His smile twists into something ugly. “You shouldn’t have ever used me for your games with Patterson. You should’ve given me a real chance instead of keeping it in the family. It’s disgusting.”
“I’ll give you one more chance to move your hand before I drop you to your knees,” I warn him.
He laughs, glancing back at the painting. “Go ahead. Tell your secret boyfriend what I said too. I’d love to fuck him up and watch him throw away his entire career for a cheap-ass puck bunny who can’t keep her legs closed. Always knew Jamie was the sensible one. You’re sloppy seconds, Kendall.”
I shove him hard in the chest, but he barely moves. His hand catches my wrist, fingers tight enough to bruise, and he leans in like he’s about to kiss me.
“You’ll give me another chance, or I’ll make it my mission to ruin both you and Patterson.”
I turn my head at the last second, and his lips catch my cheek instead of my mouth.
A flash goes off somewhere behind us.
He pulls back with a satisfied smirk, like he planned this confrontation, like he wanted someone to capture this moment. My skin crawls where his mouth touched me.
“Think about what I said.” He releases me. “I’d hate for you to stain your daddy’s reputation.”
Then he walks away.
I stand there, frozen, my heart slamming in my chest. I try to remember how to breathe. The gallery noises rush back in, and I realize my hands are shaking.
“Hey.” Addison appears at my side with two fresh glasses of champagne. “I saw you talking to someone, but I got pulled into a conversation with—” She stops, her face shifting when she sees me. “Keke, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” She sets down the glasses and grabs my hands. “What happened? Who was that?”
“Damien Blackwell.”
Her eyes go wide. “No. What did he want?”
“For me to give him a chance after he called me a puck bunny.”
She bursts out laughing, but I don’t smile. “Oh, you’re serious. How will that work? You’re literally dating my brother.”
“Exactly,” I say, and it almost feels like I’m admitting something. “Damien’s … being an asshole. Now I understand why Patterson hates him.”
“Yeah, that man is a known snake.”
Addison studies my face, and I can see her trying to figure me out. I can’t quite meet her eyes. She’s too smart, but also too good a friend, to push.
“Okay, we’re leaving,” she says, linking her arm through mine. “Time to go home.”
“We don’t have to?—”
“You agreed to one drink, and we had more than one.” She steers me toward the exit. “I’m putting you in a cab, and you’re going to text me when you get home, okay?”
“Seriously, we can still?—”
“Nope.” She hugs me on the sidewalk, tightly. “Promise you’ll tell me whatever you’re hiding soon.” She pulls back and holds my face in her hands. “I know you’re hiding something from me. I haven’t figured it out yet.”
“Addi—”
“Go home. Rest. Call me tomorrow.”
I climb into the cab she flags down for me—the whole ride home, I stare out the window, Damien’s words echoing in my head.
He has leverage, and he’s petty enough to use it because he hates Patterson that much.
By the time I get to my apartment, I’m exhausted. I lock the door behind me and lean against it, trying to slow my breathing. I need to warn Patterson. I need to tell him before Damien does something stupid. But it’s late, and I know he’s probably asleep by now.
I strip off my clothes and climb into bed, but my mind won’t stop racing. Every time I close my eyes, I see Damien’s smirk, feel his lips on my cheek, and hear his threat echoing in my ears.
