“So, how’s domestic life?”She looks at me over the rim of her glass with a smirk.
“The best.” I take a sip of champagne. “Shut up. I hate that I’m that girl now.”
“I’m not saying anything.” She lifts her hands in mock surrender. “I’m happy for you.”
My phone buzzes in my clutch, and the moment I see Phoenix’s name light up the screen, Lianna leans in like a nosy little gremlin.
“Jesus, I can literally still see him from here.”
PHOENIX: If I’d stayed beside you any longer, I would’ve had my hands on you. Knowing you’re walking around painted in my cum is making my cock ache with how much it wants to get inside you.
You’ve had me on edge since before you fastened my necklace. Stop fucking with me.
“Incoming,” Lianna mutters, and when I glance up, James is heading toward us with a stunning woman attached to his arm.
“Shannen Mitchell, thank you for coming… And who is this?”
Lianna reaches forward, holding out her hand. “Lianna Monroe, best friend and club owner.”
That’s my girl—power-thirsty, unapologetic psycho who doesn’t shrink from anyone, especially not men in suits.
“James Lawson, it’s nice to meet you.”
“And I’m Avery,” the brunette beside him adds. “James’s date, who he seems to have forgotten about during the introduction.”
“My apologies,” he says, not sounding remotely sorry, his eyes fixed on me. “This is the wonderful woman who’s redesigning my hotels, Avery.”
“Actually, I’d like to discuss the project with you at some point tonight. I know shoptalk isn’t ideal at an event like this, but it won’t take long.”
“Of course… I’d love to. I’ve just got to speak to a few of the guests, but I’ll come find you in a little while. I’d actually like to introduce you to some people.”
“Sure.” I force a smile as both he and Avery turn and disappear into the crowd.
“Well… No wonder Phoenix doesn’t like him. He looks at you like you’re food.”
“Thankfully, I won’t have to see him again after tonight. Also, club owner?”
“The sperm donor will be in the ground one day, so it’s just a matter of time.”
“Is he leaving it to you?”
“He’d better be, or I’ll drag him out of hell, jam a pen in his cold, dead hand, and make him sign the papers before I kick him back down just in time to be fucked dry on the devil’s pitchfork.”
My ego’s been stroked raw tonight. I don’t need smoke blown up my ass to know what I’m capable of, but the truth is, I don’t belong here. These aren’t my people, not really. I live in a different worldfrom the one I grew up in, but this… this is something else entirely.
Still, I’m glad I came because I’ve made some connections, and not everyone in the room turned out to be a soulless, pretentious dick.
I scan the room, something I’ve been doing all night. Phoenix is always there—never in my way, but always positioned where I can see him if I need to. Right now, he’s near the edge of the dance floor, standing beside Lianna, with his arms crossed over his chest. Meanwhile, I’m stuck in a conversation with Francesca Faulkner, founder of some luxury beauty brand I’ve never used but keep hearing about through the influencers who flood my feed.
“May I interrupt?” James’s voice reaches me, and when I turn, he’s standing there with his hand held out. “Would you like to dance?”
“I don’t dance.”
“If you want to talk about the project, then this is your moment. I’ve got a mile-long list of people waiting for my attention.”
There it is, pressure disguised as politeness.
“One dance,” I say, placing my hand in James’s before I can overthink it, because it’s possible that Phoenix is going to kill me.
