Chapter 34

Cecilia

The morning light filtered through the curtains in soft golden streaks, painting patterns across the rumpled sheets.

I stirred, half-awake, my body pleasantly sore in all the right places. The buzzing of my phone on the hardwood floor pulled me further into consciousness, and I reached out with a languid arm to grab it, only to realize it had fallen just out of reach.

My movement must have disturbed Arthur, because his arm tightened around my waist, pulling me back against the solid warmth of his chest.

His breath was warm against my neck, and I felt the scrape of his morning stubble as he nuzzled into the curve of my shoulder.

"Who is it?" His voice was rough with sleep, low and gravelly in a way that sent a shiver down my spine.

I finally managed to snag the phone, squinting at the screen. A text from Sophia glowed back at me: Hey Cecilia! 2 PM today, Bergdorf Goodman flagship store on Fifth Avenue. Don't be late! 💕

My brow furrowed. Something about the exclamation points and that cheerful emoji felt off, like a smile that didn't reach the eyes.

Arthur propped himself up on one elbow, peering over my shoulder at the screen. The sleepy warmth in his expression hardened almost instantly, his jaw tightening as he read the message.

"You don't have to go," he said, his voice flat.

"I know." I set the phone down on the nightstand and rolled over to face him. "But I already said yes. Backing out now would just make things worse."

He was silent for a moment. "I don't like this."

"I don't either," I admitted. "But it's just shopping. What's the worst that could happen?"

His eyes darkened. "With those two? Plenty."

I reached up, smoothing the furrow between his brows with my fingertips. "I'll be fine."

"I know you will." He caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. "But I'd feel better if you weren't alone. Max's sister—Alice. She's in town. I could ask her to go with you."

I blinked. "Max Reynolds' sister?"

"Adopted sister," Arthur corrected. "She's around your age. Max mentioned she's been pretty isolated lately, and I think she could use the company. Plus, those two won't pull anything too obvious if there's a witness."

The logic made sense, even if I suspected his real motivation was less about Alice's social life and more about making sure I had backup. But I didn't mind. The idea of facing Sophia and Madison alone was about as appealing as a root canal.

"Okay," I said. "Ask her."

Arthur's expression softened, and he leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss that was slow and thorough, his hand cupping the back of my head as his tongue swept against mine. By the time he pulled back, I was breathless, my fingers clutching at his shoulders.

"Arthur," I gasped, swatting at his chest. "I need to breathe."

"You're breathing just fine," he murmured against my lips, his voice laced with amusement and something darker.

I laughed, pushing him away. "Go make your phone call before I change my mind about leaving this bed."

His grin was wicked as he rolled out of bed, gloriously naked and completely unselfconscious. I watched him cross the room to grab his phone, unable to tear my eyes away from the planes of his back and shoulders.

God, the man was unfairly attractive.

At 1:45 PM, I stepped out of my apartment building, dressed in a simple beige knit set and loafers—casual but put-together.

A silver Porsche 911 Carrera screeched to a halt in front of me, the driver's door flying open before I could even process what was happening.

A woman with a sharp, chin-length bob and oversized aviator sunglasses jumped out, striding toward me.

Before I could say a word, she pulled me into a hug that felt a bit too tight, a bit too desperate.

"Oh my god, you must be Cecilia!" she said, her voice bright but with an edge of brittleness to it. She pulled back, yanking off her sunglasses to reveal striking amber eyes that held shadows despite her smile.

Her face was equal parts boyish and beautiful, with a smattering of freckles across her nose that made her look younger than she probably was.

"I'm Alice Reynolds. Max told me to pick you up. Come on, get in—we can't keep those bitches waiting."

I blinked, caught off guard by her bluntness and the way her smile. "Uh, thanks. I'm Cecilia. Nice to meet you."

"Yeah, yeah, pleasantries later," she said, practically shoving me toward the passenger seat with a little too much force. "Let's go."

I climbed in, and she slid back behind the wheel, the engine roaring to life as she peeled away from the curb. Her driving was aggressive, weaving through traffic.

"So," she said, her voice a touch too loud, too cheerful, "tell me about yourself. What's new? What's exciting? What's the tea?"

I laughed. "Uh, not much? I just started working at Winston Corporation a few weeks ago."

"Oh, right, you're Arthur's girl," she said, glancing at me with a grin. "Max told me. That's so badass, by the way. Like, total power couple vibes."

"Thanks, I guess?" I said, feeling my cheeks warm.

She chattered on, asking about my job, my hobbies, my favorite places in the city.

As we got closer to Bergdorf Goodman, her hands tightened on the steering wheel, and her tone shifted, becoming wistful and tinged with something that sounded like longing.

"You know," she said quietly, staring straight ahead at the road, "I wish I could do this more often. Just… go out. Be free. Today feels like a dream."

I frowned, turning to look at her profile. "What do you mean? Does your family not let you go out much?"

"It is." Her voice dropped even lower, but she didn't elaborate further. Instead, she forced a bright smile back onto her face. "But hey, today I get to be out, so let's make the most of it, right?"

I didn't push. It was clear she wasn't ready to talk about it. Not yet.

We pulled into a parking spot near Bergdorf Goodman, and Alice cut the engine.

"Finally," she said, checking her phone. "Right on time."

We walked into the store, the cool air-conditioning a relief from the afternoon heat.

I scanned the handbag section where Sophia had said to meet. No sign of her or Madison.

"They're probably running late," I said, trying to keep my voice light.

Alice checked her phone again. "Maybe."

Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Then thirty.

Alice's expression had gone from patient to annoyed to genuinely pissed off.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" she muttered, pacing back and forth near a display of clutches that probably cost more than my rent. "We've been standing here for over an hour like idiots."

"Maybe we should just—"

"No." Her voice was sharp. "I'm gonna call her out on this bullshit. Who the hell invites someone shopping and then just—"

"Cecilia! Alice! Oh my god, I'm so sorry!"