Chapter fifty-five
Rylee
Use it for all I’m worth.
“G ood morning, sleeping beauty, wakey, wakey.”
“Nooo.” I pull the blanket over my head, my body a little stiff from sleeping on the couch.
“Come on, get up.”
Mia ?
“Go away.” My words muffle into the pillow. I barely slept last night, and my body still needs more sleep.
“I talked to Luc.”
That wakes me up. “ You what? ”
She drops onto the couch beside me. “He told me everything.”
“Everything?” I blink.
“Yes, everything. How you two idiots agreed to this ridiculous arrangement instead of just admitting how you felt. But hey, who am I to judge? Jake and I did worse.” She turns her head toward me. “When were you gonna tell me the truth?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lie to you.”
“Well, technically it wasn’t all a lie.” She lifts her eyebrows at me. “You did fall in love with each other that summer.”
“You’re not mad?” My fingers twitch against my lap.
She leans against the couch, crossing her arms over her chest. “Oh, I’m mad. At both of you.” She tilts her head to look at me. “What the hell are you guys doing? You love each other, so why are you here while he’s two hours away?”
I stare down at my hands, fingers circling around my rose quartz ring. “He lied to me and manipulated me.”
“Yeah, he told me he messed up. I’m not taking his side. You’re my best friend, and I’m always on your side. But, Ry, this guy is crazy about you.”
“And that excuses what he did?”
“No, but is that the only reason you won’t forgive him?”
“No.” I play around with my wedding ring.
Till death do us part .
“I’m scared.” I exhale. “What if it’s not love? What if it’s just an obsession and sooner or later he will find someone else to be obsessed with? Then what about the curse?”
“Not the damn curse again.” She throws her head back.
I give her a look, but she doesn’t say anything for a moment as she studies me.
“What if it is love? What if he really loves you like he says, and you miss out on the chance of being with him.” She takes my hands in hers and squeezes it a little. “What if you look back one day and realize you let fear get in the way of something amazing.”
Her words wash over me, and I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. My pulse is pounding in my throat.
“You don’t have to say anything right now. Just think about it, okay?”
I nod.
She stands up off the couch. “What you need to do is take a shower. I’m taking you out to brunch.”
“Brunch?”
“Yes, I’m starving.” She pulls me off the couch. “Now go clean up and put on something cute. I’m picking the place.” She pushes me toward the bathroom.
“Okay, I’m going,” I say, heading toward the bathroom. “Can Sophie and Luna come?”
“Of course.”
The hot shower helps loosens my muscles, but it does nothing to calm my racing thoughts. By the time I’m done getting ready, I step into the living room, dressed in loose blue jeans, a white bodysuit, and my favorite pink fur coat, paired with white boots.
Luna looks like she’s ready for a nap. Sophie is scrolling through her phone. Mia is applying her lip gloss.
“Finally! I started a new life while waiting for you.” Luna stretches her arms as she stands from the couch.
Luna and her smart mouth.
“Come on, let’s go.” Mia tosses her curls over her shoulders.
And of course, Bertrand offers to take us. The car ride is filled with Sophie and Luna talking about a new K-Drama. We pull up to this cute café, and I’m obsessed. It’s the prettiest café facade I’ve ever seen, with pink flowers. The inside is even prettier, with blush velvet chairs and a flower wall begging for pictures.
We take turns taking pictures, then one of the waitresses takes a group picture for us. I flip through the pictures as we wait for our orders, selecting the cutest ones and posting them with the caption: Brunch with my girls .
The waitress brings our drinks over, and I set my phone on the table, taking a sip of my mimosa.
My phone buzzes on the table, and I glance at the notification.
Lucien Kingley likes your post.
Lucien Kingley commented. “My gorgeous wife.”
My heart skips. I secretly love it when he calls me his wife.
Luna leans down to look at the notifications.
“Oh your brother is down bad.” Luna nudges Sophie.
“Are you gonna reply to his comment?” Mia asks.
Instead of replying, I sent him a text.
Me: Feeling a little possessive today, Mr Kingley?
Luc : Always.
Luc: Having fun, I see.
Me: Yes, a little girls’ time.
Luc: Well, enjoy your brunch, please use your black card .
Me: Are you sure about that? I might max it out.
Luc: The black card is unlimited,
Luc: use it for all I’m worth. And I’m worth a lot.
Mia grabs my phone and whistles. “Does he realize what he just did?”
Luna grabs the phone next. “He just gave you permission to ruin him.”
She passes the phone to Sophie, and I expect her to protect her brother, but instead she says, “We’re going on a shopping spree.”
Once we finish our brunch, we step out where Bertrand is already waiting for us.
“Drive us to DIOR.” Luna grins at Bertrand.
“Yes, Miss Luna.”
“My poor brother is doomed.” Sophie shakes her head.
We pull up to the store, and the second we step inside, the sales assistant beams at me. “Mrs. Kingley, my name is Penelope, and we’ve been expecting you.”
“Oh.” I keep my expression neutral even when my stomach is doing flips after flips. “Have you?”
“Yes, of course,” Penelope continues in her sweet French. “Mr. Kingley called ahead. He wanted to make sure you have our full attention.”
Luna’s gasp is so loud that half the stores turn. Mia grips my arms like she’s about to collapse. Sophie smiles next to Luna, unimpressed, like she expected this.
I follow her to a private room, sinking into the plush chair as I reach out for the champagne that was already waiting for us.
Me: Here I thought you trusted me to shop on my own.
Luc: I do. I just like knowing my wife is well taken care of.
I cross my legs, pretending my heart isn’t racing and my skin isn’t too warm.
Me: Do you always take care of your business deals like this?
Three dots. They appear again.
Luc: This isn’t a business deal, Mon Soleil.
Luc: You’re my wife. Mine.
It’s crazy how easily he switches to being possessive, and the warmth that settles between my thighs tells me I like it a little too much.
Mia grabs my phone again to read this message. “This man is going to RUIN you.”
I roll my eyes taking another sip of champagne.
Dior purchase total: €38,200
Luc: Starting strong, I see.
Me: You said I could use it for all you’re worth, didn’t you?
Luc: I did.
Next stop, Chanel, and of course he already called them, too.
“Monsieur Kingley already handpicked a few things for you,” the tall, slim brunette tells me.
He was here?
Mia chokes.
Luna squeals.
Sophie is scrolling through her phone.
“Let’s see what he picked.”
First outfit is a cute, white, flare sweater dress, paired with gold heels and a white-and-gold bag.
Damn him.
Luc: Did you like what I picked?
Me: Maybe I’ll let you pick my outfits more often.
Chanel total: €52,750
Then we stop at Hermès.
I walk past the sales associates, knowing they’ve been expecting me. “I’d like to see your most expensive bag.”
“Of course, Mrs. Kingley, I’ll be right back.”
Minutes later, she places the bag in front of me. The most expensive and the rarest bag in the world.
We all stare at it.
“It’s gorgeous,” we say at the same time.
“What are you girls getting?”
“Are you saying we can add things to your bill?” Luna asks.
“Why not? Unlimited black card, remember?” I wave the card.
“Oh, Rylee. You’re being petty, and I’m here for it,” Mia whispers like a villain.
“I’m definitely participating,” Sophie finally speaks up.
Again, Sophie, this is where you should defend your brother. But of course, she doesn’t.
Mia picks a bag.
Luna and Sophie pick matching bracelets.
Hermès total : €112,100
Me: Maxed out yet, Mr. Kingley?
Luc: You couldn’t max me out even if you tried, Mrs. Kingley.
The last stop is la Perla.
“Right this way, Mrs. Kingley.” The sales associate gestures toward a private fitting suite.
Did he really call all the stores?
Luc: I see you’re at la Perla. Pick something sexy.
The sales associate hands me a white lace set, and I walk inside the fitting room to try it on.
Luc: Let me see what you pick?
I snap a pic in the mirror. But only the top half, just enough to drive him insane. I hit send before I can stop myself.
The three dots appear immediately.
Luc: Fuck!
Me: You like it?
Luc: That white lace? That’s the one. I’m going to ruin you in it.
I press my thighs together to stop the ache, and my lungs forget how to work.
Me: Who says you’ll get the chance?
Then my phone rings.
It’s him.
I shouldn’t answer, but my fingers move on their own as I swipe and bring the phone to my ear. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry, Mon Soleil. Please tell me how to fix this.”
My breath catches in my throat. Texting is easy, but hearing his voice is different.
“I fucked up, I know that, but please come back to me. I miss you. I miss you so fucking much. I know it’s only been 24 hours, but I miss the way you look at me when you think I’m not watching. The way you shiver when I kiss your collarbone.”
“Luc, stop.”
“I just want to rip this little fabric off your perfect body right now, with my teeth.”
His words send warmth pooling to places in my body where they shouldn’t.
Traitorous body.
“Luc?!”
“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?”
“No.” I force the lie out.
“You’re lying.”
I hate how easily he can see through me.
“I’m a patient man, Mon Trésor. I’ll wait for as long as it takes for you to forgive me.”
“Bye, Luc.”
I hang up
My lungs feel like it grew ten times bigger than its size, making it harder to breathe.
La Perla purchase: €27,300
Total damage: €230,200.