Page 46 of From West, With Regret (NYC Billionaires #2)

THIRTY

LONDON

Living my life with all my memories is something I’m still getting used to. I’ve never felt more certain of myself.

I stand close to the end of the bar, talking with Kingsten Capuleti, beloved former mayor of New York City, and Julianna’s dad.

“Your display here, London, will make a great asset to the city,” Kingsten boasts, gesturing around the room.

“Thank you, sir.” My cheeks heat, and I look down at my half-drunk mint julep. West made it quickly, adding extra mint, just the way I like it. Ever since that day in his apartment, I haven’t been able to dispel the heat that consumes my cheeks when watching him mash the mint with the muddler.

“I placed a sizeable bid on one of them myself,” Kingston adds, lifting his hand in the air. “Let’s hope I win.” He finishes off the rest of the cocktail Lewis made him.

“Not so fast, Mr. Capuleti,” Asher says, holding Charleigh close to him. “I put my name behind yours, so you may want to keep an eye out. I’m not afraid of a little competition.”

“Well, shit.” Kingsten hisses, turning toward the auction area. Not a single hair on his head moves, practically glued together with the amount of gel he’s used.

“Did you forget Asher is a real estate CEO, Mr. Capuleti? He’s a master negotiator and never backs down from a good bidding war.

” Charleigh laughs and lightly taps Asher, looking up at him with a smile.

With their wedding planned for next summer, Asher and Charleigh have spent most of their summer and fall travelling around the world.

It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve talked outside of our girls’ group chat or even had a girls’ night out.

I’m just glad she’s happy. They’re happy.

Asher looks sharp in his black tux, the perfect complement to Charleigh’s bright, flowered, sequin dress.

“You’re right, Ms. Keeler. I guess I shouldn’t get too comfortable, then.” Kingsten turns his attention back to us. “The auctioned pieces add a nice touch to this unveiling of the bar, Ms. Walker. What charity organization are the proceeds going to again?”

“Foster Alliance. It helps children in foster care receive proper clothing items and beds, as well as personal care items.”

“Admirable cause,” he praises, the wrinkles in the corners of his eyes deepening. “You know when I was running my campaign for mayor?—”

“Dad!” Julianna groans, appearing from behind Kingsten, flipping her long, brown hair. “You aren’t boring my girl London, are you?” She stands beside him and nudges his shoulder.

“Of course not, Jules.” Kingsten frowns, elbowing her back, his mouth morphing into a face-splitting grin.

Julianna laughs, wrapping her hand around her father’s arm. She leans forward and scrunches her nose in my direction, teasing. “Sorry if he was. He hasn’t been mayor in years, but sometimes I still catch him talking politics. I think it’s in his DNA. ”

I giggle, my eyes shifting to West standing close the row of drawings up for auction. Including the one of our home in Brooklyn. I was hesitant to put it up, but I wanted to raise as much money as possible for the foster charity.

West is wearing my favorite suit of his. The deep green with black lapels does something to my insides, and every time I look at him, I still can’t believe he’s mine. He’s breathtaking.

We found each other again and came out the other side of what was an ugly period in our lives.

I am absolutely head over heels, madly in love with Weston Knight.

The Veiled Door looks completely different from the day of Heath’s funeral. Unlike the sad, quiet vibe I felt then, now it is vibrant and full of life. It’s living and breathing, surrounded by my artwork.

All four walls are decorated with my sketches of the city, professionally framed and preserved, matching the vibe of the bar, celebrating the city that’s become my new home.

Situated against the farthest wall, toward the back, is a long table with each piece on display behind it.

Clipboards are set in front of each one, open for guests to place their best bids.

I’ve barely taken the time to walk around the room and admire my own work, to really let it sink in. I’ve never seen The Veiled Door as packed as it is tonight.

There’s a red carpet running down the length of the pavement outside the front door. West hired an entire security team to handle admissions and flow of traffic. Last I heard, the line stretches to at least the end of the block.

West is busy talking with Selene and the man she has her arm hooked around, when their attention is pulled away by Emily Rapture. I smile, excited to see all of them together.

“Would you excuse me?” I ask, turning to the group I’m standing with .

All four shift their attention to me. They nod, and Julianna reaches out, squeezing my hand before I turn away.

I leave them, anxious to not only be with West again, but to meet the man my sister is seeing.

I’m nearly halfway to them when my phone vibrates in my hand.

I turn it over and read the screen, my stomach dropping.

Unknown Number. Again.

I haven’t told West that the number has continued to call me. At first, it was just a few times a week. After the car followed us from Emily’s private gallery showing, the calls stopped.

I didn’t think much of it after they stopped and decided to not let it take space in my head.

The caller never leaves a voicemail, and they don’t do anything other than let it ring until they decide to hang up.

I shut my phone screen off, and West is immediately pulling me into his side when I reach him, dissolving the icy chill at the back of my neck.

He gives me a warm kiss. “Enjoying your night?” he asks, bringing his mouth to my ear. His lips graze my earrings.

I shiver, heat pooling between my thighs. I clear my throat and pull away. “This is just as much your night as it is mine. Without you and this bar, my pieces wouldn’t have a place to hang.”

“She has a point, West,” Selene chimes in.

“I agree,” Emily says, admiring the walls. “Your work is just as exceptional as I thought it would be.” Her silver dress shimmers under the bright lights of the bar. She’s different than the first time we met. I guess Emily adapts to fit into every situation she’s in.

The man beside my sister catches my attention.

“Hi,” I say to the man with Selene. “I’m London, Selene’s sister.”

“Adam,” the man says, giving me a small smile. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Selene has told me so much about you. Congratulations on your gallery.” His eyes shift to West. “To you as well.”

“Thank you,” we both say in unison.

“Adam is one of the editors for the New York Times,” Selene adds, but her smile doesn’t reach her eyes.

I tilt my head, unsure why it doesn’t sit well with me.

“No shit,” West blurts out, his mouth pulling into a smile under his short beard. He’s growing it out again, and I can’t say I’m disappointed.

“Yeah.” Adam laughs.

“Excuse me?” A shout from the other side of the bar causes the four of us to snap our heads up. “Are you seriously trying to charge me for a drink? Do you even know who I am?” the woman shouts again from the area of the bar.

The room is packed wall-to-wall with guests, making it nearly impossible to see more than several feet ahead of me. I roll onto the balls of my feet, trying to get a better view of the person shouting. The voice sounds familiar, and when I catch sight of her brown hair, I know exactly who it is.

I fall back onto my heels, feeling like a heavy bag of sand is sinking into the pit of my stomach.

“Your mom is here,” I tell West.

He lifts his chin, looking over the heads of the guests.

“Would you excuse us?” he says to Emily, Selene, and Adam.

His hand is already wrapped around mine, pulling me through the crowd and toward the bar.

When we reach his mom, she immediately turns around, spotting us.

Her hair is swept up into a French twist, bits of her brown hair framing her face. She’s still just as pretty as the last time I saw her at Heath’s funeral, but the light in her eyes is gone. She only looks at me with indignation now.

Her eyes narrow with scrutiny before she’s looking up at West.

“Congratulations, son,” she clips. “Why are you charging for drinks tonight? This is a charity event.”

“I didn’t think you were coming,” he says quietly, ignoring her question.

She casually shrugs a shoulder and looks around. “Of course, I would.” Then she lifts her eyes to his. “I’ve always celebrated my children’s successes. Why would tonight be any different?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” West says, clenching his jaw. “Maybe because the last time we saw each other you accused me of stealing money from an account I didn’t even know existed.”

His hand tightens around mine, and I wrap my free hand over his, steadying him.

Glenna’s eyes fall to our joined hands. She has yet to look at me again.

Pursing her lips, she vacantly looks over West’s shoulder. “I still have no idea where that money went, but I’ve decided to move on.”

Now she finally looks at me.

Her eyes harden, but I can see the tears building in them. “Seems you have as well.”

I don’t know whether she’s talking to me or to West. Maybe both.

“You don’t understand,” he starts.

Glenna’s hand shoots up, cutting West off.

“I don’t want to hear it.” Her eyes close. “I don’t want to hear about you and your brother’s wife.”

My jaw drops, and tears prick behind my eyes. I don’t know why I care what Glenna Hall thinks. I never did before. I accepted it when Heath kept me from his family. But now that I’m with West, suddenly, I find myself caring.

“Mom…” West breathes, and I know he’s hurting, too.

Deep down in my bones, I know Glenna is a good person. She took West in when he had nowhere else to go. She saved him from a life that could have taken a completely different turn from the one he has now, but the grief of losing her first born has blinded her.