Be reasonable, Jia.
Stop being so emotional.
Why do you cry so much? It’s not rational.
Don’t be hasty, Jia.
It hurt her a little to do this, given what she knew of her declining revenue, but Jia picked up the check and rippedit in two, and then two again and then again. “I don’t want your bribe.”
“It’s not a bribe.” He stared at the confetti she’d made. “Do you know how long I had to hunt for a paper check in my moving boxes? Everything is electronic now.”
“Thanks for hunting. To be honest, I never thought I’d get to rip up a check in indignation in this day and age.”
Dev closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Jia...”
Donotget all flutter tummied over your damn name.“I think I should leave.”
“Please,” he said, his voice low. “I understand how much this must have hurt. Please, let me make it up to you somehow. What can I do for you?”
She shook her head and shoved her chair back. “There’s nothing you can do that can make up for this.”
His eyes darkened. “I can’t accept that. I must make amends. I—” A small commotion near the front of the bar caught their attention, along with that of others in the bar.
“What’s going on?” He craned his neck to look around her.
“It’s paparazzi. Someone superfamous must be coming or going.” A few people around them were hastily donning their jackets, eager to capitalize on the free publicity outside.
Internet-famous celebrities didn’t appeal to most paps, but for once she didn’t want any attention. She waved the waiter over. “Is there a back way out of here?” Jia asked the waiter.
“Yes, of course,” the man said calmly, used to sneaking people out.
“Wait for me, please,” Dev said.
Jia cursed the innate politeness that froze her feet at Dev’s request. Dev was a bigger fish than her for sure, and as annoyed as she was at him—and his family—he’d personally done nothing to her to justify throwing him to the publicity wolves.
Dev handed over his credit card, and the waiter pulled out a handheld machine and swiped it right there, while she texted Gerald where to pick her up.
She and Dev followed the waiter through the kitchen and to a back door. “Goes into the side alley,” the waiter said.
“Got it, thanks,” Jia murmured. The cooler air hit her face as they stepped out.
“What is that smell?”
Jia sniffed. “Pot,” she said curtly. She’d gotten used to the scent of it here.
“Oh.”
“It’s legal, don’t sound so scandalized.”
“I’m not scandalized.” He was silent as they walked through the alleyway. “Jia—”
They stepped out onto the sidewalk. “I don’t want to hear anything—” She gasped when he placed his hand on her arm, whirled her around, and stepped in front of her. The smooth move crowded her back against the building. His arm slipped between her and the brick, though it didn’t touch her. His other hand came to rest on the wall next to her face, locking her in the cage of his body. If she took a stepback, she’d hit his strong arm. If she took a step forward, she’d hit his strong chest.
“What the hell are you doing?” she whispered furiously. Or she tried to sound furious. Yes, it was definitely fury that had sent her heartbeat racing and her breath into her throat.
His chest moved quicker, like maybe his heart was racing too. His forehead almost rested against hers. “I’m sorry to startle you. Give it one moment,” he said softly. “There’s a man running up the street. He has a camera. He’ll be past us in a second. You seemed eager to avoid the press, I’m trying to keep him from seeing you.”
Oh. If she listened carefully, over the pulse in her ears, she could make out a pounding on the pavement coming from the other direction. “I see.”
