Divorce Him, Then Dazzle novel Chapter 162

Catheleen realized she’d just put her foot in her mouth and stuck her tongue out in mock embarrassment. “Oops, sorry. So, should we get started with the tour now?”

Lambert’s jewelry collection was seriously something else. Just stepping onto the second and third floors, both girls were floored by the endless displays. There were cases everywhere, all beautifully lit, and a staff member walked with them, telling stories behind each piece like a museum docent.

Both Catheleen and Camilla were passionate about jewelry design, so they couldn’t stop marveling, eyes sparkling as they moved from one display to the next. There was a room upstairs that dwarfed the others, its door set back like it was guarding something private.

But when the staff member led them around, they skipped that room entirely.

Camilla didn’t say much. Her face was all glowing admiration, clearly soaking everything in. Catheleen, on the other hand, just had to ask, “Hey, what’s in that room? Are we not allowed to go in?”

The staff member explained honestly, “That’s Mr. White’s walk-in closet.”

“Lambert has a closet here?” Catheleen blurted out. “He doesn’t even live in this house.”

The staff member smiled and said, “It holds his collection of vintage haute couture. There’s a lot in there with real collector’s value.”

Both girls were studying fashion design, so the idea of haute couture wasn’t lost on them. For most people, their first brush with the term was probably seeing what celebrities wore on the red carpet or at some big event. Even people who didn’t follow fashion knew what couture meant: access.

The truth was, the definition wasn’t as broad as people thought. High fashion arrived late here, and some brands survived on nothing but legacy and the romance of their history. There were only a handful of true couture clients in the world, and most of them kept their names quiet. Most kept a low profile. Apart from the social media-famous rich and the occasional royal, the rest were quiet about their wealth.

Old money didn’t advertise itself, and it didn’t need lists to prove anything. And Lambert had a private room full of collector-grade couture.

Catheleen didn’t usually care much about wearing high fashion or dripping in jewels. Still, what girl didn't get excited about gorgeous clothes?

Catheleen made a face. “Okay, I guess.”

Truth was, she’d never have dared to ask Lambert anything if Camilla hadn’t been there. Having someone beside her gave her a little borrowed courage. Too bad Camilla wasn’t playing along.

There was just way too much to take in. They got distracted often, stopping to admire all the pieces. Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was past eleven and they’d barely made it through half the collection.

Lambert checked his watch. “Let’s call it a night.”

“Wait, is it that late already?” Catheleen grinned at him. “Lambert, I’m a little hungry. You owe us a midnight snack, don’t you think?”

Lambert’s eyes, dark and impossible to read, lingered on Camilla. “What do you want to eat?”