Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
My greeting is wry in return. “Damian.”
“Sober?”
I scoff. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to turn into our father.”
He studies me from under his lashes. “That’s very reassuring.”
“Cut the crap. Being funny doesn’t suit you.”
“When were you going to tell me you got married?”
“In time.”
His lips curl in one corner. “Who don’t you consider important enough? Me or your wife?”
“Fuck you, Damian.”
His smile widens. “Gus Starley’s daughter. I can only assume it’s business, not love.”
I clench my jaw. “Careful, brother. I won’t let you disrespect my wife.”
“No disrespect intended.” His gaze sharpens. “Am I to assume you’re looking for a ring to match the earrings?”
“If you’re still fishing for information, then yes, the earrings were for Violet.”
“Mm. That means you planned this marriage for a while.”
The question hangs unspoken in the air. He’s still wondering why I didn’t say anything about marrying Gus’s daughter if it had been in the cards all along. He’s wondering why I did it in secret without inviting the only family I have left in this country, and more specifically, why I didn’t use the Starley name to my advantage by making a big deal out of the wedding.
Violet’s betrayal is none of his business. I care less what he thinks about me and more about protecting Violet’s reputation.
“We’re here for an engagement ring,” I say.
For a fleeting moment, he gives a rare display of emotion. He lifts a brow while simultaneously flinching with something between surprise and regret. “An engagement ring after the wedding? A bit of an afterthought, no?”
Ah. There’s life in that dark heart of his still. “It’s not your business. I’m paying for a ring, not for your judgment.”
“Believe me, I’m the last person who can judge. We may be more alike than we think.” His laugh is hollow. “We may be our father’s sons after all.”
“Not true,” I bite out. “He never bought Mom a ring.”
“Not the same,” he deadpans. “He didn’t have the means.”
“Shall we just fucking get on with it?”
Flashing me with his signature impersonal smile, he holds an arm toward the door. “After you.”
I stomp back into the room. Violet and Tony have their heads bent over a case with necklaces. Tony is babbling on about the brand’s popularity, reciting a list of names of famous women from around the world who own Hart diamonds.
Damian’s voice booms through the acoustic room. “Tony.”
Tony jumps.
“Get the case.” Damian saunters to the center of the room. “They’re here for an engagement ring.”
Tony falls over his feet to comply.
Damian serves champagne and offers Violet a glass. “Do you have anything specific in mind?”
“Nothing,” she says, cutting me a look.
Damian seems amused. “You do remind me of Lina.”
“Excuse me?” Violet says.
“Lina, my wife.” Folding his hands behind his back, Damian says, “She’s not materialistic either,” not only efficiently smoothing over Violet’s animosity, but also turning it into an admirable trait.
Tony reenters with a metal case that he carefully balances on the table. He unclips it to reveal a collection of diamonds in different sizes and cuts. I’m not an expert like my brother, but one look at those stones tells me each of them is worth the yearly turnover of Gus’s business.
“These are our best stones,” Damian says. “I think you’re more likely to find something that appeals to you from this collection. Tony is a very talented designer. He can create something unique for you that will match your personality and style.”
Violet barely glances at the sparkling stones. Her gaze is fixed on me. “Must I?”
“Yes,” I say, leaving no room for argument.
“In that case, I’ll take this one.” She walks to a display cabinet and points at a humble white gold ring with a small black diamond solitaire.
Tony turns his eyes heavenly in a theatric display, clearly disapproving of Violet’s choice.
“Our black diamonds are of inferior quality,” Damian says. “They’re white, actually. We color them artificially.”
Violet smiles sweetly. “Then it sounds like an appropriate choice. Leon should agree.”
Raising a brow, Damian looks at me.
“Whatever you want, darling,” I reply, gnashing my teeth. “But you better be certain that’s what you want, because once that ring is on your finger, it’s never coming off.”
“Like I said,” Violet says, holding my gaze. “It seems to be perfectly me.”
CHAPTER 11
Violet
The new ring on my finger hooks on everything. It pulls my hair when I drag a brush through it, tears the lace of my bra, and leaves a long scratch mark on my arm when I wash myself in the shower.
Every time I look at the small, black-tainted diamond, the nuances of the words that had bounced like dirty accusations and angry promises off the walls of Damian’s showroom repeat in my head. I accused Leon of treating me like a cheap whore, and he told me in no uncertain terms he’d never let me go. No wonder Tony had run from the room as if his pants were on fire. The only one who didn’t seem embarrassed was Damian.