“Of course, he’s a fuck boy,” Reece agreed, and I realized that I’d spoken out loud a few seconds before. “And, that’s why you have to be here.”
“I don’t see the correlation between the two.”
“I’m sure you remember the first guy I dated once we moved to New York City. He was the one who tried keeping me as a side piece. I was devastated. What did you tell me about men who play games?” Reece asked.
I shook my head. “I don’t remem—”
“What did you say?” Reece asked once more, interrupting me.
“I don’t know,” I responded. Knowing me, it could’ve been anything.
“You’d said not to play games with a girl who can play them better. That girl is you.”
“Oh, no,” I quickly responded.
“Yes. There are multiple reasons you should.”
“Name them,” I replied, placing my hands on my hips.
“One, we need this exclusive contract. Just imagine the life we could live with actual job security.” Reece had a good point there.
“You could easily win us this contract,” I countered, even though I would likely still have to see Jonas even if she did.
“Oh, puhleeze,” Reece responded. “He still has the hots for you. I saw the hard-on he was sporting, and I must say, your description did it no justice. But I digress. The second reason is that you need to do exactly what you once told me to do. Fuck with the fuck boy.”
“No,” I told her, waving my hands around like I often did when I was nervous. “I couldn’t.”
Reece stared at me for a few long seconds before sighing in frustration. “You’re drop-dead gorgeous. You could have any man you wanted. What you’re going to do is march your sexy ass back inside and let him know it.”
My eyes widened at that. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“He’s a player, Kenzie. After what he did to you before, it’s time for some payback. Wouldn’t you like the satisfaction of toying with him the same way he did you back in high school?”
I would love to give him the payback he deserved, but I never believed two wrongs made a right. I was a lot more confident now than I’d ever been back then, but I still didn’t think this was the right thing to do. I knew Reece wanted me to get some retribution while also helping to try landing the gig. Focusing on that point, I shook my head before responding, “I don’t think fucking Jonas will make him grant us the contract.”
“Then you obviously haven’t learned anything over the years. Even if you don’t fuck him, you can string him along long enough for him to think you will. Once he awards us the contract, the last laugh will be yours because you would’ve finally played him the way he played you.”
Applause from the other room had me turning in that direction. I refused to give him the satisfaction of making me a repeat notch on his bedpost, but maybe I could do what Reece just suggested. The entire time I’d been at my grandparents, I’d thought of little else but vengeance. This would probably be my only shot to get that. Nervously, I chewed on my bottom lip as I inwardly debated whether or not I could actually do this.
“I’ll make niceties and tease him, but that’s where I draw the line,” I cautioned, needing to let Reece know not to get her hopes too high. At my friend’s delighted squeal, I cringed. “Oh my God. What did I just agree to do?”
“You’re going to make him regret the day he ever took on that stupid bet and hurt you. I’ve faith in you, Kenzie.”
“Well, that makes one of us. What if he isn’t attracted to me anymore in that way?” I thought about that fateful day on the rooftop of Spencer Academy. He’d seen me at the lowest point in my life and he had to have known what happened to me afterward. “He probably thinks I’m crazy.”
Reece giggled. “Of course he does, which will make him want to fuck you even more. Despite what you believe, men like having sex with crazy women.”
“They do not,” I replied, but giggled afterward. “Jonas is a manwhore and would do it with anyone as long as they had a pulse, so I guess I do have that going for me.”
I’d heard about his reputation well before we’d gotten together. In my own naivety, I’d fallen for his lies before; hook, line, and sinker. This time, I knew who and what he was. That was my advantage. If he thought I was the same girl I’d been back then, he’d be in for a rude awakening. I was a confident, independent woman, and no longer had my head in the clouds. I’d made something of myself and he’d see the woman I’d become, and it wouldn’t be the same stupid one I’d once been.
“Are you ready to go back inside,” Reece asked.
I nodded, then stepped forward on wobbly legs. Reece took one of my hands and squeezed it. “I’ve got this. I will just play hard to get and—”
Reece stopped as she interrupted me. “Forget playing hard to get. Play hard to forget. Make sure to entice him enough to remember you for the rest of his womanizing lifetime.”
I cracked a smile. “Let me guess… another piece of wisdom I once gave you?”
“Bitch, please. I have some good advice once in a while, too,” Reece responded as she pretended to be offended.
“Yes, you do,” I told her, genuinely meaning it. “We’ll just see if this one of those times.”
We finished our discussion, then walked back inside and other than a few nervous flutters, I was as mentally prepared as I could be. I looked around the room and finally located him off in the corner talking to three of the women from a local restaurant. It was as if my eyes had a mind of their own because they automatically rolled back into my head. I kept my gaze on Jonas, ignoring the fact that he was laughing at whatever the blonde was saying. Hiking my dress up a little more, I winked at Reece, then left the safety of my friend behind as I made my way across the room.
Game time!