Chapter 88

Chapter Eighty-Eight

Genevieve stepped into her apartment, her body heavy and weary as she made her way toward the sofa. Without much thought, she collapsed face-first onto the cushions, the exhaustion from the night before weighing down on her. She had gone from passing out drunk alongside her closest friends to waking up far too early just to drop them off at the airport. In the chaos of the morning, she’d completely forgotten about the four crucial meetings she’d scheduled for the day, not to mention the “ladies lunch” she had promised Kaitlin she would attend.

As she lay there, Gen inhaled deeply, catching the familiar scent that had seeped into the fabric of the couch—a mixture of honey and Matteo’s tobacco. It was strange how this particular piece of furniture seemed to carry his essence more than anything else in the apartment. She had laid down a strict rule with her roommates the moment they moved in: no one was allowed to sleep on that couch except her.

Stretching her arms above her head, she rolled onto her back, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The pounding headache and nausea from her hangover made the idea of going out for lunch with a group of women she barely knew feel unbearable. If it weren’t for the sparkle of excitement in Kaitlin’s eyes, she would have canceled without hesitation.

To her surprise, the ladies’ lunch turned out to be more enjoyable than she anticipated. The group consisted of Kaitlin, Mrs. Tutt—who insisted Gen call her Georgia from now on—and Simone, the receptionist. They sipped wine and exchanged office gossip with such enthusiasm that it almost felt like a sport. Even Georgia, usually so reserved, got caught up in the chatter, which surprised Gen.

Eventually, the inevitable questions about her relationship with Matteo surfaced. Kaitlin shared her own relationship news as a kind of bargaining chip—she and Alexander were officially dating. The flush on her cheeks and the way she nervously tore her napkin apart revealed just how intense things were between them. Gen found herself quietly enjoying the girls’ animated discussions about their love lives until Simone suddenly asked what Gen planned to wear to the upcoming charity ball.

When Gen asked what she meant, the other women looked genuinely shocked that Matteo hadn’t invited her yet. The event was scheduled for next week, and Matteo always attended. Apparently, it was an exclusive affair where all the women wore million-dollar gowns, glittered with diamonds, and arrived on the arms of the city’s wealthiest men. The red carpet was impenetrable to the press, and no one really knew what went on inside.