Ava: Her father owns Newsflash Corp. They distribute eighty percent of the magazines in the US market, plus her family has ten-percent equity in LBC. Don’t worry about Célian. No chance of him ever lifting a finger without calculating the consequences and risks.
“She’s right,” a husky voice boomed above my head, and I snapped my gaze up, my blood freezing in my veins.
My knee-jerk reaction was to apologize profoundly, but then I remembered what had brought this conversation on. My browns met his blues. I tilted my chin up.
“I do whatever—and whoever—I want, and my favorite finger is the middle one. Makes for very unhappy critics. And one-night stands.”
How had this guy not been assassinated yet? He was a walking, talking personal offense.
I kept my mouth shut. We were in a room full of colleagues. No way I could tell him what I thought of him and end the day still gainfully employed.
“Let’s take this conversation somewhere soundproof,” he ordered.
“Pass.” I gathered some reports I’d printed out earlier and began to highlight the headlines I thought would be of interest to Jessica. Hadn’t we agreed our fling was over? It was none of my business that he was a cheater. Even if it made me want to staple my fist to his face for falling under his charm. Twice.
“The sooner you realize I don’t use question marks, the easier you’ll adapt here. Up.” He turned around, storming toward his office. I followed him because I had to. We went in just as Kate and Steve were coming out. He closed the door behind them and leaned against it, hands in his pockets.
“You’re engaged.” I narrowed my eyes into slits, giving his hard pecs a shove. He didn’t move from his position against the door. Just stared at me with his bone-chilling indifference. “Freaking engaged, Célian!”
“I’m sorry, were you expecting a ring after our one night together?”
I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.
“No, but I was not expecting you to be engaged to another woman. Had I known, I never would have touched you. Just because you don’t have any morals doesn’t mean I don’t, either.”
“Please tell me more about your morals, Miss Still-Owes-Me-A-Grand,” his eyes traveled along my body with boredom.
Fifteen hundred, actually, but that wasn’t something I was eager to correct him on.
I waved a hand at him. “Just say what you want to say and let me get on with my day.”
I turned around, staring at the wall and refused to show him my pain, which he seemed to thrive on.
His posture unstiffened, and he stuck a hand into his unruly, tousled curls. “That being said, it is not what it looks like.”
“Hmm… My favorite cheater line—right after, ‘I can explain’.” I clucked my tongue, still staring at the wall behind him.
“Are you going to listen?” His lips thinned in annoyance.
“Not if I can help it.” I shrugged.
“Then I guess you can’t. Lily is well aware of the fact that I’m seeing other women. We do not share a bed, a house, or even a joint gym membership. As your friends pointed out rather bluntly, my engagement is one of convenience.” He dragged his long fingers over his jaw.
I chose my next words carefully.
“You said your life is none of my business. I tend to agree with that sentiment, especially now that we’re officially done with each other. So while I appreciate you explaining yourself,” I spat sarcastically, “I really think this conversation is over.”
I made a move toward the door he was blocking. He stopped me, resting a hand on my wrist. Our eyes met, and I found his bleeding with pain. But his set jaw, high cheekbones, and smooth, regal forehead all told a story of a formidable man. My lonely heart believed his eyes. The rest of my body knew it made no difference.
“Chucks.”
Stop calling me that. Stop giving me nicknames and orgasms and hope, I internally screamed.
“You said you were legal-savvy. Now’s a good time to withdraw that hand of yours,” I whispered.
He did. I thought he was going to send me on my way angrily, but he didn’t.
“Was Steve giving you trouble?” His voice didn’t sound like steel anymore, though it was nowhere near soft.
“Don’t.” I shook my head. “Don’t pretend you care. Don’t even try to be the good guy. You’re as bad as they come, and now that you came…”
His mouth twitched with a smile.
“…it is time to move on. Congratulations on your engagement. She’ll make a beautiful bride.”
Grayson: Jude? Are you still there?
Ava: Maybe he fired her :/
Grayson: Maybe he kidnapped her :O
Ava: Stockholm fantasies much?
Grayson: The guy does look like Theo James’s beefed/baller/macho brother. Him not knowing my name aside, I would let him show me a good time even if I ended up in his trunk at the end of the night.