No matter how the inheritance committee ruled tomorrow, I’d created my own business and legacy, and no one could take accomplishment away.
“Have you seen the owner? I have a message for him.”
I turned, my mouth curving into a smile when Sloane came into view, breaking me out of my pensive mood. I was taking a moment for myself in the back before I started mingling, but the guests could wait a bit longer. They had plenty to entertain them. Sloane sauntered toward me in a shimmery silver-white dress and heels that made her legs look miles long. Her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief as she came up beside me.
It didn’t matter how many mornings I woke up to her or how many nights I fell asleep beside her; she never failed to take my breath away.
“I’m not sure where he is, but I’m happy to pass the message along,” I drawled. My blood burned a little hotter when she pressed her hand against my chest, but I maintained a deceptively casual stance while I waited.
“Good.” Sloane threaded the fingers of her other hand through my hair, brought my mouth down to hers, and pressed her lips softly against mine.
One second. Two seconds. Three.
The kiss lingered on the third beat before she pulled away, leaving behind the taste of mint and strawberries.
“Pass that along to him,” she murmured. “Tell him happy birthday, and congratulations on a job well done.”
Warmth flickered in my chest, but I couldn’t resist a little tease. “I’m happy to, but do you mind repeating that from the top? I want to make sure I get it exactly right.”
Sloane rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “Only because it’s such a big night.” She kissed me again, deeper this time. “You did it,” she said, abandoning her earlier pretense. “How does it feel?”
“Pretty incredible, and we did it,” I said. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
Publicity work aside, her faith in me had kept me going through the many setbacks and frustrations of the past four months.
She shook her head. “I helped, but this was all possible because of you. Don’t undersell your accomplishments. The Vault is your baby. Own it.”
The flicker of warmth ignited into a roaring flame. “Have I ever told you how much I love you?”
“Once or twice, but I’m not opposed to hearing it again.”
“I love you,” I murmured. “Más que cualquier otra cosa en el mundo.”
This time, I kissed her, and I let it last.
Time with Sloane always melted away, and we might’ve stayed in our little corner in the back forever had one of the guests not spotted us and interrupted to give me his well wishes.
“We should probably join the party,” she said after he left. Her cheeks were flushed from our embrace, but I could see her kicking back into work mode. “Everyone is here for you. We’ll celebrate privately later.”
“Looking forward to it,” I said with a wicked grin that turned her cheeks from pink to red.
But Sloane was right, so after one last tiny kiss—hey, it was my birthday; I could take my time—we took to the main floor, where a crowd had already formed around the bespoke bar featuring Markovic Holdings’ first alcohol-free vodka. Mixologists worked their magic, conjuring stunning mocktails of pink and blue and green and serving them in frosted glasses adorned with various garnishes. Across the room, the alcoholic bar catered to an equally large crowd.
Vuk commanded his own table in the space between the two bars. He sat by himself, and it was difficult to tell if he was happy, annoyed, or indifferent. He wasn’t even paying attention to his latest product launch—he was too busy glaring at something.
I followed his gaze to where Ayana stood with her fiancé, a fashion CEO who, according to the rumors, also happened to be one of Vuk’s old college friends.
That can’t be good.
Before I could ask Sloane what she knew about the relationship between Vuk and Ayana, Isabella popped up, purple mocktail in hand.
“Hey, guys!” she bubbled. “Great party, and happy birthday, Xavier. This place is a hit.”
I smiled at her enthusiasm. “Thank you.”
“So, I was looking for you because I have an idea for your Tastemaker series.” Isabella’s eyes gleamed. That, combined with Sloane’s sudden grin, set off every alarm in my head.
“How do you feel about hosting a book preview for Wilma Pebbles’s upcoming dinosaur erotica?” Isabella asked. “I met her at a recent event, and she gave me an advanced copy of Penetrated by the Pterodactyl. It’s amazing, and she has a huge fanbase.”
I blinked, unsure whether she was fucking with me or deadly serious. It was always hard to tell with Isabella. “Um…”
“Think about it.” She glanced to the side, clearly distracted by the arrival of another movie star. “I’ll send you her backlist so you can get a feel for her books. I really think it’ll be a fun event!”
Then she was gone, leaving me to shake my head. “I thought she was going to ask me to host a preview of her new book, not Wilma Pebbles’s.”
“Oh, Isa’s love for dino erotica runs far deeper than her own career ambitions,” Sloane said, her grin widening. “Trust me.”
For my own sake, I declined to ask for further information.
Halfway through the night, Sloane and I split to mingle with different guests. I personally thanked everyone who’d helped me get the Vault off the ground, including Dominic Davenport, who seemed to be surgically attached to his wife’s side, and Sebastian, who’d pulled through with the catering.
“You pulled this off, man.” Sebastian clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Now I owe Russo ten grand.”
“You bet against me?” I asked with mock offense.
“I had faith in you, but Luca’s usually wrong.” He laughed. He glanced over my shoulder, and his smile turned into a smirk. “Speaking of Russos, I’ll leave you to this one. Good luck.”
He disappeared before I could respond, and Dante took his place.
