I inhaled and pulled my shoulders back, stretching my lungs and trying to break through the rising tension.
I wouldn’t let her inability to be a mature woman and keep her catty feelings to herself ruin the excitement I’d stepped onto the elevator with. I wouldn’t let her ruin the happiness I foundin going home to a man I was falling in love with. I sure as hell wouldn’t let her ruin my night with him.
My shoulders dropped. Maybe if I said it enough, I’d start to believe it.
I sighed, a frown screwing my face tight. “She used to have a thing with Lucian.”
“Used to? Or still does?” she asked, her brow arching as doubt and concern flickered in her gaze.
I nearly stumbled.
I hadn’t even considered the possibility that he might still be stringing Emily along. What if he kept her on the side in case our agreement didn’t work out? What if—“No,” I objected vehemently, shaking my head. “No. He wouldn’t cheat. Their relationship is definitely in the past.”
“Okay. Okay,” Shiloh said, raising her hands in surrender. She smiled and shook her head, moving on to safer topics. “How are the interviews going?”
I groaned. “Slow. But I guess that’s okay since my dad hasn’t been pushing for any specific candidates.”
She nodded as we walked out into the busy rush of everyone heading home from work.
“By the way, you need to make sure that you submit your resume,” I ordered with a wagging finger.
Her face scrunched, and she shrugged. “Maybe.”
I leveled her with a hard stare, leaving no room for arguments. “Yes.”
Instead of answering, she rolled her eyes and changed the subject. “Want to get some dinner?”
“Coward,” I muttered with a smile that turned apologetic. “I wish I could, but I have plans tonight.”
“Oooookay.” She heaved an overly dramatic sigh that had us both laughing.
“Seriously. We’ll get drinks soon and talk about how you’re going to submit the most perfect resume and lock in your promotion, saving me from these torturous interviews, so I can just freaking hire you.”
She rolled her eyes again, unaffected by my devious smile, walking backward toward her car. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
I waited until she rounded the corner before messaging Lucian.
My plans consisted of meeting him for another night at The Berkshire. We hadn’t returned since our one visit months ago. Last time, I’d been on edge, clinging to my control, and hatred for Mr. D&D. So much had changed since then, leaving the night open to endless possibilities that sent butterflies soaring inside me, fluttering with excitement.
Excitement that I wouldn’t let stupid, freaking Emily ruin.
“I’m hereto meet Lucian Daire,” I announced to the hostess behind a glossy black stand in the foyer of the club.
She studied me with a smile that inched my nerves closer to the edge. The last time I came here, Lucian had escorted me inside, holding my hand the whole way. Now I waited for someone to call me out, exposing me as a fraud who didn’t belong.
“Of course.” She reached under the stand and produced a textured black envelope with my name on it. “He left a note for you.”
“Thank you.” I cracked the wax seal and tugged a paper free.
Meet me where it began. – L
I shoved my nerves aside and leaned into the instinct that had carried me this far—chin high, posture easy, acting like I owned this place. “He’s expecting me inside.”
She held my gaze, her brilliant green eyes piercing as if they were looking for lies or cracks of weakness. “Would you like me to guide you?”
“No, thank you. But you can take my jacket, please.”
Finding no fissures in my armor, she relinquished her role as guardian and offered a demure, welcoming smile as if I were any other member. “Of course, Miss Quinn.”
