Her eyes narrow into translucent green slivers of determination. The dragon awakes. “Is this something else I’ll have to add to the two-hundred-million-dollar-plus tab I owe you?”
I can practically see the icicles hanging from her tone. “Can’t you accept a fucking gift?”
She lets her head hang on a frustrated sigh.
“Look at me.”
She does.
“This is never going to work if we constantly go at it like two heavyweight champions looking to throw the knockout punch.” My tone is razor-sharp. “It’s us versus them, Michaela. Them being the board, the press, nosy celebrity content creators, and anyone else who can pull back the curtain on our charade. I need an ally. If you can’t handle that, and if you’re always going to claw my eyeballs out, we should both walk away from this deal right now.” I pause. “It might not be love, but right now, it feels like I’m entering a twelve-month sentence. You either want to save your legacy or you don’t.”
Chapter 13
Phoenix
I’m seated at the bar at Luogo Sapori, a Santa Monica five-star family-owned restaurant, awaiting Michaela with a full view of the door. My upbringing demands I wait for her before I drink, but given the day I had, I need this.
“There’s something about the way you drink a martini that’s so fucking sexy and so undoubtedly manly,” a warm female voice says from my right.
It’s not Michaela.
The overpowering perfume lingering in the air doesn’t match the lovely flower scent of the little dragon with the piercing green eyes. The voice of the woman speaking, isn’t hers.
“You’re keeping well.” A woman I was hoping to never see—or hear from—again lifts her wine glass in salute.
Evelyn Pussett. Great.
I selected this restaurant in the hopes I wouldn’t bump into anyone I know.
That worked out well.
“Evelyn,” I say with a small nod.
“Phoenix König. It’s been a while. I was hoping for a second round.” Her voice is a syrupy seductive purr that’s been perfected over many years and at the expense of many of hervictims—men. “I’m sad it never happened.” She pulls her lips down in a frown.
“You’re more delusional than I remember,” I say before taking another sip of my drink.
She ignores my jab. “I thought we shared something pretty hot.”
I drop my glass on the bar and turn my head to lock eyes with the tall, slim woman.
She’s wearing a striking short sleeveless dress with V-neck front in a screaming orange shade. Her long blonde hair, draping over her shoulders, now reaches down to her waist. She’s not only a natural blonde, but she’s one of the rare women who wears her fake breasts well. She doesn’t feel the need to flash her double D’s, nor does she walk around without a bra.
“It was a hookup. Plain and simple, Evelyn.”
“But it could’ve been so much more.” Her lips curve into a flirty smile.
“You mean, had I not walked back into the bedroom when I did, you would’ve had your way?”
She swats my arm.
I clench my teeth.
“You totally blew that out of proportion.” She rolls her hazel-brown eyes. “I told you a million times already.”
“Stepping out of the bathroom and catching you with a safety pin in one hand and a pack of condoms in the other is pretty self-explanatory.”
She sweeps her hair over her shoulder and stands a little straighter. “That’s not what happened.”
