130 A Thoughtful Gesture, A Distant Gaze


    130 A Thoughtful Gesture, A Distant Gaze


    Sheughed at something Julian Croft said, her eyes crinkling at the corners. The sound carried across the room, genuine and unrestrained. Damien couldn’t remember thest time he’d heard herugh that way.


    “I’m just saying what I saw,” Lucas shrugged, clearly enjoying the drama he’d created.


    Back at Vivienne’s party, the guests were beginning to depart. She stood by the door, thanking each one with perfect poise. The bracelet on her wrist caught the light with every movement, a constant reminder of Damien’s absence and his attempt to make up for it.


    Linda sighed. “He received an urgent call. Said he needed to handle something immediately.”


    “Waiting for someone important?” Miranda Phillips, a society columnist, slid up beside her with a calcting smile.


    Lucas smirked. “More like a romantic emergency, if you ask me. Beck’s been sneaking off a lottely. I saw himst week at The Grand with a very attractive redhead.”


    She held up her wrist, letting the diamonds speak for themselves. The gesture worked its magic. Whispers spread through the room, and the questioning nces transformed into admiring ones.


    Thirty minutester, a courier arrived at the door. The young man carried an elegant box wrapped in silver paper.


    She tilted her head slightly, a question in her eyes.


    Vivienne Dubois’s smile faltered as she stood near the window of her penthouse apartment. Conversations swirled around hervish gathering, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She checked her phone for the third time in fifteen minutes. Still no message from Damien.


    Before Vivienne could respond, Charles Freeman joined their conversation. “Speaking of absences, people are starting to talk, Vivienne. When your boyfriend chooses another event over yours…


    “Enjoy your evening. I’ll be there when I can. – D”


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    130 A Thoughtful Gesture, A Distant Gaze


    “Is something wrong?” she finally asked, her voice carrying just far enough for him to hear.


    As thest guest left, Vivienne closed the door and leaned against it. Her apartment felt toorge suddenly, too quiet. She looked at her phone. Still no message from Damien. The diamonds on her wrist sparkled, beautiful and cold.


    “From Damien?” Linda Shaw asked, eyeing the sparkling jewelry.


    Vivienne epted the package with curious eyes following her every move. She unwrapped it carefully, revealing an exquisite diamond bracelet nestled in ck velvet. A small cardy beside it.


    ra turned, perhaps sensing his attention. Their eyes met across the crowded room. For a moment, neither looked away. A silent acknowledgment passed between them- recognition of their shared past and the distance that now existed.


    Meanwhile, across town at the Vance estate, ra Bellweather’s birthday celebration was reaching its peak. Damien Thorne sat at his assigned table, observing the room with measured interest.


    Nothing at all, he told himself. Yet as the evening continued, his gaze kept finding its way back to her, drawn by some force he couldn’t–or wouldn’t—name.


    “He’s there on behalf of his mother,” Vivienne exined smoothly. “Eleanor Thorne and ra have been friends for decades. It would be rude not to send a representative.”


    Vivienne felt a strange unease at Lucas’s words. She nced down at her bracelet, then at her phone. Still no message from Damien beyond the note with the gift.


    Vivienneposed herself quickly. “Just checking the time. The night is still young.”


    Vivienne felt herposure slipping. She excused herself and moved to the center of the room, clinking her ss to gather everyone’s attention.


    Relief washed over her. She slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, allowing the diamonds to catch the light.


    “Of course,” Charles smiled, unconvinced. “Though I find it interesting that he chose ra Bellweather’s party over yours.”


    “Delivery for Ms. Dubois,” he announced.


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    130 A Thoughtful Gesture, A Distant Gaze


    As the evening progressed, Vivienne circted among her guests with renewed energy. Sheughed at the right moments, made witty remarks, and ensured everyone’s sses remained full.


    “And yet Damien Thorne is noticeably absent,” Miranda observed, sipping her champagne. “I heard he’s attending ra Bellweather’s birthday celebration instead.”


    Linda’s expression hardened. “That’s absurd. Beck would never-”


    Damien’s expression remained neutral. He looked away, breaking whatever momentary


    connection had formed between them.


    She walked to the balcony for a moment of privacy. The night air felt cool against her skin as she stared out at the city lights. Beck’s mysterious departure and Lucas’s insinuations bothered her more than they should. It reminded her too much of her own situation–the uncertainty, the whispers, the need to maintain appearances.


    “It is,” Vivienne confirmed. “Damien always had excellent taste.”


    His gaze drifted across the tables until itnded on ra Vance. She wore a simple


    navy


    dress that contrasted with her fair skin. Her hair was pulled back in an elegant updo, revealing the delicate curve of her neck. Something about herposure caught his attention.


    With a deep breath, she pushed these thoughts aside and returned to her guests. She was Vivienne Dubois. She didn’t show weakness.


    When had that changed? When had her smiles around him be so careful, so measured?


    The exnation seemed to satisfy most guests, but Vivienne caught the skeptical nces exchanged between Miranda and Charles. She maintained her smile despite the uncertainty gnawing at her.


    “Nothing” he replied curtly.


    Miranda’s eyebrow arched. “A representative? Is that what he is tonight?”


    “Yes,” Vivienne confirmed, unable to hide her smile. “He may bete, but he hasn’t forgotten.”


    “I want to thank everyone foring tonight,” she announced, her voice clear and confident. “Some of you have asked about Damien. He’s attending ra Bellweather’s


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    130 A Thoughtful Gesture, A Distant Gaze


    birthday dinner on behalf of the Thorne family. Eleanor would have gone herself, but she’s in Monaco this week.”


    “Business emergency?” Vivienne asked.


    The mood of the party shifted. Vivienne felt her confidence returning. Damien had publicly acknowledged her importance with this gesture. The bracelet wasn’t just jewelry–it was a statement.


    She wondered what was happening at the Bellweather celebration, who Damien was talking to, what had kept him there all night. Most of all, she wondered if he had seen ra, and what had passed between them if he had.


    She touched the diamonds on her wrist. Damien’s gift had saved her from embarrassment tonight, but how long could she continue like this? Always waiting, always exining his absences?


    Vivienne straightened her shoulders. “If you must know, Damien is attending an important family obligation. He’ll be joining uster.”


    “If you’ll excuse me,” she murmured, stepping away.


    “Shame Beck had to leave so suddenly,” Lucas Sterling remarked as they stood near the bar. “Everything alright with him?”


    “That’s quite a way to say ‘I’ll bete,” Mirandamented, examining the bracelet. “I’m guessing it’s from the new Cartier collection?”


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