Meanwhile, Whitney had borrowed Klein’s bodyguards and was reveling in her newfound strength. ‘So this is what it feels like to wield power,’ she thought, and damn, it felt exhilarating.
Standing by the window, she dialed Klein’s number.
He answered almost immediately, his voice deep and gravelly. “Hey. Is everything taken care of?”
“Yeah,” Whitney replied, a light laugh escaping her lips. “All sorted out. Thanks, Klein.”
Klein’s tone shifted, a hint of amusement threading through his words. “That’s it? Just a thank you?”
Whitney’s heart raced. She was acutely aware of Klein’s interest in her. Perhaps it was just her decent looks, but still, it was flattering.
She had rehearsed a mental pep talk. ‘You wanted to use his influence, so obviously, you’ll have to give something in return,’ she reminded herself.
Yet, as the moment approached, she felt a wave of hesitation wash over her. ‘What if we wait until after we’re married? Would that make this easier?’ she thought, chiding herself for even contemplating such a notion.
“Klein, can we wait until after we secure our marriage license?” she suggested, her voice tentative.
Klein paused, clearly taken aback. “After we get the license?”
“Yes.” Whitney shut her eyes, bracing herself. “I promise to thank you properly then. Is that okay?”
“Oh?” Klein’s voice cooled slightly. “Come on then, tell me. After we get this license, just how do you plan to thank me?”
Whitney found herself at a loss for words. ‘How can I explain this?’ she thought, feeling the pressure mount.
“Whitney, is that really how you see me? As just some guy who can’t control himself? There’s a finance gala this weekend, and I need a date. Come with me.”
Whitney felt a pang of regret. “I’m sorry, Klein.”
Silence filled the air on the other end, and she could sense his frustration. “Kleiny, I messed up. I truly am sorry.”
She was so focused on trying to mend things that she didn’t realize how her voice had softened, taking on a pleading tone.
Klein’s breathing hitched, but he maintained his composure. “Alright. I’ll pick you up on Saturday.”
He hung up, glancing down at his lap. ‘Seriously? One “Kleiny” and you’re already excited?’
Klein leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes, but all he could hear was her voice, repeating his name like a sweet melody. He thought to himself, ‘Next time, she needs to say it to my face.’
*****
The following day, Whitney arrived at NextSphere Electronics, where Paige greeted her with an entirely different demeanor-smiles and eagerness radiated from her.
“Ms. Moore, we received the results from yesterday’s lawsuit,” Paige announced, her voice laced with excessive politeness. “The court ruled in our favor, and we won’t have to pay that shipment fee. Here, take a look at the verdict.”
Whitney took the court document and flipped to the last page. Everything aligned with her expectations, but she could sense Paige was being disingenuous. ‘This verdict didn’t come out yesterday,’ she thought. The timing felt far too convenient.
“Thank you,” Whitney replied, her tone measured.
Paige had evidently heard about Naomi’s firing, and now she understood she had crossed the wrong person.
Her attempts to make Whitney’s life difficult had been intended as a favor to the Harris Group, but she hadn’t anticipated that Whitney would have an even more formidable ally.
With Calvin backing her, they were wise enough not to provoke her again.
“Ms. Moore, I made a reservation at Moonlight Restaurant for lunch. Would you like to join me?” Paige asked, still trying to mend fences.
Whitney offered a polite smile but shook her head. “I appreciate the invite, Paige, but I really need to return to the firm. Thank you, though.”
It wouldn’t have been appropriate for someone conducting due diligence to have lunch with clients anyway.
Moreover, after Paige’s behavior yesterday, Whitney couldn’t force herself to maintain a smile throughout an entire meal.
She could pretend for a few minutes, but a full lunch? That was a stretch.
Whitney spent the afternoon finalizing the detailed due diligence report for NextSphere Electronics and sent it off to Ivan. As she stretched her arms overhead, she realized it was already six o’clock.
Just as she began to pack up her things, her phone buzzed with a location pin from Lena.
A moment later, Lena’s voice came through the line. “Whit, get over here and help me pick out some clothes! I’m heading to Lispern tomorrow to catch a show.”
Whitney felt a pang of envy wash over her as she imagined her friend’s carefree lifestyle. “Off chasing inspiration again?” she asked, a hint of longing in her voice.
“Yeah, I have to,” Lena replied. “I haven’t touched my sketchbook in three months, and everything I look at feels uninspiring. I’m heading to Lispern this time to see if something clicks.”
Lena owned her own fashion design studio, and her creativity was entirely dependent on her mood. Sometimes she would release a stunning piece, while other times, she’d go months without creating anything new. It all hinged on whether inspiration struck.
This meant she was frequently jetting off to various corners of the globe, searching for that elusive creative spark.
Whitney envied that freedom, that spontaneity. Meanwhile, Lena admired Whitney’s clarity of purpose and her relentless pursuit of goals every single day.
Two individuals so vastly different, yet somehow they had forged an unbreakable bond of friendship.
*****
Inside a luxurious boutique, Lena spotted her friend and called out, “Whit, over here!”
Whitney approached her, curiosity piqued. “See anything you like?”
Lena shook her head, her expression contemplative. “Not yet.”
Turning to the sales associate, she inquired, “Is this all you have for new arrivals?”
“Yes, Ms. Harris. However, we’re expecting another shipment tomorrow. Would you like us to send a selection to your residence for you to browse?”
As a VIP member, Lena typically received new pieces sent directly to her home.
She waved her hand dismissively. “No need. I’m flying out tomorrow. Whit, what about you? Anything catching your eye?”
She had noticed that Whitney hadn’t bought anything new in quite some time.
Recalling her promise to Klein for the weekend, Whitney began to search more diligently.
“Ms. Moore, there’s a stunning purple gown over there that would be perfect for you,” the associate chimed in with practiced enthusiasm. “With your fair complexion, you’d look absolutely breathtaking in it.”
The woman guided her toward the window display.
As Whitney studied the dress closely, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the window. Her gaze fell upon a couple standing just outside. ‘Perfect,’ she thought bitterly. ‘Just my luck.’
As Emily gazed through the glass storefront, her lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile. “Carter, let’s take a look inside this shop,” she suggested, her voice light and inviting.
Carter, engrossed in his phone, hadn’t noticed the woman behind the display. With a quick flick, he locked his screen and turned to Emily, a grin spreading across his face. “Absolutely, let’s check it out. If you find something you fancy, don’t hesitate to grab a few pieces.”
Suddenly, Lena’s voice cut through the moment. “Whit, have you made a decision? Are you thinking of trying anything on?” Unbeknownst to her, the atmosphere had shifted, charged with unspoken tension.
Before Whitney could respond, Emily had already stepped inside, her hand comfortably resting on Carter’s arm, a gesture of intimacy that didn’t go unnoticed.
“Whitney, Lena! What a delightful surprise to see you here!” Emily chimed, her tone sweet but layered with an underlying edge.
Lena caught the sound of her voice and felt her stomach twist. ‘Just my luck,’ she thought bitterly. ‘Why do we have to run into this homewrecker now?’
Carter’s expression hardened, his gaze fixated on the woman who stood before him.
Whitney, adorned in a peach-pink dress that accentuated her fair skin with a rosy hue, looked stunning. It was a color she seldom wore, and in that moment, it made Carter’s heart race, a reaction he couldn’t quite suppress.
Emily clenched her jaw, acutely aware of the shift in Carter’s attention. It was as if he were entranced, lost in a world where only Whitney existed.
Desperate to reclaim his focus, she spoke up, “Carter, I’ve got my eye on that purple dress over there. I think it would be absolutely perfect for me. Would you be willing to buy it for me?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.