Meanwhile, Klein settled himself on the couch, glancing around her apartment, feeling a sense of comfort in the familiar chaos of her space. But before he could contemplate his thoughts further, her bedroom door swung open again.
Klein raised an eyebrow, surprised at how quickly she had emerged. ‘That was fast,’ he thought, but his expression shifted when he noticed she was still wearing his shirt, the dress clutched tightly in her hands.
“What’s wrong? Does something not fit?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.
Whitney’s face was a mix of apprehension and awe as she held the dress delicately, as if it were made of fragile glass. “Klein, are you sure this is the one I’m supposed to wear?” she questioned, uncertainty creeping into her tone.
Klein nodded slowly, his gaze unwavering. “Yeah, that’s the one.”
With a flutter of nerves, Whitney turned and retreated back into her bedroom, the dress still held tightly against her chest.
‘Is this just a coincidence?’ she mused. It felt surreal that exactly a month ago, he had returned to the country.
Her mind whirled with possibilities. ‘He came back and immediately ordered a custom gown? And now he’s giving it to me?’
Pushing aside her swirling thoughts, she slipped into the dress. When she finally turned to face the mirror, she barely recognized the woman staring back at her.
The flowing skirt hugged her curves perfectly, the fabric gliding like liquid silk with every movement. Brilliant diamonds cascaded from her waist, twinkling like a galaxy of stars against the pristine white fabric.
With a deep breath, Whitney stepped out into the living room, her grace unsteady yet captivating. Klein’s eyes widened, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, his voice coming out in a rough whisper. “You look stunning.”
The intensity of his gaze made her cheeks flush, and she instinctively clutched at the fabric of her dress. “Isn’t it a bit much?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He chuckled softly, a sound that sent shivers down her spine. “Not at all.”
‘She’s glowing,’ Klein thought, utterly captivated by her beauty, which left him momentarily breathless.
“We should go. It’s getting late, and the party’s waiting for us,” he urged gently.
Whitney sighed, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. “Alright.”
As she glanced at his black suit, the thought struck her that he looked exactly like a groom, while she felt like a bride. The matching outfits sent her heart racing, a frustrating yet exhilarating sensation.
*****
Tonight’s event was a private gathering, a small affair among close friends.
Klein reassured her, “Don’t worry, it’s just a few guys I grew up with-basically like my younger brothers. Our high school physics teacher is turning seventy this year, so they threw him this birthday banquet.”
Whitney felt a wave of relief wash over her. She understood that the people present wouldn’t gossip about her, and certainly wouldn’t run to James with the news.
She nodded, her mind settling. “Got it.”
As they entered the venue, she noticed Eric standing alone, devoid of a date.
For gatherings like this, it was customary for the group to avoid bringing random women along.
Dustin was in a similar boat, attending solo.
Among their tight-knit circle, Oliver was the only one flaunting a girlfriend, and he reveled in the attention.
“Mr. Whitmore, this is my girlfriend, Joanne Falls,” Oliver announced with a triumphant grin.
Joanne, a minor actress in the entertainment industry, smiled sweetly, her charm undeniable. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Whitmore,” she said, her voice warm and inviting.
“Joanne, my wife has seen your work,” Paul chimed in with a hearty chuckle. “She always says you’re such a talented actress. She couldn’t understand why you weren’t landing lead roles.”
Joanne beamed, “Thank you, Mr. Whitmore. You’re too kind.”
Oliver affectionately patted Joanne’s hand, pride radiating from him. “They’re right. You’re amazing.”
Dustin watched the scene unfold, a thought nagging at him. ‘Why isn’t she playing lead roles? Oh, right-because Oliver won’t let her,’ he mused, a hint of irritation creeping into his thoughts.
He liked Joanne, but he didn’t want her to become too famous. This level of success was perfect for her-no grueling late-night shoots or demanding schedules, and certainly no excessive romantic scenes.
For Oliver, her current fame was just right.
As for Joanne’s thoughts on the matter, nobody could really say.
Dustin and Eric exchanged glances, their annoyance palpable as they observed Oliver basking in the spotlight of his relationship.
‘He loves showing off so much,’ Eric thought, bitterness creeping in. ‘The day they break up, we’ll all be celebrating.’
Joanne caught the disapproving looks from her boyfriend’s friends and wondered, ‘Why do they look at me like they’re disappointed in me or something?’
Paul scanned the room, noticing Klein’s absence. “Klein isn’t here yet? Is he picking up his girlfriend?”
Klein was several years older than the rest of them, yet he had once been Paul’s student in high school.
Technically, Klein was their senior.
Eric smirked, seizing the opportunity to tease. “Sir, you don’t know Klein. He’s so cold that nobody wants to hang out with him-except us. If it weren’t for us, he wouldn’t have any friends at all. There’s no way he has a girlfriend.”
They all assumed that the post on his social media was just some deluded fantasy from a single guy.
Only Dustin rubbed his nose thoughtfully, wondering if Klein might actually bring someone tonight.
Oliver interjected, “Exactly. Mr. Whitmore, out of all your students, I’m clearly the most successful one.”
Dustin and Eric shot him identical icy glares. ‘Seriously? Not having a girlfriend means you’re not successful?’ they thought in unison.
Joanne felt a twinge of discomfort as her boyfriend drew unnecessary heat, so she tugged gently on his hand.
To her relief, Oliver finally fell silent.
Meanwhile, Klein stepped out of the car, moving around to open Whitney’s door. He extended his arm, and without hesitation, she slipped her hand through his, feeling a surge of warmth at the connection.
She missed the subtle smile that danced at the corners of his lips, but she caught the low timbre of his voice as it brushed against her ear. “Let’s go. Time to head in.”
As they entered the banquet hall, it felt as though every pair of eyes in the room turned toward them, curiosity etched on their faces.
Though the crowd was small, the collective scrutiny made Whitney’s heart race, a flutter of anxiety settling in her chest.
Klein’s fingertips brushed against the back of her hand, a gentle reassurance. “Don’t worry. I’m here, and no one’s going to mess with you.”
For reasons she couldn’t quite articulate, Whitney felt an undeniable sense of security in his presence. As long as he was by her side, the world outside seemed less daunting.
“Klein, so you finally got yourself a girlfriend?” Paul asked, his tone teasing yet curious.
Klein replied slowly, “Mr. Whitmore, this is my girlfriend. She’s a lawyer.”
Paul’s eyes brightened with interest. “Well, well. Your tongue’s sharp enough as it is, but you went and found someone even sharper.”
Whitney smiled, nodding in acknowledgment, and that was when she caught sight of an elderly woman seated beside an old man, her expression warm and inviting.
“Dear, my wife can’t speak,” Paul added with a chuckle. “A lawyer, how wonderful. That’s such a commendable profession.”
Eric stood there, utterly stunned by the fact that Klein had actually brought a woman with him. Something about her seemed familiar, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
Oliver narrowed his eyes, studying her face intently. ‘Why does she look so familiar?’ he pondered, the realization creeping in that he had seen her before.
Neither Eric nor Oliver could have imagined that Klein’s so-called girlfriend was, in fact, his nephew’s ex-fiancée.
Dustin was the only one who knew the truth, and he couldn’t help but roll his eyes mentally. ‘He actually brought her,’ he thought, a mix of disbelief and amusement swirling within him. ‘He’s got some nerve. Wait until his dad finds out. All hell’s gonna break loose.’
Klein surveyed his younger brothers with a sense of satisfaction, raising an eyebrow. “What, you guys aren’t going to greet my girlfriend?”
They stared at him in confusion, caught off guard by his unexpected demeanor.
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.