Page 96 of Dirty Boss

I want to talk to you, Alba. Can I see you?

Alba

Sure, I’ll see you.

James

Time and place, babe. I’m there.

I jerked, my hand snapping up to grab the phone, but James was quicker. He slipped the device into his breast pocket and gave me a victorious smile.

“You can’t keep a woman like that,” he said, his tone a mocking imitation of sympathy. “She just can’t help herself.” He reached out to slap my shoulder, his hand clamping down to give it a squeeze. “Better you know now, though, right?”

Before I could formulate a response, he’d dissolved back into the crowd. Then I heard a breath and turned to see Alba’s shining eyes. Her face was flushed, as if she’d just sprinted here instead of the stately glide I’d observed. Her smile was shy, but it blossomed into something wide and bright.

And it was all a lie.

Like the snark, and the teasing, and the flirting. The touches. How long had she played me? How long had she planned this? Since I offered her a job? Earlier?

Maybe she’d seen me as a mark from the moment I sat down at her table at Carmine’s, and I played right into her hand.

I realized with a start that it wasn’t me who was like my father—it was her. Always looking for the next big win. Willing to transform herself into someone else, just to get what she wanted.

I’d been such an idiot. I’d fallen for this woman, and I didn’t know her at all. She’d played the damsel, and I’d felt like such a fucking hero for plucking her out of her distress and taking care of her.

Now she was here, making a fool out of me on the one night it mattered most.

Did Arlo know? Did they all know? They watched me walk in here with her on my arm, and they didn’t wish they were me. They feltsorryfor me.

Alba’s smile dropped off her face, and she took half a step back. “Are you okay? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“How long, Alba?”

“Excuse me?”

“How long have you been lying to me?”

She jerked back as if I’d slapped her. Her cheeks flushed, and hurt flashed across her gaze. For a moment—an instant—I regretted my words. Then her gaze hardened and she hissed, “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Your old lover just showed me some interesting text messages. Did you plan to meet him here? Is that why you took so long in the bathroom?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you meeting with the guy that you said used you, Alba!” My voice was too loud. People all around glanced over, curious and predatory.

Alba didn’t even seem to notice. She stared at me like she didn’t recognize me, gulped, and then her face shuttered completely. Even the flush drained from her cheeks, so she stared back at me from under arched brows, her eyes so cold I felt the chill of her look all the way down to my bones.

But I was too far gone. I leaned closer and said, “This is everything I’ve been working toward, and you’ve made a fool out of me. My business, Arlo’s investment—they’ll all be laughing at me.”

Moving slowly, she undid the clasp of her purse and reached inside. With long, graceful fingers, she tapped on the screen, then turned her phone so I could see.

I saw the same messages James had shown me—plus an extra one.

Alba

When we’re both dead I’ll see you in hell. Asshole.

Right below the message, there was tiny text indicating that the contact was blocked. The phone dropped, and my gaze snapped to Alba’s face.