Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 10

NICOLE

I look away from the scene so quickly I get dizzy, and follow Esmeralda back to the VIP area.

My heart’s beating almost painfully fast, and all I can think about is that damned kiss. That bastard. I spent all of yesterday and today thinking about him, and he didn’t even care.

I thought he was mad at me! Yes, that was pretty stupid and narcissistic of me to assume that he didn’t answer my text because he was mad I stood him up. I genuinely thought that was the case because that’s what he showed me.

And all the while, he probably didn’t give me a second thought.

Why’d he send the money, then? A million dollars isn’t a joke.

Or is it? What’s his net worth, anyway?

“Nicole,” Armand begins, drawing my attention. “Esmeralda mentioned that you’re single.”

I find his question extremely strange and it seems he notices it too because he laughs. “Relax, relax. I’m not asking you because I’m interested in a trouble.”

Esmeralda bursts out laughing. I try to smile and hide my discomfort by sipping on my cocktail. It tastes like peaches. “I’m asking because I have a few friends that maybe you’d like to meet.”

I blink, nearly choke on my drink, then tell him, “Oh, thanks, but I’m not interested in a relationship right now.”

“Sure?”

“Absolutely. Thank you.”

Esmeralda winks at me, then looks over my shoulder and slaps Armand’s arm. “Baby, isn’t that the woman who’s your colleague’s daughter?”

Casually, I turn to look, and my breath catches in my throat at the sight of Roman and the redhead. They’re dancing several feet away from us, their eyes locked. His arm is around her and their lips are merely inches apart.

“Yeah, that’s her. Carmen.”

“Should we say hello?”

“Oh, I don’t think that’s such a good idea. She seems a little preoccupied.”

I look over at Esmeralda and Armand and realize that they’re talking about the redhead. I mean, they’re the only ones they could be referring to. I make a motion for Esmeralda to move closer to me, then decide to ask about what they were discussing in the least suspicious way possible.

“Anything important? Is this woman your friend?”

“No, she’s not. But I met her once.”

“Really? What did you think? Who is she, anyway?”

“The redhead over there, with that hottic.”

God, I get hot all over. It’s really them. “What did you think about her?”

“She’s a bitch. Plain and simple. She’s so damn rude, and she looks at you like you’re beneath her.” She takes a sip of her drink. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Did you meet the guy?”

“The guy I didn’t meet, no. He’s her fiancé.”

I swear that my world stops spinning for several seconds as I stare at Esmeralda’s face in disbelief. “He’s her what?”

“Fiancé. They’re engaged. Don’t you know what guy? His face is everywhere these days. He’s the youngest billionaire in the country. You can guess why everyone salivates over him. He’s gorgeous.”

I have to play it cool. For some reason, it’s extremely important to me that she doesn’t find out I know him. I don’t know why-I’m not being entirely rational right now.

Plus, I never told her I knew him before.

But back to what matters.

Engaged?

“Their engagement was all over the tabloids,” she claims, sipping her drink. “Happened last week. That’s when I met her. At the engagement party.”

“Armand took you to such a public event?”

“His wife just doesn’t care, and he had to take someone.”

I’m going to be sick. I can’t believe he’s engaged. I mean, we were together some days ago…he was probably engaged when…

Oh, God.

I’m pathetic. It was a one-time thing. I was used as entertainment and thought it actually meant something to him. He lied to me and I fell for his lies. God, what if I’d agreed to seeing him again? Then what?

I’m so angry I could punch him right now. Just whirl sound and punch him.

I don’t look at him once. My eyes are on the guy in front of me. The problem is that I’m so lost in my hectic thoughts that I didn’t realize the guy was standing too close. His hand is on my hip and his breath is mingling with mine.

“You’re really pretty, you know that?” he says. “Wanna get out of here?”

“I…”

He doesn’t wait for my answer. He takes my hand and starts pulling me away. I make the damn mistake of looking back and make eye contact with Roman. This time, I see his face clearly. His expression is pitch black to the point where his nostrils are flared.

With a gasp, I look away.

Where’s this guy taking me?

“Hey,” I try to say. No such luck. The music is too loud and he isn’t listening. He’s taking me to one of the VIP spots. We head inside, and I realize we’re alone.

Too alone.

He whirls around to face me and immediately tries to kiss me. I dodge his kiss but the doesn’t deter him. “Hey, come on. Why are you trying to run from me?”

“I need to head back,” I say with urgency.

“But you’re here with me.”

“No, I’m not!”

“Just relax.” He tries to kiss me again. This time, he holds my face, his fingers digging into my jaw. I try to push him away, but he’s too strong. Dammit, what did I get myself into?

“Let go!” I exclaim, turning my face away. One second, he’s there, standing in front of me, and the next, he’s on the ground and Roman is standing over him, fists clenched.