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

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 throuple.”

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.

Armand calls her to his side, and she excuses herself before going to him. I’m left alone with my troubled thoughts, and right now, I’m really wishing and praying that he won’t look at me. I don’t think I’ll be able to face such a confrontation.

He was engaged when we hooked up. That’s fucking crazy.

And here I was, thinking he was hurt.

ས་་་

I’m such an idiot!

I steal a glance at them to find out if they’re still standing there. Sure enough, they are. He’s dancing with her, his arms around her, and she’s looking at him with this expression…that’s love right there.

He’s such a jerk. Such an asshole.

A cheating asshole.

I think I look at them too long as these thoughts cross my mind because his gaze flickers to mind and I just manage to see recognition in his eyes before I look away and turn to Esmeralda. “A dance?”

She smiles broadly. “Thought you’d never ask!”

I put my empty glass down on the table and take Esmeralda’s hand. We take another route to the dance floor so we don’t have to walk past them. My heart’s slamming against my ribs, but no amount of self-soothing will help me get over this.

I feel used. I’ve never felt so cheap in all my life.

Esmeralda and I dance. I know Roman saw me, and maybe that’ll be enough for him to feel ashamed of himself. God, I never want to see him again, and I’ll make sure to send him his money back. There’s no way I’ll be able to use it.

What was it? Hush money?

My jaw is clenched as Esmeralda and I dance. I whirl around and nearly come face to face with him. The redhead is still clinging to his arm, and they’re not that far away from where my friend and I are standing. I avoid looking at his face completely, but the dark look in his eyes doesn’t escape my notice.

My heart threatens to beat right out of my chest but I ignore him and keep on dancing, inching away from them. I’m so desperate to get away that I bump into some guy. Luckily, he turns around with an easygoing smile tugging at his lips.

“Sorry,” I mumble.

“No, it’s alright.” He gives me a once-over. “Wanna dance?”

“Yeah, you should,” Esmeralda says, practically pushing me into his arms. “I’ll go get Armand. He loves this song!”

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