Chapter 37

Their relationship would have to come out into the open eventually anyway. When Valeria walked through the front door, she found Whitney in her bedroom having a complete meltdown, throwing things everywhere.

“Mom, what’s going on?” Valeria rushed over, alarmed.

“Valeria, I’m about to lose my damn mind! That whole plan was a disaster, and those assholes blackmailed me for fifteen million.” Whitney spilled everything about the kidnapping fiasco.

Valeria’s face went ice-cold. “What? Does that bitch Anastasia know we were behind it?”

“No, she doesn’t—I paid those idiots to keep quiet. But I’m still furious. We had her right where we wanted her!” Whitney looked like she was about to have a stroke.

“Mom, chill. We’ll get another shot at her,” Valeria said, trying to calm her down. “Besides, Jasper’s totally into me right now, so don’t worry about it.”

“Okay, good. That’s what matters.” Whitney finally started breathing normally again.

“Actually, Mom, there’s this charity gala this weekend, and Jasper asked me to be his date.” Valeria couldn’t hide her smugness.

“Really? That’s amazing, sweetie. This is your chance to seal the deal and become Mrs. Hale.” Whitney was back in full scheming mode.

“I know, Mom. I’ve got this.”

That weekend, at the Plaza Hotel’s grand ballroom, New York’s most exclusive charity gala was about to kick off. The city’s elite had all gathered—socialites, trust-fund kids, the whole power crowd.

A bright orange Lamborghini pulled up to the red-carpet entrance. Jasper Hale stepped out and offered his arm to Valeria as she emerged from the passenger side. They looked like something out of a magazine. He was all refined charm in his custom tuxedo, while she played the perfect arm candy in designer everything.

The second they appeared, heads turned and cameras started flashing. The crowd began whispering immediately.

“Damn, Jasper looks good tonight. Who’s the chick? That’s definitely not his usual type.”

“I heard he dumped his last girlfriend.”

“Guys like that always trade up for the newest model.”

“Word is this one’s got serious game. Not someone you want to cross.”

“Please. She’s just some social climber who worked her way up from nothing.”

Valeria felt like she was floating on air. She held her head high, drinking in all the envious looks and jealous whispers. Growing up, she’d always been treated like a second-class citizen by the real society girls because of her mom’s reputation. But who cared about that now? Soon she’d be Mrs. Hale, and all these bitches would be kissing her ass. Just you wait.

“Oh my God! Cassian Rhodes just pulled up!” Sudden screams erupted from the entrance.

Every head in the place whipped around. A matte black Rolls-Royce Phantom—one of maybe five in existence—glided to a stop at the curb. Cassian stepped out looking like he owned the entire city, his black tuxedo fitted perfectly to his athletic frame. His presence was magnetic—the kind that made conversations stop mid-sentence. Then people watched in complete shock as he smiled and reached back into the car. The entire crowd went dead silent.

Cassian Rhodes, the guy who was basically allergic to commitment, had brought a date? Everyone was dying to see what kind of woman could land the city’s most eligible bachelor.

A graceful hand appeared from the car’s interior, placing itself delicately in Cassian’s. Then Anastasia stepped out. She wore a stunning black gown that hugged her curves before flowing out like liquid silk, making her look like she’d stepped off a movie screen. Her appearance literally stopped the room cold.