your business."

I was too exhausted to argue. I just hung up.

In a Manhattan brunch spot, Preston's face was grim.

"Dude, did Caroline really just hang up on you? Is she for real this time?"

"No way. This is one of her old tricks, trying to make me back down first. If she really ended the engagement, how would she explain it to the Sterling family? Would she really give up that position?"

"This is all an act. She's pretending to be with another guy to make you jealous. That's some old-school Gossip Girl crap."

The table erupted in laughter.

Preston's expression finally relaxed a little.