My Husband Chose His Ex I Became His Regret novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Aidan

As soon as we exit the Bentley, I realize that tonight is going to be an incredibly momentous occasion.

Cameras flash like lightning strikes. Photographers who were bored thirty seconds ago suddenly surge forward, shouting questions, angling for the perfect shot. Because Lila Stark sorry, my Lila Stark is walking the red carpet beside me in champagne silk and diamonds, and she looks like she was born to destroy worlds.

“Mr. Storm! Who’s your date?”

“Are you the new executive of Storm Industries?”

“Ms. Stark! Over here! Look this way!”

They already know Lila’s name; it’s because Marcus leaked her name to three different sources earlier this afternoon. By now all the Society bloggers and business journalists in the city have heard the rumours surrounding Aidan Storm bringing a mystery lady to the Belmont Gala, Mark Knight’s ex-wife and new Chief Strategy Officer of Storm Industries.

The speculation on what Lila Stark is like has been absolutely delicious.

I could feel Lila tighten beside me and grip my arm tightly.

“Take a breath,” I whisper. “You look incredible, and there is nothing they can do to you.”

She took a breath; she rolled her shoulders back, and raised her chin.

Then, the smile appeared.

We stopped to take pictures while I positioned us so I could put my hand on the small of her back in a way that was claiming yet respectful. Her body angled slightly toward me, creating intimacy while still showcasing the dress.

Cameras start flashing again.

“Lila! Are you and Mr. Storm a couple?”

“What’s your position at Storm Industries?”

“What does Mark Knight think of this whole situation?”

She just continues to smile and pose without answering.

Genevieve taught her that you should never answer a question on the red carpet. Leave them to speculate. That way there’s a sense of mysteryy, an appeal as far as money and power are concerned.

“Okay, that’s enough,” I say after 30 seconds of all those questions. “Ms. Stark has a gala to attend to.”

10:02 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 24

96

65 vouchers.

I lead her inside the Belmont up into the lobby. As soon as we walk into the lobby and away from all the cameras, Lila exhales so deeply I thought she had just finished running a marathon.

“Holy shit.”

“You did amazing.” I say while making my cuff links more comfortable and giving her time to catch her breath. “You made it seem like you’ve walked the red carpet your entire life.”

“I thought that I was going to get sick.”

“No one noticed.” I extend my arm to her once again, ready for round #2?

She looks at the ballroom entrance, and I can hear her thoughts – Mark is there, Sienna, plus five hundred people who all knew her as Mark Knight’s bland, unremarkable spouse.

“Hey.” I turn her to look at me and put my finger under her chin to raise her head high enough that she is looking directly into my eyes.

“You’re not that woman any longer. You’re Lila Stark, Chief Strategy Officer of Storm Industries. You are the woman who is about to tell Mark Knight he lost a fortune because of his stupidity. You’re meant to be in that room and you’re going to act like it.”

Her amber eyes are searching mine. “How can you walk into rooms like you own them?”

“I usually do own them, or about to.” I drop my hand and straighten her diamond earring which doesn’t really need to be straightened, it was just an excuse to touch her. “The real secret though is remember that all of the people in that room are just as human as you. They have insecurities and fears and times where they feel like a fraud also, the only difference is some of us are better at hiding it from everyone else.

“And you, do you ever feel like a fraud?”

“Every day.” My admission surprises me. I don’t typically share things like that with anyone, but something about the vulnerability in her eyes and the trust that she has in me made me want to be honest with her. “Every day I walk into my office, and I think to myself, ‘today is when someone decides that I’m only faking it.’ But then I remember that everyone else is just faking it until they actually do get through it.”

She smiled. A genuine smile this time. “That makes me feel better oddly.”

“Good. Now let’s go pretend as if we know what we are doing.”

We begin walking to the ballroom. The doors are open; the crystal chandeliers reflecting on the bar inside, champagne fountains, ice sculpture displays, an orchestra playing something that sounds typical and expensive. Meanwhile there are 500 different conversations taking place all at once clinking of champagne glasses and the sound of laughter can resemble money that has been made in each respective business.

I can feel Lila’s breathing increasing, see her searching through the crowd as she stands at the entrance to the ballroom.

“He’s sitting at the bar.” I say to her in a low voice so no one else could hear me. “In a navy tuxedo, northeast corner. Sienna is the one sitting in the red dress. They just arrived about twenty minutes ago.”

10:02 Wed, May 13

Chapter 24

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