Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 31414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Poppy noticed the way Jilly was looking at her, and her expression turned sheepish. "I did it again, didn't I?"
Valerian's lips curved slightly when he reached his wife's table and saw the way the two women were laughing even as they started gathering their things.
Poppy had only just started mentoring Jilly two months ago, but the two already seemed best friends for life...even though they were also opposites in many ways.
Jilly was forty to his wife's twenty-five, a quiet and thoughtful soul whereas his wife was more like a friendly little bee than a social butterfly. Their contrasting traits were evident even in their Bible preferences: Jilly's was a no-nonsense, personal-sized, leather-bound KJV while Poppy's was the Amplified Bible version, complete with floral tabs, ribbon bookmarks, and an embroidered case.
After greeting his wife's friend with a smile, Valerian pulled Poppy into his arms for a brief but thorough kiss that had her slightly flushed even when they were already outside the cafe, and she was waving goodbye as Jilly got inside her Tesla.
The evening air felt warm against Poppy's skin, carrying the mix of scents that made San Antonio summers special: grilling meat from nearby restaurants, sweet-smelling flowers from the hanging baskets outside storefronts, and the earthy undertone of the river that flowed through downtown.
"Are you sure it's fine that we didn't invite her for dinner?" Valerian asked, placing his hand at the small of his wife's back.
"She prefers to be home early for her babies," Poppy explained as they walked to their waiting car.
Babies? As far as Valerian knew, Jilly was single and childless. But perhaps that was girl code for something else?
Their driver pulled up in a sleek black limo, its engine purring softly as they slid into the cool leather interior.
"Where are we having dinner?" Poppy asked.
"We have reservations in Haru."
Poppy beamed. Anything Japanese was always good, and her mood brightened even more when they arrived at the restaurant. It was their first time to dine here, and she loved how the place was designed to look like Kyoto in spring. Wooden bridges arched over artificial brooks, connecting private themed rooms to the main dining hall. The walls were all digital screens, showing an immersive backdrop of cherry blossom trees, men and women walking around town in their kimonos, and merchants selling a seasonal selection of dango, mochi, taiyaki, and other local delicacies.
"There he is," Valerian murmured.
She turned to follow his gaze, and Poppy's eyes widened. She knew they were meeting one of his business partners for dinner tonight, but what she didn't expect at all was for it to be...
Guy de la Rocq?
Even from a distance, there was no mistaking one of Hollywood's most successful and highest paid stars, with his white-blond hair a startling contrast to his deeply tanned skin. Even though over a decade had already passed since he had taken the role of a brooding hero in a musical adaptation of Wuthering Heights, celebrity news programs still loved to describe him as their favorite blond Heathcliff, a role which had earned Guy an Oscar, a massive fanbase around the globe, and his first billion, among other things.
Valerian noticed his wife's expression and mistook her surprise for Guy's presence in San Antonio, considering his line of work. "He's been living in Texas for three years. And he has a ranch in Evergreen as well," he explained. "But Ryu's helped him keep things under the radar."
Poppy's confusion cleared as soon as she heard the other billionaire's name. Ryu Harcourt might be everyone's idea of an "ordinary" billionaire, but the reality was the complete opposite.
Guy stood as they approached, extending his hand to Valerian. "Good to see you again."
He wore a simple black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, revealing strong forearms tanned by the Texas sun. No tie, no jacket, a casual elegance that somehow made the other well-dressed men in the restaurant look like they were trying too hard.
"Guy." Valerian's greeting was typically brief as they shook hands.
Poppy did her best to contain her excitement on her friend's behalf as Guy turned his attention to her.
Jilly's super secret Hollywood crush, of all people!
"And you must be Poppy." The other man's smile was a mixture of reserve and charm. "I've heard a lot about you."
Poppy could only smile weakly, with her thoughts already racing.
Could she? Should she? But...how could she not?
Never would she have imagined that her husband would be friends with Guy de la Rocq, and when she overheard the two men talking business and realized that the Hollywood superstar actually owed her husband a favor of sorts...
Poppy almost knocked over her water glass.
This had to be a sign. Right?
Poppy cleared her throat, and when the sound had both men looking her way, she didn't allow herself to have any second thoughts, saying in a rush, "Can I call it now?"