As he buttoned his shirt, he wondered with detached interest if it was time to put an end to all the rumors swirling around him and Shane. Over half a year had passed since that time, anyway, and it didn’t seem likely she would approach him for any reason.

Even now, Willem didn’t allow himself to think about her, didn’t even allow her name to cross his mind. As far as he was concerned, she had ceased to exist the moment she had decided to go against the rules he had set for them.

Once he was dressed, he went down immediately to join the other de Konighs in greeting their newest batch of guests. As he strode down the hallways leading to the VIP rooms of the casino, the employees who caught sight of Willem happily greeted him.

The first time he and that person had parted, he had been an abominable employer to work for and this time, Willem had been determined it would be the opposite. The day he returned to work, he had immediately given all the employees working at the executive floor paid leave for the week, telling them they deserved it after their years of loyal service. He had also instructed payroll to provide the thousands of people working in his employ a cash bonus, something that had so pleased and surprised his employees they had gotten together to come up with a video thanking him for his generosity. The video had gone viral since then, and just last week Willem had been informed he was in the running for Time Magazine’s Person of the Year award.

It was gratifying, but it had not given him any pleasure.

In Willem’s mind, being a success at work meant that he was moving on, and so he had also forced himself to close one deal after another, taking business risks like he had never had. All of it had paid off, but none had given him any satisfaction either.

Every night, he would come home and he would feel…empty.

Every night, he had to force himself to sleep, had to constantly fight against thinking about her. Every night, he cursed her for forcing his hand, just as he cursed himself for not being strong enough to resist what she had foolishly surrendered—

Enough, Willem told himself savagely.

Inhaling sharply, he took a second to compose himself before entering the suite of rooms reserved for the casino’s VIP guests. Inside, he slipped into his role of welcoming host, greeting his guests with courtesy and just the right amount of charm. He mingled with them for as long as necessary before proceeding to take a seat at one of the baccarat tables, knowing that doing so would encourage the others to play as well.

The vacant seats on his table were quickly filled up, with the one next to him taken by a rather well-known figure.

“Sallis.” He offered his hand to the Greek billionaire, who had been the center of his own controversy a while back when he had tried to win his wife back on national TV.

Mykolas Sallis shook hands with the Dutch billionaire with a smile. “Congratulations on the successful opening of Mageia.”

“It would not have been possible without support from guests such as you,” Willem answered smoothly.

Mykolas laughed. “You are a smooth-talking bastard. I suppose I should count myself lucky for not having the need – so far – to go against you in the boardroom.”

In front of them, the dealer began to deal out their cards.

Both billionaires’ faces were unreadable as they took a look.

The two other players at the table did the same and bowed out the first chance they got. When the dealer asked Mykolas if he would like another card, he said yes, and so did Willem when it was his turn.

The dealer revealed her hand, and the billionaires did the same. The latter two had an eight each but the female dealer had a natural nine.

Mykolas and Willem shrugged almost simultaneously, drawing a laugh from the sizeable crowd that had come to gather around them.

The two billionaires proceeded to play several more hands before Mykolas, upon checking his watch, said with regret that he had to leave to meet his wife at the hotel’s piano bar.

“Of course.” Willem slid to his feet as well. “Allow me to accompany you.”

“It would be our pleasure if you could join us for dinner,” Mykolas told his companion as they headed towards the lifts that were exclusive for the use of VIP guests. “My Velvet often accuses me of being overly possessive, so in this instance I would like to have the pleasure of proving her wrong.”

Willem raised a brow, and when the doors of the lift closed in front of them, he asked pleasantly, “Should I be insulted or flattered that you do not consider me a threat to your marriage?”

Mykolas laughed. “Flattered, of course. If not for the rumors about your impending marriage to the Dutch model, I definitely wouldn’t have invited you.”

“Ah.” Willem’s lips compressed.

Mykolas’ expression became thoughtful as he considered the other man. The lift arrived at the lobby, and as they stepped out, he asked conversationally, “Perhaps I have gotten it wrong?”

“Somewhat,” Willem allowed.

The two of them headed to the piano bar in silence, both billionaires impervious to the stares they drew from all the women they walked past. When Willem visibly hesitated, Mykolas said easily, “You will not be intruding on anything, I assure you.”

After a beat, Willem nodded, saying, “In that case, it would be a pleasure to join you and Mrs. Sallis for dinner.”

A corner table had been reserved for the Greek billionaire, and with his guards and Willem’s combined creating a human wall, their privacy was instantly guaranteed while they waited for the Greek’s wife to join them.

“Congratulations, by the way,” Willem murmured as soon as the waiter finished serving them each a glass of wine. “I’ve heard from the news about your wife’s pregnancy.”

“Thank you.” The Greek’s pleasure in his wife’s condition was made evident by the brightness of his eyes. “It is a much welcomed blessing, and I find no shame in admitting that there are many nights when I still ask myself if the life I have now is real and not a dream.”

“Marriage has turned you into a romantic, apparently.” Willem’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Mykolas only shrugged. “Not marriage, my friend, but love. It is a clichéd thing to say, but it is the truth.” His tone was complacent. “You will know for yourself when you fall in love as well.”

“Of course.” Willem’s tone was polite.

Mykolas smiled. “You clearly do not believe me now, but—” He paused, his gaze drawn towards where their security was positioned.

A second later, and Mykolas Sallis came to his feet, the expression on the Greek’s face enough to tell Willem that his wife had arrived.

Willem stood as well, politely averting his gaze as the Greek billionaire proceeded to give his wife an extremely passionate kiss. Only when he heard the two talking and walking back to the table did he face them again, and he found Velvet Sallis even lovelier than her photos on the news. The tall, curvy redhead also carried her pregnancy well, radiantly beautiful in an empire-cut cotton dress that fell all the way to her ankles.

“Velvet, my love, this is Willem de Konigh, one of the owners of Mageia.” Mykolas’ smile turned warm and possessive as he glanced at his wife. “Willem, my wife, Velvet.”

Velvet offered her hand to the Dutch billionaire with a smile. “It’s nice to meet one of the world’s most-talked about and slippery bachelors,” she said with a charming lack of tact. “You are so unbelievably hard to catch, or so the ladies in my book club tell me.”

“I see.” Willem was hard-pressed not to laugh.

Mykolas sighed. “Forgive my wife, de Konigh,” he murmured while pulling out a chair for Velvet. “She has become more, err, refreshingly candid ever since she became heavy with child.” Once Velvet was comfortably settled, he and Willem took their seats as well.