Larkin and Amanda had built their empire from nothing. Clawing their way to their current billionaire status hadn't been easy.
However, their marriage had long since shifted from romance to a sterile business partnership bound only by shared history.
They had an unspoken open marriage.
He kept his rotation of eager mistresses, and she enjoyed the company of strapping young men.
The only time they ever played the part of a loving couple was in front of their children.
Knowing his wife practically owned Eyre Haute Couture, Larkin didn't hesitate to call her to pull some strings.
His request genuinely amused Amanda, who was currently lying on a plush table at
a luxury spa, enjoying a deep tissue massage from a gorgeous young man named Anthony.
"Shopping for another mistress, are we?"
Amanda assumed Larkin needed arm candy for a business dinner. She couldn't care less who he paraded around.
As Anthony's strong hands worked the tension from her skin, Amanda simply closed her eyes and soaked in the luxury.
She wasn't young anymore, and her body carried the irreversible marks of carrying two children.
No amount of cosmetic surgery or chemical peels could turn back the clock to her twenties.
But Larkin wasn't exactly a prize either. He certainly couldn't compare to the charming Anthony.
How could Larkin's soft, aging waistline compete with a shredded physique?
"Just a little actress," Larkin admitted effortlessly. He never bothered hiding his affairs from her.
Amanda scoffed. "A little actress? Do you have any idea that the exclusive pieces at Eyre cost millions of dollars?"
Her tone sharpened slightly.
She had no problem spending money on her boy toys, but those young men were vastly cheaper to maintain than high-maintenance starlets.
Dropping millions of dollars on a single dress for a disposable mistress? Had Larkin completely lost his mind?
They could build a solid nest egg for their kids with that kind of cash.
Larkin blinked in surprise. "It's really that expensive?"
He was rich, but he wasn't an idiot.
"Absolutely!"
"Fine. In that case, I'll buy a gown for you. You can accompany me to Padgett's birthday gala the day after tomorrow."
He was perfectly willing to drop a
fortune on the woman who had helped kim build his empire, but he absolutely drew the line at a o temporary plaything.
Hearing this, Amanda's mood instantly brightened.
She didn't care whether Larkin brought her to events, but the fact that he was willing to drop a fortune On her out of respect made he genuinely happy.
Furthermore, the Churchill Family represented the absolute pinnacle of Cabinda's elite. Missing an
opportunity to network of
эле
was
out of the question!
She needed to pave the way for their children's future.
"Perfect. I'll head over this afternoon for a fitting."
Amanda agreed smoothly.
"If your little actress is still throwing a tantrum, I'll authorize a dress for her under twenty thousand dollars."
Amanda was feeling magnanimous.
Larkin brushed it off. "Forget it."
His interest in Jocelyn had completely evaporated.
He liked her well enough, but he possessed a deep, visceral hatred for greedy
women.
Did she not understand her place on the food chain?
Demanding a million-dollar dress right out of the gate was insulting.
He knew damn well Jocelyn couldn't afford it herself.
Which meant she had intentionally tried to play him for a fool.
After Larkin hung up with his wife, his phone went completely silent. Jocelyn couldn't handle the suspense and called him again.
Larkin sent it straight to voicemail—a brutal, silent rejection.
Under the receptionist's amused gaze, Jocelyn practically fled Eyre Haute Couture,
her face burning with utter humiliation.
The receptionist hadn't said a single insulting word, but Jocelyn felt the sting of disgrace down to her bones.
Meanwhile, settling into the plush leather of the Churchill family car, Claire finally remembered where she had seen Miss Hunter before.
"I'm pretty sure she's Leon's girlfriend."
Leon had gone to great lengths to keep her identity a secret, desperate to prevent
his rabid fanbase from realizing they were financing his love life.
But after his violent scandal and subsequent arrest, the media had viciously exposed every sordid detail of his relationship.