Bait for a Gentleman novel Chapter 32

She was truly a freezing vision of beauty.

Spotting Audrina at the entrance, she threw her arm up and waved frantically, entirely uncaring about the surrounding patrons.

"Drina! Over here!"

Audrina looked toward the sound.

Drina was a childhood nickname. Only her father and Willow ever used it; even Zachary didn't know about it.

Ever since Julian passed away and she spent three years abroad, it had been a long time since she'd heard her friend call her that.

Audrina walked over, only for Willow to instantly link arms with her and drag her into a private, window-side booth.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the entirety of Kingshire was spread out beneath them, the downtown skyscrapers glowing like a sea of light.

"Order, order!" Willow urged. "I'm starving. My mom dragged me to dress fittings all afternoon, and not a single one looked right."

Audrina browsed the menu while asking, "Fittings for what?"

"The Sutton Group's anniversary gala." Willow rested her chin in her hand, looking thoroughly done with life. "Zachary sent my dad an invitation. He's too busy, so he forced me to go in his place."

Audrina glanced up at her. "I thought you didn't want to go? Why did you cave?"

She had mentioned it to her earlier, asking her to come along. But Willow had been to too many of those high-society functions, found them incredibly dull, and had been hesitant to attend.

Willow's face scrunched up. "Blame my parents. Especially my mom! She kept going on about how you're getting married this year while I'm still out partying, and how it's time I found a proper boyfriend. My dad just loves fueling the fire and gave me an ultimatum. If I don't find someone suitable this time, they're setting me up on blind dates after the holidays."

Audrina couldn't hold back a laugh.

Willow loved to party and hadn't settled down even at twenty-five.

It wasn't that she lacked suitors, but none of them seemed to be her type.

"Don't laugh!" Willow huffed. "My mom just has no idea that you're way wilder than I am!"

She casually tacked on, "When are you breaking things off?"

"...Shut up."

She really was too conservative.

When Audrina and Willow had first entered the restaurant, that loud shout of "Drina" had drawn the attention of two men walking behind them.

Sebastian was walking in front, followed by Carter and two partners from his law firm.

They both glanced over, and Sebastian's footsteps faltered for a fraction of a second.

Then, withdrawing his gaze, he kept walking.

Carter followed him into their own private room, utterly bewildered. "What did that woman just yell? Drina? Sounds like a pop star."

Sebastian shot him a sidelong glance, then lowered his head to look at the menu.

Drina.

His lips curved slightly. Her nickname?