Chapter 17

I'd gone home as planned after happy hour and lasted a total of twenty minutes before I caved to Isabella and Sloane's suggestion.

They were right. I couldn't sit around waiting for Dante when my move-in date loomed so close. I had to suck it up and see him, no matter how much he annoyed or unnerved me.

Of course, in order to see him, I had to getintothe party.

The hostess's face reddened. "I assure you, there was no oversight. We are meticulous in—"

"Vivian, there you are."

An aristocratic British accent cut smoothly through our standoff.

I turned, surprise coasting through me when I saw the handsome Asian man smiling at me. His flawlessly chiseled face and deep, dark eyes would've almost beentooperfect were it not for the simple black frames lending him a touch of approachability.

"Dante just texted. He's looking for you, but you weren't answering your phone." He came up beside me and retrieved an elegant cream invitation from his jacket pocket. He handed it to the hostess. "Kai Young plus one. I can bring Ms. Lau in so we don't bother Dante on his big night."

She glared at me but offered Kai a tight smile.

"Of course, Mr. Young. Enjoy the party." She stepped aside, as did the pair of unsmiling, suited guards behind her.

Unlike nightclubs or bars, exclusive events like this rarely asked for IDs. The staff was expected to memorize and pair the guests' faces with their names on sight.

I waited until we were out of earshot before I turned to Kai with a grateful smile. "Thank you. You didn't have to do that."

Kai and I weren't close friends, but we often attended the same parties and chatted whenever we crossed paths. His thoughtful, reserved demeanor was a breath of fresh air in the narcissistic jungle of Manhattan high society.

"You're welcome." His formal tone made me smile.

Born in Hong Kong, raised in London, and educated at Oxford and Cambridge, Kai's mannerisms were a clear reflection of his upbringing.

"I'm sure your absence on the list was an oversight on Dante's part." He whisked two glasses of champagne off a passing server's tray and handed one to me. "Speaking of which, congratulations on your engagement. Or should I say, condolences?"

My smile blossomed into a laugh. "The jury is still out."

From what I'd heard, Kai and Dante were friends. I wasn't sure what Dante told him about our engagement, but I was erring on the side of caution.

As far as the public was concerned, we were a happy, loving couple who couldn't be more thrilled to be engaged.

"Smart. Most people treat Dante like he walks on water." Kai's eyes sparkled. "He needs someone to remind him he's mortal just like the rest of us."

"Oh, trust me," I said. "I don't think he's a god."

More like the devil sent to work on my last nerve.

Kai laughed. We made small talk for another few minutes before he excused himself to talk to an old college friend.

Why couldn't I have ended up with someone like him? He was polite, charming, and rich enough to meet my parents' standards.

Instead, I was stuck with a brooding Italian who wouldn't know good manners if they slapped him in the face.

I sighed and set my empty glass on a nearby tray before I wandered through the penthouse, taking in the gorgeous architecture and decor.

Dante had eschewed the modern minimalism so popular with his bachelor brethren in favor of hand-crafted furniture and rich jewel tones. Turkish and Persian silk rugs covered the gleaming floors, and lush velvet drapes framed floor-to-ceiling windows boasting panoramic views of Central Park and the city's iconic skyline.

I passed two sitting rooms, four powder rooms, one screening room, and one gaming lounge before I entered the long, skylit gallery where the actual exhibition took place.

I hadn't spotted Dante yet, but he was most likely…

My steps slowed when a familiar head of glossy black hair came into view.