She hated how she couldn’t deny the other two.
“Really? Then why can’t I seem to believe you? It sure doesn’t help your case smelling likeVeuveClicquot.”
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Damn him.
“I had a…moment,” she muttered, her cheeks betraying her as the earlier flush returned.
His eyes caught it. “I can tell.”
She frowned.“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Women who have moments…” He ignored her caustic tone, his gaze lingering just a beat too long. “They’re usually the ones worth remembering.”
Her breath caught in her throat. Words floated in her mind, but none felt safe enough to say. Emily feared she’d already crossed enough lines tonight. His eyes zoned in on the intake, but his words landed somewhere else, a place that seemingly bothered him by the way his face went rigid.
“I still can’t understand why you need me to marry you. Aren’t you engaged to Mallion?”
He spoke Jake’s surname with deep distaste, which was unsurprising given the rivalry between their agencies. Still, Nicolas held the upper hand. He owned an entire mediagroup, not just any company or a single agency. Its status, revenue, and reputation overshadowed any rivals, even if those rivals existed mostly as a benchmark on paper.
“Miss Pinault, are you listening? I’m trying to tell you that I’m not willing to be a cuckold?—”
“Awhat?”
“You heard me.”
She gaped at him. Downright had her jaw almost touching the floor.
This man…
Yes, he was right to ask what he had. Her dating Jake was public knowledge. It would’ve been strange for him to agree to this proposition without knowing they’d broken up. But to have heard this shocked her. It was the last thing she expected from someone who looked so…proper.
Emily’s eyes narrowed. “How do you even know about my engagement?”
Nobody knew about it except Zariah and Chelsea whom she’d told to keep it a secret from their family until the time was right. Meaning until they tied the knot and they’d have no choice but to accept Jake. Or she’d hoped they would have…if she ever spoke to them again.
“There are eyes and ears everywhere, darling. It’d be best to remember that.”
She smirked, ignoring the term of endearment. It felt condescending if anything. “Well, the engagement’s off. I take it that’ll rid your fear of being the other man.”
A dark glint sparked inside Nicolas’s eyes. “I assure you, if you were my wife, you’d know there could be no other man.”
Her heart beat wildly within her chest and before she could reply, Zariahburst through the doors, breathless with two phones in one hand and their purses in the other.
“Gosh, Emmy, you scared me! I’ve been looking everywhere for you…” Zariah trailed off when she realized there was company.
“Hello,” she greeted Nicolas.
He gave a curt nod.
Much to Emily’s surprise, his eyes were still on her.
She swallowed nervously.
Was he going to say something else? Even with a new audience? She hadn’t minded John, so maybe he wouldn’t mind her friend.
