Platinum (All That Glitters #3)(101)

Trihn laughed. “Done. I’ll start taking orders.”

“Speaking of orders,” Maya said, coming up behind her, “I still need that skirt.”

“And holy shit, what is that?” Bryna said. She snatched up the diamond necklace around Trihn’s neck and was staring at it. “Tiffany’s?”

Trihn nodded. “Yeah. Damon got it for me.”

Bryna whistled low. “Diamonds and platinum. Good choice.” Her eyes turned to Eric. “I’m in need of some glitter, Cowboy. Make this happen.”

“You have enough diamond jewelry in your closet to buy a small island in the South Pacific,” Eric said.

“And?”

“And you’re ridiculous. Congratulate your best friend.”

“Congratulations on choosing a real winner, Trihn. You’re practically on my gold-digger level at this point,” Bryna said with a wink.

“You’re a real bitch, you know that, right?” Trihn asked with a laugh.

“I know it.” Bryna hugged her tight. “Congrats, babe.”

“Ah, congratulations from me, too!” Stacia said, wrapping her arms around both of them.

“You two are too much,” Trihn said.

Stacia stepped back into Pace’s arms, and Bryna returned to Eric. Even Maya had Drayton with her. It made Trihn’s hearth happy. Everyone who mattered in her life was here. So, it didn’t even matter that she’d lost because she seemed to have won so much more.

“Trihnity Hamilton?”

Trihn turned to face a tall, skinny woman with blonde hair in a black designer dress and Jimmy Choos. “Yes. Can I help you?”

“It’s nice to meet you. I am Patricia Young, and I represent a New York–based client. May I have a word with you?”

Trihn’s mouth nearly dropped open before she remembered herself. “Of course.”

Trihn was glad that she had opted for her favorite Louboutins that day as she followed the woman to a more private location.

“I’d like to get straight to the point, Miss Hamilton. I’m a buyer for a New York–based boutique, and I believe you have exactly what we’ve been looking for, a fresh new style that captures a new vogue in fashion.”

Trihn’s eyebrows rose. “Wow. Thank you.”

“Do you have interest in selling the line?”

“I…” Trihn murmured, speechless. “Yes. Yes, I do.”

“Wonderful. We’re interested in purchasing it, and we’d like to speak with you further about it. How much longer are you going to be in New York?”

“My family is from here. I can stay as long as needed,” she said. Her heart was pounding, and she was trying not to show her utter disbelief.

“Perfect. Let’s schedule a time to meet. Here’s my card.” Patricia pulled a crisp card out of her wallet and handed it to Trihn.

They talked for a few more minutes and agreed to meet and go over the rest of the details. Trihn was overflowing with excitement by the end of the conversation.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Trihn. I think this will be an excellent match.”

“Thank you so much.”

They shook hands, and then Trihn walked on air with her head floating in the clouds back to her friends.

“What was that about?” her mother asked first.

“I just got an offer for a New York boutique to buy my clothing line,” she gasped.

The noise of everyone screaming and congratulating her all at once nearly knocked her off her feet.

She laughed and reeled back. “I have a meeting with the company next week to discuss everything.”

“We must go out to celebrate,” Linh said.

“I have to agree with that,” Bryna said.

“Drinks are on me,” Damon agreed, wrapping an arm around Trihn and kissing her temple.

The entire group stood around, congratulating Trihn, until they finally left the ballroom to find a restaurant and bar for drinks. Trihn and Damon lagged at the back of the group. He had his arm casually looped around her waist, and she leaned her head against his shoulder.

“So, another week in New York?” Damon asked.

“Mmm, yes, it seems like it. I guess you’ll actually get the real tour you deserve.”

“I want to see everything with you. Where will you take me?” he asked.

“Everywhere,” she breathed.

“The world is at your feet,” he said with a smirk.

Trihn deeply kissed him, not caring that they were trailing so far behind the rest of the group.

“Just you,” she breathed, repeating his words. “You’re what matters.”

And they walked, hand in hand, down the New York City street with their entire lives spread before them, secure in the knowledge that, at the end of the day, at least they had one another.





Eight Months Later


THE LIMO HALTED directly in front of the red carpet. The tinted windows obscured the celebrities hiding within the posh climate-controlled vehicle bursting with champagne and Hershey’s Kisses. The press was waiting on the outside, anxious to get the first glimpse of the stars before they made their long walk down the red carpet and into the Staples Center in Los Angeles where the Fifty-Eighth Annual Grammy Awards would commence.