She’s being ridiculous. Lex doesn’t want me. On good days, he ignores me, and on bad days, I annoy him with my antics, like earlier this afternoon. Nothing sexual about that. “I honestly don’t know where you get these crazy ideas from.”
“Well, I got it because I have something you don’t.”
I roll my eyes, unimpressed. “And what is that?”
“The ability to see him whenever you’re not looking at him. And do you know what he does whenever you look away?”
I shouldn’t ask. I really shouldn’t. But she piqued my curiosity, and now I need to know. “What?” I say so low it’s almost a whisper.
“He devours you with his eyes. I-want-to-fuck-her eyes,” she explains, her tone confident.
I try my best to remain calm and unaffected, but her words are wrenching my guts. It isn’t so much the fact that Lex might want me but rather how far from the truth she is. “You misinterpreted,” I counter.
“I did not. The man wants you, Deedee.”
“Will you stop already? He’s so out of my league we might as well be on different planets.”
That’s when I recall the nude he received on our first encounter. Maybe it’s a girlfriend, a fiancée, an ex… The answer doesn’t matter. I’m not his type. Not even close.
Kate grabs me firmly and forces me to face her. “Andy, look me in the eye and tell me this. How did you know you could ask for so much money and get away with it?”
The answer would only reinforce her ludicrous ideas, so I say nothing and avert my eyes to look at the wall with a frown.
“I know you. I know you won’t accept what I’m saying until his tongue is shoved down your throat. And even then, you might argue he slipped,” she says as she releases me, visibly annoyed.
“I’m notthatdense.”
“Mind putting my theory to the test, then?” I squint my eyes at her, trying to guess where she’s going with this. Not waiting for my answer, she fishes out the black dress and hands it to me. “Put this on and see how he stares at you.”
“I won’t.”
“Why? Are you scared I’m right?”
“It isn’t appropriate.”
“Oh, come on! Celebrities on red carpets wear so much worse than this,” she argues, rolling her eyes.
I look at the dress like it’s poisonous. It isn’t vulgar since it shows no cleavage and isn’t too short. It’s just the back that’s exposed, but it isn’t indecent.
I don’t want to prove Kate right. What if her ridiculous claims turn out to be true? What am I supposed to do then? Keep going to work, and act like I don’t know my boss wants to fuck me as badly as I want to fuck him?
Kate notices my hesitation, and it’s over for me. With a victorious smile, she pushes me to the door. “Go shower,” she orders. “I’ll find what you need to accessorize this baby.”
Clearly, she’s determined to win this one, so I clench my teeth and obey.
Chapter 12
The restaurant is part of a fancy hotel, and I regret not following Kate’s instructions regarding my shoes. I’m not used to wearing heels, so I dismissed the ones she took out in favor of ballet flats. Now, I look like a misplaced child.
Nevertheless, I find my way to the dining room. It’s magnificent, with high ceilings, cream-colored walls, several massive crystal chandeliers… The furniture looks high-end, and the whole place feels very European—not that I’ve ever been there. People are dressed either smart or formal, and I feel like I stain the elegant ambiance.
Trying to ignore the intense beating of my heart, I walk up to the maître d’.
“Good evening, miss. How may I help you?” he politely asks.
“Hi, I don’t know if my party has arrived yet. The reservation should be under… Give me a second, I just have to make sure,” I excuse myself, stepping to the side. Did Kevin tell me which name they used in the text he sent?
“I’m here for the Langley reservation,” says a low, familiar voice beside me. My heart skips a beat, and the tiny hairs on my arms rise. Slowly, I look up to face the owner of the voice.
