I should… right?
So why can’t I send him the text?
A bubble forms, indicating he’s typing. I inhale sharply when his message comes through.
MR. GENTLEMAN: What if I told you that you’re the only woman I’ve ever called a good girl?
I shake my head.
He’s lying.
There’s no way it’s possible.
Scared of how badly I ache for it to be true and hating myself for being so weak, I daringly lift my head. I’m sucker punched in the chest as he stares at me hot and heavy, while his oblivious date looks up at the stage where the auction has begun. Her hand absently rubs across his pecs, drawing my attention to the sensual move.
The violent urge to rip her fingers off his body claws its way up my inside.
For a second, my vision turns dark with jealousy.
Cutting my eyes away from them, I lurch to my feet and scurry out of the ballroom. No one pays me any mind. Too busy participating in the bidding war and bragging about their endless wealth in the name of donating.
I never thought of myself as the woman who gets knocked off sideways because of a man. Especially whose personality and attitude make me want to throttle him half the time. He’s so vindictive that he invited my sister to throw me off balance.
The joke's on me because Kian and Iris didn’t even show up.
Nathan Singhania is a jerk.
He’s playing mind games with me.
Don’t get swept in it, Arya.
Men are nothing but trouble.
I look up and down the brightly lit hallway, searching for an escape to the garden I caught a glimpse of earlier. I’d ratherbe stuck with insects and mosquitoes than sit across from him. Maybe having my blood sucked will get rid of his drugging effect.
Lifting the hem of my gown to avoid tripping, I take a step.
“Where are you going?”
Yelping at Nathan’s dark voice, I spin around to face him. He’s standing a hairbreadth away from me. How the heck did he sneak up on me so quietly?
I jut out my chin defiantly. “None of your business.”
His eyes narrow just as I give him my back and head for my escape.
Barely a step ahead, he taunts, “Running away again?”
I halt.
“I forgot it’s what you do best.”
Tension ripples down my spine, spreading from my arms to my hands that ball into fists. Uncurling my fingers after a deep breath, I whirl around. He’s leaning his shoulder against the wall with his arms folded over his chest. His magnetic eyes sweep up and down my body, sizzling.
Fixing him with my best raging glare, I warn, “Stop following me.”
“Stop running.”
“Whyshouldn’tI run from you? You keep crossing boundaries while I’m only trying to do my job.” Cocking my hip, I complain, “It isn’t exactly a walk in the park with you. You were supposed to schmooze the board members. I did my part. And for the record, I was not flirting with Rithivik. Even if I was, you’re no one to tell me who I can or can’t talk to. Inviting my sister and her husband to get back at me was a shitty move too.”
