Nate chimes in, “Probably not easily. The bastard’s a hard-ass. But you make it like he rules you. Talk to him like a grown-ass adult. You’re thirty-eight, for fuck’s sake.”
“I promised for Claudina, Nathaniel.”
“Don’t give me that crap,” he says at the same time that Leo shakes his head, annoyed.
They can give up the idea of me talking to Seb. I’m not ready to date anyone seriously anyway; my life is Claud and Claud only, and on top of work, that’s already enough.
I sip my drink and scan over the dance floor for the girl from the restaurant. Where’d she go?
Ah.There she is. I lean back and take her in.
“What even brought this up?” Matteo asks.
“He’s lovesick over that girl from the Building Unity party. He’s been miserable ever since.”
“Who? Jules?” Leo frowns. “I thought you hit it off. She seems like a good girl.” Regret swirls in my stomach. “I mean, if you’re not going after her, put me in, Coach, because she’s looking fine tonight.”
That snaps me out of it, “Tonight? What are you talking about?”
He looks at me, confused, and points to the girl in the white dress. “Jules? Matteo’s girl is her best friend. We were talking to them earlier.”
I stand up in a hurry and quickly pace over to the edge of the dance floor, ignoring my idiot brothers laughing behind me.
My overexcited dick, which has been rock hard from the start, knew exactly who he was looking at the whole time.Jules.
And then it hits me—she said her name was Juliette that night at Labo. How fucking stupid could I be?
Jules…Juliette.
What the hell is her deal? Did she know it was me all along and not say anything? It was public knowledge that it was a Davenport/Morales event.
Crazies are part of the deal when you’re as rich as us. Women, and even men, will do anything to get close to you because of the money you have, but I never got that vibe from her.
Besides one slip-up years ago, I’m usually a good judge of character.
So why didn’t she mention anything? What is this girl playing at?
She spins and pushes her hair off her neck, and there it is.Bingo!Her heart birthmark.
I see red.
Fuck motherfucking fuck.
I stride with purpose across the crowded dance floor, not giving a shit who I barrel into on my way.
“Jules,” I bark. Turning blindly, she stumbles, and I catch her around the waist. I lean close to her ear. “Or is it Juliette?”
Her eyes widen, and recognition is plastered all over her face.
Gotcha.
5
Juliette
“W-What are you doing?”I stammer, trying to break away from Harrison’s firm grip.
His normally turquoise eyes are dark, with a sharp gleam staring lethally into mine. He takes a deep breath, flaring his nostrils, and I notice his mouth clamped tightly shut and a small muscle flicker along his jaw. “Harrison?” I murmur.
