I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 133

10:00 Sat, Feb 14

Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Emery’s POV

MT

The evening had been going great. Perfect. Spectacular. Until she showed up.

“Gia, darling”

Of course.

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Madame Colette swooped in, lips puckered for one of those dramatic double-cheek air kisses, and Gia, bless her beautiful soul, shifted just enough that Colette ended up kissing absolutely nothing.

It took everything in me not to choke on my drink. I pressed my lips together, shoulders shaking slightly as I pretended to adjust my clutch. Colette cleared her throat, pretending that hadn’t just happened. Then her gaze slid to me. Oh, Botox be damned, I saw it. The tiny flicker. The twitch she tried to hide. The joy it gave me seeing how disappointed she looked when she realized just how good I looked tonight.

“Hello, Madame Colette,” I said pleasantly.

“Emery.” She said my name like it had personally filed a lawsuit against her.

“It’s a pleasure seeing you,” she added, flashing a smile so fake I was pretty sure it could qualify for a Guinness World Record for most fakest smile ever.

“Yeah, same too,” I replied, lifting my glass slightly.

Her eyes dragged slowly over my dress. The emerald silk. The slit. The confidence.

“I must say,” she began, “you do have quite the fashion taste. If only your personality were half as polished.”

I smiled.

Calm. Composed. Untouched. Because if I said what was actually sitting on my tongue, security would’ve needed a stretcher.

“That’s interesting,” I said lightly, tilting my head. “I was just thinking the same thing about you.”

For a second, it felt like we were both shooting invisible lasers across the marble floor. But Colette recovered quickly, clearing her throat again and pivoting back to Gia with her world-class fake smile.

“On to better matters,” she said smoothly. “I have a fashion show coming up in Italy. A very prestigious event. And Gianna, you would be the perfect model to headline it.”

She kept glancing at me mid-sentence, slipping in subtle little digs like breadcrumbs.

“I need someone with elegance,” she added. “Refinement. A certain… grace.”

I took a sip of champagne. Couldn’t give a single finger about the side comments.

Gia didn’t even pretend to think about it.

“Thanks for considering me to be the star model,” she said warny. “But I’ll kindly decline.”

Colette blinked. “What? Why?”

Gia’s smile didn’t falter, but her eyes sharpened.

“As much as I love fashion,” she said calmly, “I value kindness more. And I can’t afford to work with someone who’s racist.”

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10:00 Sat, Feb 14 m T.

Chapter 133

The silence that followed?

Chef’s kiss.

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Colette’s jaw tightened. And there it was, the vein. Right there on her forehead. Pulsing like it was trying to escape.

“So you enjoy your night,” Gia continued, looping her arm through Rhys’s. “Rhys and I will be on our way. See you around, Emmy.”

“Sure thing, G,” I said, lifting my glass slightly.

And just like that, Gianna and Rhys walked back into the crowd,dmired from every angle, leaving Colette standing there like she’d just swallowed a lemon dipped in humiliation.

I was about to walk away, too. Really, I was. But I couldn’t resist. leaned slightly toward Colette, lowering my voice like I was offering genuine concern.

“Because I care about you,” I said softly, “you might wanna relax At this rate, that vein on your forehead is about to file for independence.”

Her hand flew instinctively to her temple.

I gave her a sympathetic look. “I’d hate for it to pop and mess up your entire… situation.”

I gently placed my champagne glass into her stiff hand.

“Hydrate,” I added sweetly. Then I turned and walked away, the smirk on my face told just how good I felt having that last line.

****

Hours passed, and I ticked invisible boxes off my invisible list.

Socialized? Check.

Drank incredible champagne? Double check.

Have a conversation with Noir? …Hard pass.

Not by choice, obviously. The man was more popular than a Black Friday sale at Cartier. Everyone wanted a slice of his attention, investors, influencers, designers, that one woman in feathers who definitely didn’t belong in this decade.

But it was fine. If I couldn’t snag him tonight, I’d get him next time. Persistence was one of my better traits.

Tommy had finally taken my advice. Last I saw him, he was all grins, deep in conversation with some gorgeous brunette in a red dress. About damn time he took a break from babysitting me and spreadsheets.

Everything was going smoothly. Peaceful, even.

Which should’ve been my first clue something was about to go sideways.

“I thought my night was great,” a voice oozed behind me, smugnough to rot teeth, “but I guess it just got better.”

Oh, come on.

I didn’t even have to turn. The universe had a terrible sense of humor.

And there he was. Red hair slicked back, grin so big, should deftely get a gig for a toothpaste ad…would kill it. Chest puffed out like he thought it was impressive, not weird.

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Sat, Feb 14

Chapter 133

“Kent,” I muttered, taking a sip of my cocktail without looking at him.

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“It’s Karl,” he corrected, placing a hand dramatically on his heart “You’re so funny, acting like you don’t know my name.”

I glanced at him, deadpan. “I’d love to say I forgot. Sadly, the trama’s still fresh.”

He laughed like I’d flirted with him. See, that’s the thing. He just couldn’t process rejection.

We’d met at a fashion event a year ago. At first, I thought he was charming, until I realized his ego had its own zip code. He’d asked me out. I’d politely declined. Once. Twice. Seven times.

Go out with me….Come on, just dinner…..You’re missing out.

And every single time, my answer stayed the same.

No.

Did the guy not understand a simple English word?

“You know,” Karl started, sliding in closer, “I’m flying out to Saint Barthélemy next week. Private villa. White sand. Sunset views. It’d be the perfect getaway. You and me, just vibing…”

“No,” I said flatly, not even waiting for him to finish.

He blinked. “You didn’t let me finish.”

“I didn’t need to. My ears closed automatically.”

Karl just grinned. “You’ve always had that sass. I like it.”

Ughhh

He kept talking. And talking. Every story somehow circled back how gorgeous he was or how he’d turned down dozens of

Women.

“I swear, I had three girls fighting over me at Milan last week,” he said proudly.

I should’ve walked away. I would’ve. But the cocktail was amazing, my feet were killing me, and watching his mouth move without listening was almost therapeutic.

I sighed, taking a sip of my cocktail, letting the cold sweetness side down my throat like it could wash the stress right out of

You know what I needed? Something big. Something exciting. Like Noir Par Etiene walking up to me, taking one look at my dress, and going, You, You’re my next model.

God, I’d pay money to see Colette’s face when that happened.

I almost smiled at the thought…until my body went stiff. And then I saw him.

No…not Noir.

Him Adas

The tilt of his head, the way he held his drink, and… God help me those dimples that showed only when he chuckled… I could almost hear it…how badly I had missed that laugh.

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