Chapter 26: Hope and Carter
The trio arrived at the
Forrester Creations private event in one of Las Vegas’ most exclusive penthouse suites, high above the Strip. The view from the balcony was breathtaking, the neon lights stretching endlessly across the desert night. Inside, the party was a refined yet glamorous affair—
a mix of industry elites, designers, and hand-selected VIPs sipping champagne and discussing fashion like it was life or death.
Brenda, who had been vibrating with excitement since they left Circa, adjusted her dress and whispered, “We are
so out of our league.”
Juan smirked. “Speak for yourself. I was
born to crash parties like this.”
Price, looking unimpressed, glanced at the lavish spread of hors d’oeuvres. “At least the food’s free.”
Before they could grab a drink, a
stunning blonde woman in an effortlessly elegant gown approached, her smile warm but her presence unmistakably commanding.
Hope Logan.
Brenda’s breath caught. “Oh my God.
Hope for the Future Hope Logan.”
Hope laughed lightly. “That’s me.” She glanced at the trio. “You must be Eric’s guests.”
Juan extended a hand, ever the charmer. “Juan Gomes. Big fan of… whatever it is you do.”
Brenda elbowed him hard. “He means the collection,” she said quickly. “I’m
obsessed with Hope for the Future. It’s everything modern fashion should be—sustainable, ethical, elegant.”
Hope’s smile widened. “That’s exactly what we strive for. I love hearing that.”
Price, however, noticed the slight tension behind her eyes. For all her warmth, there was something off—like her mind was elsewhere.
Before he could dwell on it, another sharply dressed figure approached—a
tall, impeccably groomed man with an air of quiet authority.
“Hope,” he said smoothly, before turning to the trio. “I see we have new faces.”
Carter Walton.
Brenda recognized him instantly. “Carter! Forrester Creations’ legal eagle and all-around legend.”
Carter chuckled. “I like this one already.”
Price, ever observant, didn’t miss the way Carter subtly
placed a hand on Hope’s back, as if grounding her. Something was definitely off.
Juan, meanwhile, had already locked onto the most important thing. “Alright, legal legend, tell me—do we have an open bar situation here?”
Carter grinned. “It’s Vegas. What do you think?”
A Sense of Unease
As the night went on, the trio mingled, drank, and tried to blend into a world far more polished than their own.
But Price kept watching Hope. She laughed, she conversed, but there was
an undercurrent of something unspoken between her and Carter.
At one point, as she sipped her champagne, Hope murmured, “I shouldn’t even be here.”
Carter, standing beside her, responded in a
low, firm tone. “You deserve to be here. You
need this.”
Brenda, sensing the tension, leaned toward Price. “You’re seeing this, right?”
Price nodded. “Something’s up.”
Juan, who was deep in conversation with a fashion influencer about the viability of wearing Crocs to high-end events, finally noticed their concern. “Uh, what’s happening?”
Brenda lowered her voice. “Hope and Carter… something’s going on.”
Before they could pry further, Hope suddenly turned to them with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, guys. I just… I need some air.”
She stepped away, leaving Carter watching her go with an unreadable expression.
Juan took a sip of his drink. “Well, that’s
definitely something.”
Brenda nodded. “And I want to know
what.”
Price exhaled. “Looks like we just stumbled into
Forrester family drama.”
And just like that, the night had gotten a lot more interesting.
To be continued...