Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“I have a shawl, thank you very much,” I tell him. Walking out, I close the door behind me and put my keys in my purse. He puts his hand on my back, and my whole body wakes up. “You look very dapper,” I tell him when we wait for the elevator, and my hands come up to touch his jacket.
“You didn’t drive?” I ask him when I see the town car waiting for us at the curb.
“No, figured I could maybe have a drink,” he says, and I laugh now. “Or not. We’ll see.”
The chauffeur opens the door for us, and I grab the bottom of my dress, stepping into the car, and he gets in after me. When we walk into the ballroom, I see all the glitz and glamour that you see in the movies. Men wearing tuxes as the women hold on to their purses and air kiss the other people. The diamonds dripping off them, a man with a camera walking around taking pictures. The tables around the dance floor are filled with lavish high vases so you smell the flowers everywhere. Candles are lit up around the room, giving the room a certain glow along with the crystal center chandelier that hangs in the middle of the room over the grand dance floor. Dim lights around the room keep it from being too dark. Mark grabs a glass of champagne from the passing waiter and hands it to me.
“Thank you.” I smile at him and take a sip. He has people come up to him, shaking his hand and thanking him for coming. He introduces me to a couple of people who are with the SPCA, resting his hand on the lower part of my back the whole time.
“Well, well.” I hear a voice that sends shivers down my spine, and I’m hoping that it’s just my ears playing tricks on me. “If it isn’t my favorite dog walker in the world.”
Mark and I turn at the same time, and my eyes meet his for the first time in ten years. His face goes from a smile to shock, and then he catches it and smiles, coming over and shaking Mark’s hand. “I was wondering if I would see you here,” he says and I look at him. I want to say that the years have not been good to him, but he looks the same.
“Scott,” Mark says smiling. “So great to see you. Where is Juliette?” he asks him, and Scott turns to look behind him, and the woman wearing a black dress comes over with a smile on her face. I’ve never seen her close up; I only saw her that one time from a distance. She has her blond hair tied up in an updo. I try to control my breathing, try to ignore the bile rising. I want to run away and hide.
“The most handsome man I’ve ever seen,” Juliette says, coming to Mark and kissing his cheeks. My eyes fly from hers to Scott’s, and I see him just looking at me. Juliette takes her place right beside Scott.
“Vivienne, this is Scott and Juliette, one of the very first clients I’ve ever had,” Mark says, and I smile and put my hand out to shake Juliette’s hand and then Scott’s. “Their kids,” he continues, saying, “how old are they now?”
“Sebastian is going to be ten, and Stella is turning eight,” Juliette says, her eyes beaming with pride.
“They still in love with Lucky?” he asks, and I know that I have to get away from this. But my feet stop me from moving.
“Yes, they talked Scott and me into another one, so we have two dogs,” Juliette says, and I stand here and just smile.
“If you guys will excuse me.” I finally get my voice. “I’m going to find another glass of champagne.” I look at Mark, and my heart speeds up. “Stay here.” I pretend everything is okay.
“I’ll be right here,” he says, assuring me, and I turn to walk away, hoping that the crowd swallows me up. I walk out of the ballroom, and I turn to go to the side and find a hallway with another room that looks like a sitting room with couches all around the room, but it’s empty. I walk to the roaring fireplace and put my hand on my stomach, trying to blink away the tears that are stinging to come out.
I breathe in and out and close my eyes. I don’t hear anyone else walk into the room until I hear the two words I erased from my memory ten years ago. “Mon amour.”
Chapter Thirty
Mark
I watch her walk away, but instead of going to the bar, she turns and walks out of the ballroom.
“I think I’m going to grab a drink myself,” Scott says and then turns to Juliette. “Do you want anything?”