“Parker—”
I held up a trembling hand, glaring at him so hard, it was a wonder his head didn’t explode from the power of my angry, angry mind. In fact, I was so furious and so hurt, I couldn’t speak. I strode past him, sliding my hands down my dress to smooth it, before turning my attention to combing my hair into some semblance of order.
“Tinker Bell—”
I whirled around just before I got to the door, not caring at the remorse I saw written all over his face. “Go fuck yourself, Rhys.”
Instead of the surprise I thought I’d see on his face, I saw something else. A glitter of light in his eyes as he moved toward the steps that would lead him up to me. “I think we both know I’d rather fuck you.”
Ignoring the thrill that shot through me, I held onto what he’d said, to the derision in his voice just a few seconds ago. “So you can add me to all the notches on your belt? I’m not a challenge. I’m not an opponent. And I—” Stupid tears burned my eyes that I determinedly tried to blink back.
“Tink …” Rhys made to move toward me.
“Don’t.” I lowered my gaze so he couldn’t see how much he’d hurt me. “This is done. I’ll pay you for the month, but this is done.” Tears successfully pushed back, I lifted my chin, my expression flat. “No job is worth someone making you feel this badly about yourself.”
He scowled. “Yeah, you’re right, it isn’t. Pot meet fucking kettle.”
Confusion momentarily subdued my anger. “What—”
“But we have a deal, and you’re not getting out of that deal.” He strode toward me, and I braced. Thankfully, he reached past me to pull open the door. “Let’s go talk to your bosses, and try not to act like you’re dying of embarrassment to have me at your side.”
What on earth?
“Rhys—”
Footsteps sounded in the hall outside, and my sister appeared. “Uh, seriously, if you don’t hurry up, Fairchild is going to come looking.”
Sighing in frustration, feeling like I was missing something with Rhys, I hurried after my sister and heard my fake boyfriend fall into step behind us.
“Is my hair okay?” I whispered to my sister.
She smirked at me. “Your hair is fine.”
I was just about to sigh with relief when she continued, “But your mouth is most definitely swollen.”
Heat bloomed on my cheeks as I touched my fingers to my lips.
“Morgan, Parker, there you are!” Fairchild’s voice carried across the foyer. He gave Rhys a salacious smirk. “Those are private family rooms down there, but I’ll let you off since I know you’re a man with an appetite. I understand that.”
Ugh.
I shivered in revulsion and felt a comforting hand on my lower back. Glancing over my shoulder at Rhys, I wanted to move away. However, the unhappy look on his face stopped me. The man was a contradiction. I was completely discombobulated by him.
No matter what he said, I had to end this deal. My feelings … well, my feelings were now involved, and after what just happened between us, I knew this man had the power to hurt me.
Deeply.
Nope.
This game had to be over.
“Jackson and I were talking, and I’ve decided to invite the Horus team and their partners to my lodge in Colorado Springs. I think”—his shrewd gaze landed on Rhys—“it’ll be a good way for us to bond as a team. And to make sure all team members feel like they’re an important cog in the wheel of Horus Renewable Energy. I’ll consider any team member who doesn’t decide to participate in this event a team member who doesn’t want to remain at Horus.”
Rhys’s hand on my back pressed deeper, and I swallowed a howl of frustration. Fairchild’s words from earlier came back to me, words I’d forgotten when things heated up with Rhys.
“Perhaps you can convince him not to be a fool and accept this invitation.”
Oh my God. Fairchild was so goddamn determined to get Rhys to fight, he was going to force us to spend the weekend in Colorado so he could persuade him.
My eyes flew to Jackson who did not look pleased about our current discussion.
“Well?” Fairchild’s gaze came to me.
I hated him.
I had never hated anyone other than the person who had left Theo on the side of that road, but right then, I hated Franklin Fairchild.
Was my job important enough to push Rhys into doing something I knew would harm him emotionally?
Even after the horrible argument we’d just had, I couldn’t do it.
“I don’t know if we’ll be able—”
“We’ll be there,” Rhys cut me off.
My gaze flew to his, but he was studiously avoiding it.
“Good.” Fairchild clapped Rhys on the shoulder. “I’ll give Jackson the details.”
The jerk stalked off, happy with his wicked machinations, and as soon as he was out of earshot, my sister said, “Why do I feel like I’m missing something?”