CELINE


    “Oh my God, this ce is gorgeous!” ke’s voice echoed through Caroline’s new apartment as we stepped inside.


    The space was everything I had expected from Caroline and Fredric, elegant but warm, with floor–to–ceiling windows overlooking Central Park and furniture that probably cost more than most people’s cars. <fnda07> For original chapters go to find[f]ovel</fnda07>


    “I hope it’s okay that I brought ke,” I said to Caroline, suddenly worried about mixing my worlds.


    Caroline smiled, pulling me into a hug. “The more the merrier! Besides, I need all the moral support I can get for my bachelorette nning.”


    Three other women were already gathered in the living room, champagne sses in hand andughter filling the air.


    Caroline’s work friends from her marketing firm–sessful, polished women who looked like they belonged in this expensive space.


    “Ladies, I want you to meet someone very special,” Caroline announced, her arm still around my shoulders. “This is Celine, the woman who stole my heart before Fredric ever had a chance.”


    “Caroline!” Iughed, feeling my cheeks flush as the women smiled at us. “Stop embarrassing me.”


    “Never. It’s my job as your best friend.” She grinned wickedly. “Nowe on, let me give you all the grand tour. I want to show off every ridiculously expensive thing Fredric insisted we needed.”


    As we moved through the apartment, I found myself at the back of the group, listening to Caroline breathe life intoments about Italian marble countertops and custom–built wine cers.


    My phone buzzed with a text from Hunter.


    Hunter: ‘How’s girls‘ night? Should Ie rescue you from Caroline’s chaos?‘


    I smiled, typing back quickly. Me: ‘No guys allowed. Caroline would probably make you wear a tiara or something.


    Hunter: ‘That’s oddly specific. Should I be worried?‘


    Before I could respond, my phone rang. Hunter’s name shing on the screen.


    “Excuse me,” I murmured to the group, stepping into Caroline’s study to answer.


    “Missing me already?” I teased.


    “Always.” His voice was warm, affectionate. “Are you having fun?”


    “It’s only been an hour, Hunter.”


    “Vincent says I’m being clingy,” Hunter continued, and I could hear Vincent’s voice in the background making what sounded like kissing


    noises.


    “Tell him he’s wrong.”


    “You’re being a little clingy,” I admitted, grinning at his dissatisfied response.


    “Traitor. I thought you were on my side.”


    644<b>% </b>


    “I am. But I’m also pregnant and surrounded by women who will definitely notice if I disappear to talk to my boyfriend for too long.<b>” </b>


    “Boyfriend?” Hunter’s voice turned mock–serious. “Is that all I am to you?”


    “Hunter Reid, are you fishing forpliments?”


    “Maybe.<b>” </b>


    I could hear Caroline’s voice getting closer, probably wondering where I had wandered off to. “I have to go before Caroline sends out a search party. I love you.”


    “Love you too, baby.”


    I ended the call, still smiling, and turned to head back to the group. But I stopped short when I saw a brte woman standing <b>in </b>the doorway–Jessica, one of Caroline’s coworkers.


    She was watching me with an expression I couldn’t quite read.


    “Sorry,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just had to take that call.”


    Jessica’s smile was sharp, calcting. “No problem at all.”


    Something about her tone made me ufortable, but I pushed past her to rejoin the group.


    “I will never understand rich people,” ke was saying as we settled onto Caroline’s plush sectional sofa after the tour.


    “Who needs a wine cer in Manhattan? And don’t get me started on the heated bathroom floors.”


    Iughed, curling up beside her. “You haven’t experienced money yet. Give it time.”


    “Like you have?” ke raised an eyebrow, then her expression softened.


    “Though guess things are different now. You and Hunter seem really happy. You’re giving the paparazzi a run for their money with all your public appearances.”


    Before I could respond, Caroline appeared with a champagne bottle, the cork flying across the room with a satisfying pop.


    “Ladies!” she announced dramatically. “It’s time to discuss my bachelorette party ns!”


    The room exploded in giggles and excited chatter. Myra, a tall blonde from Caroline’s office, pped her hands together.


    “Please tell me we’re going somewhere scandalous.”


    “Oh, we’re definitely going out,” Caroline said with a mischievous grin that made me slightly nervous.


    The doorbell rang, and Caroline practically bounced toward the door. “That’ll be the catering! Tessa, can you help me show them to the kitchen<b>?</b>”


    Tessa, a redhead with kind eyes, followed Caroline out. I stood up, suddenly thirsty.


    “I’m just going to grab some water from the kitchen,” I announced to ke.


    The kitchen was a masterpiece of marble and stainless steel. I opened the massive refrigerator, reaching for a bottle of water, when a voice behind me made me jump..


    “Sorry! Didn’t mean to scare you.”


    I turned to find Jessica standing in the doorway, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.


    “it’s okay,” I said, though my heart was still racing.


    The catering staff bustled in with trays of tasty hors d’oeuvres, and Jessica stepped aside to let them pass. But instead of leaving, she moved closer to me.


    “I’m so d I finally get to meet the woman who stole Hunter Reid’s heart,” she said, her tone friendly but with an underlying edge.


    I knew immediately this conversation wasn’t going to go well.


    “I would love some tips,” Jessica continued as Myra appeared, directing the servers where to set up the food. “How did you manage to win over someone like Hunter Reid?”


    Myra nced over, her interest clearly piqued.


    “Seriously, Hunter was always so cold and distant. Most women found it impossible to approach him. I had a friend who had a fling with Vincent once, and even she couldn’t get Hunter’s attention. She ended up settling for Vincent instead.”


    The casual way they spoke about Hunter, like he was a prize to be won, made my stomach twist. I forced a smile, trying to think of a polite way to escape this conversation.


    “What’s going on in here?”


    Caroline’s voice cut through the tension as she appeared in the doorway, her eyes moving between Jessica, Myra, and me.


    Her expression sharpened, that protective instinct I remembered from our High school days kicking in.


    “We were just talking,” Jessica said innocently.


    Caroline’s gaze narrowed. “Jessica, Myra, could you please go tell the others that lunch is ready?”


    “Myra can handle that,” Jessica said with a dismissive wave.


    “I know she can,” Caroline’s voice took on that steely tone I’d heard her use with difficult people. “But I think two voices would be faster.”


    Jessica rolled her eyes but finally left, Myra trailing behind her.


    Caroline immediately turned to me, concern written across her face. “Are you okay? I’m sorry about them. They can be…”


    “It’s fine,” I said, though it wasn’t really. “I’m just happy to be here.”


    “Jessica was probably just fishing because she’s friends with Mia,” Caroline said, her expression darkening. “That’s why she was being so nosy,”


    The pieces clicked into ce. Of course. Mia ckwood’s spywork extended to Caroline’s workce.


    Caroline’s expression suddenly turned mischievous, her earlier concern forgotten. “Speaking of which, I hope Hunter won’t be too lonely tonight. He might be out of his mind when he sees what I have nned for you.”


    “Caroline, what did you do?” I asked, though I was already dreading the answer.


    Her grin was absolutely wicked. “You’ll see…”


    15:09 Sat, 9 Aug


    The doorbell rang, cutting her off. Caroline actually squeaked with excitement.


    “They’re here!” she announced, pping her hands together.


    “Who’s here?” But Caroline was already running toward the front door.


    Twenty minutester, I understood exactly what Caroline had nned.


    Male strippers.


    Three of them, to be precise, currently performing in Caroline’s living room while her friends cheered and ke screamed withughter, champagne sloshing from her ss.


    “Caroline Crawford, you are insane!” I called over the music, though I couldn’t help butugh at the absurdity of it all.


    “It’s my bachelorette nningmittee!” she yelled back, recording everything on her phone. “Research!”


    One of the performers–a tall, muscr guy with kind eyes–seemed to have zeroed in on me, despite my attempts to blend into the background.


    He approached with that professional charm that was part of the act.


    “No, thank you,” I said politely, trying to wave him off.


    But he was persistent, gently pulling me toward the center of the action despite my protests.


    “Careful with her!” Caroline called out,ughing and slightly tipsy. “She’s carrying the golden heiress of a very grumpy guy I know and am unfortunately rted to!”


    ke was practically falling off the couch withughter, reaching over to poke at the performer’s abs. “Celine, you have to feel these! It’s like a washboard!”


    I nced around the room, noting that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves except for Jessica, who was glued to her phone, asionally shooting me mocking nces as she typed furiously.


    The doorbell rang again.


    “I’ll get it!” Caroline announced, stumbling slightly as she made her way to the door.


    I tried to focus on the performance, letting ke’s infectiousughter distract me from Jessica’s calcting stares.


    The music was loud, the energy was high, and for a moment, I almost forgot about Eleanor’s threats and Mia’s schemes.


    Then Caroline appeared in the living room doorway, her face pale.


    Behind her stood Hunter and Vincent.


    Hunter’s expression was thunderous as he took in the scene–the half–naked men, the champagne, the general chaos of Caroline’s bachelorette party.


    His dark eyes found mine across the room, and I felt my stomach drop.


    “Are you having fun?” he asked, his voice dangerously calm.


    <b>??? </b>7.7?<b>?? </b>


    The music stopped. The performers froze. Even ke sobered up immediately.


    Vincent, meanwhile, looked absolutely delighted by the whole situation.


    “Well,” he said cheerfully, “this is interesting.”