The Black Door by Velvet

Author:Velvet [Velvet]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780312358259
Publisher: Pan
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

BY THE TIMEthe first guest arrived, the two women had polished off one bottle of Dom, and were onto their second. The bubbly elixir had put them in a festive mood and they were feeling no pain.

“Anna, so good of you to come,” Ariel said, greeting Preston’s longtime secretary and giving her a warm hug.

“I wouldn’t have missed this occasion for anything.” She kissed Ariel on the cheek. “I’ve been hoping for a long time that you and the judge would tie the knot,” she gushed, like an overprotective aunt. “Oh, by the way the judge wanted me to tell you that he’ll be here shortly. He had a last-minute conference call.”

So much for being his number-one priority, Ariel thought. “Thanks, Anna.”

The party was nearly in full swing with colleagues and close friends mingling, munching on delectable hors d’oeuvres, sipping champagne, and chatting—but still no Preston. Ariel was fuming and could feel the vein protruding in the middle of her forehead. She couldn’t believe his audacity. How could he be late for his own engagement party? She excused herself from a conversation with coworkers, slipped into Meri’s bedroom, and called his cell.

“Where the hell are you?” she asked in a hushed tone, when he picked up, careful not to be overheard by the guests. “I can’t believe you’re late to our engagement party. I hope this—”

He cut her off midsentence. “Calm down, honey. I’m downstairs with my son and his date,” Preston said casually, as if his tardiness was a nonissue.

“Well, it’s about time,” she responded.

Ariel rejoined the party and watched Meri work the room. She was chatting up a distinguished-looking gentleman wearing a Brooks Brothers suit, with graying temples, a protruding belly, and tortoiseshell spectacles. He was the polar opposite of her type, which was the young, hard-body GQ model type. “Looks like she found a victim,” Ariel mused.

“Sorry I’m late,” Preston apologized, walking up and giving Ariel a light kiss on the lips. “Look who I bumped into in the lobby?” he said, gesturing to the handsome couple standing beside him.

Ariel exhaled deeply, looked at the pair, and said unenthusiastically, “Hello, Michele.” She wasn’t exactly happy to see Preston’s overtly sexy assistant. She took one look at Michele’s spaghetti-strap slip dress and slightly rolled her eyes. The outfit would have been suitable for a black-tie affair if she had chosen to wear a strapless bra, but in true vamp form, her hard nipples were pressed against the thin silk fabric for all to see. This girl has no shame, she thought and rolled her eyes. Disgusted, Ariel turned her attention to the man standing next to Michele. “Hi, I’m Ariel Vaughn.” She extended her hand.

He shook her hand in his. “I know,” said the handsome stranger.

“What?” She looked confused.

“Don’t you remember Preston III?” her fiancé asked.

She gave him a long hard look, and suddenly felt a familiarity that she couldn’t explain. “I haven’t seen you in . . .” She paused trying to think of their last encounter.

“I saw you at the town house a few weeks ago.

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