Page 6 of Tycoon

“I’m sorry you feel this way. It would mean the world to me if you came to the wedding. I want bygones to be bygones.”

I gulped in a deep breath. I wanted to stand and slap the taste out of Darriun’s smug mouth. Hell, I wanted to pick up the chair I’m sitting in and crash it against his head. But instead, I forced out a smile and said, “I will let bygones be bygones. I’m glad you ended our relationship because I wouldn’t have found my current boyfriend, who I’m so in love with. I didn’t know the meaning of love until him. I guess I have you to thank for that. He’s going to be my date for your wedding.”

Darriun’s brows rise in surprise. “I thought you said I broke your heart. How did you move on so fast if you’re still pining over me? Do I know this man? When did you meet him?”

My heart slammed into my chest. Damn, I didn’t mean to say all that.

“I'm not sure if you're aware of him or not, but Andrew Del Rossi is his name. He has helped me to get over you, and I’m not pining over you. You have some nerve! No you don’t know him, and we started dating six months ago. I’m deliriously happy and he is everything I can ask for in a man and more.”

Something like fear entered Darriun’s gaze. I gave my head a shake, I’m sure I was imagining things.

“What does he do for work?” Darriun is giving me a look that said he doesn’t believe me.

“You don’t need to know all of that, you will meet him at your wedding. Anyway, I’m glad we had this talk, but I must get to work. Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.”

“You’re still one of the most beautiful and sweetest women I’ve ever met. I don’t want to see you used or hurt Amara.

“You did that all by yourself, Darriun,” I spat out.

His head bowed and he had the audacity to look repentant. His head raised and his stare met my own. “Can I have a hug?” he asked standing as I stood to my feet.

“No, my boyfriend doesn’t want me hugging other men. He’s very jealous in that respect,” I lied.

“Damn, Amara, it’s like that, huh?”

“Yes, Darriun, it’s like that,” I replied and walked away like Loretta Divine did from Gregory Hines in the old movie Waiting To Exhale.

CHAPTER FOUR

Amara

The Meeting

I just pulled up into the parking lot a little early. I got out the keys clutched in my fingers, an attendant promptly appeared and took them from me. “Thank you,” I said and took in a nervous breath of warm fresh air. The evening sky was filled with stars, but I was too nervous to take in its beauty. Since the first time I messaged Andrew on the BBF app I haven’t been able to get him out of my head.

The moment I stepped through the large archway of L’Étoile Dorée, my heart swelled with an orchestra of fluttering notes, each beat pulsating with a mix of hope and nerves. Warmth greeted me like a soft embrace, wrapping around my shoulders as I paused to drink in the scene that unfolded before me. Amber light cascaded from ornate fixtures, casting a glow over intimate tables where laughter and conversation bloomed like night flowers.

With every step I took across the elegant expanse of polished marble, my heels clicked a steady rhythm, echoing the quick tempo of my racing pulse. The murmur of well-dressed patrons blended with the subtle strains of a hidden piano, its melody winding through the air, as rich and smooth as the velvety drapes that framed tall windows. The scent of truffle and saffron teased my senses, promising a feast not only for the body but the soul.

“Mr. Andrew Del Rossi has a reservation for two,” I said to the host.

“Yes, ma'am, follow me,” A host replied and guided me towards the seating area.

“Thank you,” I murmured, allowing him to lead me to a secluded booth. As I settled into the plush seat, I folded my hands atop the crisp linen tablecloth, their slight tremble betraying the turmoil of excitement within.

Then, like the final piece of a puzzle clicking into place, he arrived.

Andrew strode into the restaurant with an ease that made the room seem to pivot around him. His presence was magnetic, drawing gazes as seamlessly as the moon coaxed the tide. When his eyes found mine, they lit up with a recognition that sent a warm ripple skittering across my skin. His smile, radiant and unguarded, held a promise that tonight was more than mere pretense—it was a prelude to something inexplicably real.

“Amara,” he greeted, his voice a sexy grumble surrounded by the clinking glasses and soft laughter. I was too nervous to stand on my feet.

“Andrew,” I replied, feeling my lips curve into an answering smile, one that seemed to bloom from a place deep within—a place I didn't realize craved such connection until this very moment.

He approached with a confident stride, yet there was a gentleness in his steps that belied his towering frame. As he took the seat opposite me, his charm washed over the space between us, a soothing tide that eased the tightness in my chest. The warmth in his eyes promised safety, a harbor in the tempest of my apprehension.

“Wow, this place is even more beautiful than I imagined,” I said, gesturing towards the opulent décor that surrounded us.

“Only the best for our first... meeting,” Andrew replied, the pause in his words filled with an unspoken acknowledgment of the unique nature of our gathering.

---