I don’t need him to pay. It’s not about that.
“Will we be leaving straight from here?” I ask, quickly looking down to survey what I chose to wear today.
“If that’s all right?”
“Fine by me. I’ll head back to my office and finish up my stuff.” I turn to open the door, and he pulls me in for a searing kiss.
“I’ll swing by your office around five.”
“Perfect.”
* * *
The restof the day flies by, and before long, Charles and I are seated at a table in an exclusive club for the New York elite.
I’ve heard of Zero Bond and always wondered what it would be like, and now I’m here. With Charles. It’s surreal.
I take a sip of my cosmopolitan, recognizing that the top shelf really does make a difference.
“The high resolution prints of the Italy photographs came in. The backdrops turned out stunning. I’m in awe of your skills.”
He smirks. “My skills are quite legendary. I aim to satisfy, love.”
“Love,is it?” a voice full of sugar and venom says.
I don’t miss how Charles stiffens, face darkening to something sinister.
My head pops up to see a beautiful woman dressed to the nines in a red Gucci dress from this season. It’s ostentatious and obscenely expensive.
Who is she? And why is she looking at Charles like she is very well-acquainted with every piece of him?
I already hate her.
33
Charles
“Tabitha,”I whisper, not wanting to summon the demon if this is some twisted nightmare.
“Charles,” she coos. “Imagine running into you here. I had no idea this was your locale of choice these days.”
Bloody cow. She knows damn well where I frequent, and it’s no coincidence that she’s here.
“Tabitha, you and I both know that is utter bullshit. You’re a bloody stalker.”
She throws her head back and laughs like a maniacal villain. “You’re always so dramatic, darling.”
She speaks loud enough that everyone in the vicinity has turned to stare.
“Tabitha, keep your voice down.” I turn to Raven. “Do you mind if I talk to Tabitha alone?”
“Of course not,” she says, but her narrowed gaze and stiff posture tell me she’ll have many questions when we’re alone.
I want to strangle the bitch. It’s not enough that she played me for an utter fool, but she has to continue to cause problems.
Tabitha walks out the front door, allowing it to slam in my face.
I’ve never so much as raised a hand to a woman, and I’m not about to start now, but Tabitha Murphy could tempt God.