“I don’t really know what you expect me to say to that, Rebekah.”
“Shit, I’m sorry...” She paused. “Old habits.” I was hoping she’s referring to the old habits as in being able to tell each other anything as friends, and not the old habit of being a lying cheating bitch.
“I’m not sure about tomorrow, I am working.”
“Oh... oh sorry,” she nervously stumbled. “Why does it feel like I’m apologizing a lot?”
I wanted to say ‘because you slept with your best friend’s boyfriend, then married him,’ but I was working on becoming a better person from it all. “You’re right, I know. I just want to talk to you. I miss you, believe it or not.”
“I can do lunch,” I finally caved, and she squealed into the phone.
“Thank you!” She sounded super excited, and I wondered about the sincerity of it all. “I’ll see you then.”
We said our quick farewells and I turned my phone on silent in case she was compelled to call again. Lying back on my bed, I wondered if I should call in sick tomorrow. I pulled the pillow closer, sliding a hand underneath. My fingers touched something cold and metallic.
The ring.
I was sure I’d placed in Hawk’s hand before we left.
That sneaky...
I stared at its beauty before sending him a message.
You left something behind...His reply was instant, and I watched as the bubbles showed up when he was typing.
I did, and she’s in bed right now, isn’t she?I smiled despite myself and placed my cell on the bedside table. I lifted my hand and held it against the warm light and admired the glittery diamonds.
I didn’t know what games he was playing, but Hawk Carnage was quickly winning me over.Chapter 14HawkShe had managed to avoid me all morning.
I’d been so busy I hadn’t had the chance to pull her aside and call her out on it. I caught an elevator down to the lower floor to spy on the latest photo shoot. Fortunately, all models were in attendance, and even better, they were all our top line.
The wide-open space was almost in complete darkness except for the bright white photographer lights. While I hadn’t yet been noticed, I stared around the room of attendees but stopped when I saw her face. Britta was standing on the far-right side of the set. She was laughing at whatever the male model Jaxon was saying to her. That wasn’t the problem. She was smoothing a bronzer over his muscled chest, and he seemed to be making the most of the situation. He was flexing his muscles as her hands moved over his skin. He was also peering down her blouse, watching her cleavage as she moved around him.
I wouldn’t care, except it was Jaxon.
He was some hot-shot model notorious for bedding other models under my employment, treating them like shit and leaving them in tears. I’d had a handful of top beauties quit because they refused to work with him on set. Now, on probation, it seemed Jaxon had moved from models to those further up the corporate ladder, namely Britta.
Walking straight through the set, I met Britta on the other side. She didn’t see me coming, and when I appeared by her side, she seemed startled.
“Isn’t that the job of the makeup artist?” It was a genuine question.
“Kathy’s running behind with the girls so I said I’d help out.”
I look to her hands frozen on Jaxon’s chest and back to her wide-eyed stare.
I took the tube of bronzer from her hand and held it to Jaxon’s chest until he took it.
“Meeting in my office in ten, Britta,” I said before walking off.
“Wait,” she called after me. “I can’t, not today. Tomorrow?” She looked around the room, conscious of everyone watching our interaction. I had just disrupted their shoot after all. “Can we talk upstairs?”
I nodded, and she followed me.
Inside the elevator, she seemed tentative, nervous. I wanted the confident Britta back and halfway to our floor she delivered.
“How’s your ass?” she asked with a cheeky grin.
Fucking unicorn.
“It would be better if you looked at it, then proceeded to the front with your lips around my cock.”
She shook her head at me in mock disgust.
“Is that all you think about? Fucking me?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t take up a great deal of my time.”
“So...” she started with some hesitation. “What exactly are we?”
The elevator stopped to let someone in from the finance floor. When the doors opened, I waved them away and told them to get the next one. They did so, wide-eyed and stunned.
Britta shared the same expression. The elevator took off once more, and I hit the emergency stop button. The elevator bounced to a sudden halt, Britta’s hands gripping the metal railing behind her.
“Hawk... what are you doing?” She was starting to freak out, claustrophobia taking hold. Slate and Harry all had the same problem.