“I should look it up on Amazon.”
“I’ll send you an autographed copy if you want.”
“That’d be great.” Victoria had to be extremely talented. Amandine had tried to write once, and it wasn’t easy to write something that was both informative and enjoyable.
It seemed like Gavin surrounded himself with beautiful and talented people. Damien was a world-renowned cellist. Victoria was a successful writer. The firm employed a number of people who were apparently geniuses at investing.
Amandine felt somewhat small and insignificant in such company. She wasn’t particularly talented, she didn’t know how to manage a household, and the charity fundraisers she hosted couldn’t have happened without Brooke’s help and her husband’s social connections. Actually Brooke could run the entire foundation and all the fundraisers on her own with Gavin’s help here and there.
She was basically…superfluous.
“I understand why you’re unhappy about the lack of privacy,” Victoria said, apparently misunderstanding the cause of Amandine’s mood. “I lost practically all of mine when I married Damien. His fame forced me into the spotlight, and it was just…overwhelming. I’m the kind of girl who’d rather stay in my room all day and work on a manuscript.”
Amandine nodded, empathizing.
“But it’s the price I pay for being with the man I love. He makes me happy.”
“I’m glad. He seems to love you very much,” Amandine remarked.
“Yes. I’m lucky. And so are you.” Victoria smiled. “I don’t believe the gossip.”
“Um…there are the photos.”
“And? If any of what they’re implying is true, you wouldn’t be here with Gavin. It’s probably presumptuous of me to say so, but Gavin could have any woman he wanted and he’s one of those ‘cut losses fast’ types. He doesn’t cling to things, hoping that they’ll get better, whether it’s stock or relationships.”
Amandine nodded, surprised at how accurate the observation was.
“He’s crazy about you.”
“Thank you,” Amandine said in a practiced friendly tone. Gavin was crazy about another deal, making his next billion bucks, the idea of being a father…
Well, a lot of things other than his wife.
Victoria turned, hooking an arm over the back of her chair. “Look, can I be frank?”
“I guess.” Given the determined gleam in Victoria’s dark eyes, saying no wasn’t going to do any good.
“When I first met Damien, I was pretty provincial.”
Amandine blinked a few times. “You?”
“I grew up in a small town in the Midwest, and my father was a minister. I’d never been outside the country until I went to interview Damien. Heck, I’d never been on an airplane. Imagine how overwhelming it was to realize that by spending my life with him, I’d have to move in his circles. The people who come to his concerts don’t think anything of dropping two or three thousand bucks on a dress they’ll only wear once. Me…I felt like I owned the world when there was more than a thousand dollars in my bank account.”
Amandine nodded, understanding completely. Since her marriage, Amandine had been forced to become one of those people who dropped a couple grand on a dress they’d wear only once. Actually, she was worse; she’d spent that much on dresses she would probably never wear.
“He couldn’t give up his career for me,” Victoria said. “Ditto for his friends and acquaintances. It wouldn’t be fair.”
“So you changed.”
“I learned. There’s a difference.”
“You must be a fast learner.”
Victorian chuckled. “Just average. We had a long engagement, so there was some time to acclimate myself. For things I knew nothing about, I faked my way around.” The good humor vanished from her face, replaced by earnestness. “I’m a writer, and trust me, in Damien’s circles, that’s nothing. I had to start from scratch. But at least you’re an artist. Rich people love art.”
“I’m not that good of an artist.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Victoria leaned closer. “I’ll tell you a secret. People who like Gavin will give you a chance, and most likely be predisposed to like you, because Gavin loves you. It’s that simple.”