Ivy blinked. "You actually follow business gossip?"
"How else do I know the millionaires in the city if I am hoping to snag one."
"Right," Ivy said, trying not to laugh.
Trish twirled a curl of her hair around her finger. "That woman—his ex—she’s a total witch. Left him for Evans Everest. Like, Everest Everest. Can you imagine? Ten years together, and she just up and marries his rival."
Ivy’s brow furrowed slightly. Ah... so that was the missing piece. It explained the cold tension she’d felt between Winn and Evans.
She didn’t comment, though. She didn’t want to fan the flames of Trish’s obsession.
"Can you get me a shot of him shirtless," Trish said dreamily.
"Okay, stop. I’m trying to undress here." Ivy tossed her friend a pillow as she walked toward the vanity, fingers working on her robe. Jasper gave a lazy yawn and flopped onto his back near her feet.
"See, Jasper gets it," Ivy murmured, bending to rub his belly again. "He’s not thirsty like you."
Trish snorted. "Yeah, well, he’s neutered."
By the time Trish was also finally dressed, she looked every bit the sultry best friend. She stepped onto the balcony, fanning herself dramatically. "If I don’t bag someone rich tonight, I’m quitting life and becoming a nun."
Ivy laughed softly as she adjusted her earrings. "I’d pay money to see that."
Trish ignored her and leaned against the railing, gazing down at the courtyard below. The estate grounds were alive with movement—lush greenery, the sound of distant laughter, guests in designer dresses and sharp suits.
Then Trish froze. "Uh... Ivy?"
Ivy looked up from fastening her bracelet. "What?"
"Did you invite Ben?"
"Ben?" she echoed slowly, blinking as if the name were foreign. "Which Ben?"
"Ben from Commissioned," Trish hissed, leaning over the balcony rail. "He’s here. At this party."
Ivy’s breath caught, and she spun around. "Oh my God. He cannot see me."
The panic that rushed through her was instant and dizzying, a tide that stole her breath. The last thing she expected at an engagement party for one of the city’s most powerful families was to run into someone from Commissioned who actually knew her face.
Trish straightened, unconcerned. "Well, someone clearly invited him. But what’s the big deal? Winn knows you danced at Commissioned, right?"
Ivy groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead. "You don’t get it." She stepped out onto the balcony beside her friend, her eyes darting through the glittering crowd below. And then she froze.
"Trish..." Ivy’s voice thinned to a whisper.
Trish followed her gaze. "What?"
Walking beside Ben, a brunette with her sleek curls bouncing and her gold dress clinging was Sharona. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✶𝓷𝓮𝓽
"Oh my God," Ivy whispered, her pulse stuttering. "If he’s here with her, then I’m afraid it’s a big deal."
Ivy backed into the room. "She has some kind of twisted crush on Winn. She threatened me once to stay away from him. Oh my God. This is bad."
"Okay, breathe," Trish said, following her inside. "It’s not the end of the world."
"Trish, you don’t understand. She’s here to destroy me."
"She brought Ben here to expose me. To tell everyone that I danced half-naked on a stage while men threw cash at me. Do you know what that’ll do? Not just to me, but to Winn? This marriage is strategic. He needs the investors’ trust. If they find out, they’ll pull out of the deal."
Trish gripped Ivy’s arms tightly, shaking her a little. "Hey! Hey!" she said. "Calm down, okay? Look at me. Deep breaths. In. Out. Good." She exhaled dramatically, making Ivy mirror her. "Alright," Trish continued, eyes sharp with sudden determination. "I got this. I swear, I got this."
Trish gently guided Ivy to sit down on the edge of the bed. "You," she said, pointing at her, "are going to stay right here, breathe, and remind yourself that you’re the main character today. Let me deal with that vindictive barbie doll downstairs. You just wait for your man and then dazzle everyone with your beautiful self. Alright?"
Before Ivy could protest, a furry golden blur leapt up beside her. Jasper nestled himself against her thigh and laid his head on her lap.
"Oh, sweetheart..." she murmured, her fingers sinking into his silky fur. He let out a small sigh, as if he understood everything.
Trish spun toward the door, muttering, "Time to be the hero." But the moment she yanked it open, she nearly slammed into a wall of muscle. A very expensive, well-tailored wall of muscle.
"Oh—uh!" she stammered, catching herself on Winn’s chest before bouncing back.
Winn looked down at her. "Where are you in such a hurry off to?" he asked.
"Best friend crisis!" Trish blurted out. "Totally normal. Happens all the time. I’ll see you at the party." She made to bolt, then hesitated, darted back, and looked him up and down. "I just have to say this—my God, you’re gorgeous."
He blinked, taken aback, and before he could even respond, she added a hurried, "Bye!" and disappeared down the hall in a flurry.
Winn stared after her, then stepped into the room with a slow shake of his head. "Your friend," he said, shutting the door behind him, "is crazy."
Ivy looked up from where she was still sitting on the bed, her hand absently stroking Jasper’s fur. Despite everything, she gave him a faint, tired smile. "I agree."
He took a step closer, eyes softening as they roamed over her. "Am I being replaced by a dog?"
"Probably," she murmured, lips curving slightly. "He listens better than you do."
"Harsh," he said, crouching down in front of her, his tie swinging slightly. "But fair." His fingers brushed lightly against hers, a fleeting contact that sent a shiver racing up her arm. "Okay, Jasper," he said finally, breaking the tension. "Come on, boy. We’ve got a couple of suits to impress today."
The retriever lifted his head, wagged his tail, and obediently hopped off the bed, padding toward Winn with a happy trot. Winn ruffled the dog’s ears before glancing back at Ivy.