Chapter 88

Once they stepped outside the hotel, Anastasia finally relaxed, letting out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Cassian glanced over at her. “How’d that go? You seemed to handle yourself pretty well in there.”

Anastasia smiled. “It wasn’t too bad, actually.”

Cassian squeezed her hand. “Look, if you ever don’t want to go to one of these things, just say no. You don’t have to put yourself through that for anyone.” His wife should never have to pretend to be someone she wasn’t.

Anastasia shook her head. “Honestly, it’s kind of nice getting out and meeting people. I can handle a few catty socialites.”

“Alright then. Ready to get out of here?”

They walked to the car together, fingers intertwined, completely in their own bubble.

Valeria watched them go, her eyes never leaving Cassian. Seeing how naturally affectionate he was with Anastasia made her stomach turn. So she really did upgrade. Valeria’s expression darkened with a mix of emotions. How the hell does she always land on her feet? When Jasper dumped her, wasn’t Anastasia supposed to crash and burn? Maybe end up waitressing somewhere? That scheming bitch probably threw herself at Cassian the first chance she got. He has no idea what kind of person she really is.

Word about Cassian showing up at the wine event and leaving with Anastasia spread through Manhattan’s social scene like wildfire. After all, the guy was famously commitment-phobic when it came to women. There had been some gossip linking him to Sonia a while back, but for billionaires like him, casual dating was pretty much expected. This looked different though—more serious. Everyone was buzzing with speculation.

Sonia got the news within the hour from her friend who’d been at the event. The woman knew all about Sonia’s unrequited feelings for Cassian. For years, Sonia had turned down other guys, convinced that Cassian would eventually come around. Seeing him publicly with Anastasia felt like the ultimate rejection. What does she have that I don’t?

Sonia refused to believe Cassian actually cared about Anastasia. She wouldn’t accept it. She hurled her phone across her bedroom, screaming in frustration. Her whole body shook with rage and jealousy. Staring at her reflection, Sonia saw everything she’d always believed made her perfect for Cassian—stunning features, a perfect figure, and the kind of sophistication that came from growing up in Manhattan’s elite circles. She’d always assumed she was the only woman worthy of being by his side. And now he was holding hands with some nobody in front of everyone who mattered.

“Anastasia…” Sonia hissed the name like a curse. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

“Jesus Christ, what happened in here? You need to chill!” Jenny rushed in, surveying the wreckage of Sonia’s room.

“Jenny, I want that bitch out of the picture. Permanently,” Sonia spat.

Okay, slow down. Getting emotional isn’t going to help anything. We need to be strategic here: Jenny had been in the “rent-item” ne bisme enough to know how power games worked. Sonia was too worked up to think straight.

Sonia bit her lip, still seething. “How can I just sit back and watch her steal him? She’s a fucking nobody! What gives her the right?”

Jenny sighed and put a steadying hand on Sonia’s shoulder. “Look, babe, Cassian’s gonna do what Cassian wants to do. If you pull some crazy stunt that pisses him off, you’ll burn any chance you might have had.”

Sonia took a shaky breath, trying to calm down. “So what’s the play?”

“If we can’t get close to him the normal way, we make our own opportunities.” Jenny’s eyes gleamed with calculation.

“What do you mean?”

Jenny moved closer and started outlining her plan in hushed tones.