Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Crue looks to the man standing to my left. Matthew, who has worked on a few cases with me.
“You know who I am?” Crue asks, to which Matthew nods his head. Crue glances behind me to where a few other colleagues are. “You all know who I am?”
“Yes,” they say in eerie unison.
Does he think he’s God?
“Good. I’m pleased to hear you all kept your mouth shut.” He motions to the bartender. “A round for the bar.” I turn to see everyone wearing wary expressions, their heads cocked to the side trying to listen in or their eyes narrowed as if in confusion. How do I take charge of this situation? Do I tell him to leave? Or do I pretend I don’t know him? But by the way they’re curiously observing him, it’s obvious everyone is too scared to ever speak against him in any way. Some great law firm we are. When I shift my gaze back to the spot where Angel was standing, she’s gone and has been replaced by the one person who seems to epically piss me off simply by existing.
“We have to talk,” he demands.
“No, we don’t.” I look past him to see Angel hugging Dominic, his hand immediately gravitating to her stomach.
“Yes, we do. I have your ring.”
I am shocked when he pulls out a blue box and flicks it open. I quickly reach over and slam it shut. “You so better not be giving me a fucking ring.”
“Anyone told you before that you have a dirty mouth?”
“Anyone told you before that you are an asshole who thinks he can get everything he wants?”
He smirks before leaning in to whisper, “I don’t think I can. I know I can.”
“You can’t have me,” I tell him as I grab my bag from the stool and step around him.
He doesn’t reach out to grab me. Well, at least that’s progress.
Fuck this! I was about to leave anyway. I down the last of my drink and make my way to Angel, who is still with Dominic.
“You want to go get some dessert?” I ask her, and she nods and takes my hand as we walk out.
“He’s going to be pissed,” Angel says somewhat cheerfully.
“Let him be pissed. I don’t care.”
“He bought that ring today. Took ages in the jeweler.” She mischievously side-glances at me.
“You don’t think I will actually marry him, do you?”
“Of course she does,” Crue says, coming up behind us.
“Oh my God, please leave me the fuck alone.” I wave a hand between us. “This whole stalking thing is next level.”
“Have dinner with me, and I will leave you alone. For a while at least.”
“You’re trying to bribe me to have dinner with you? Didn’t we do this song and dance already? It failed, remember?”
“Dinner, and you have my word. I’ll leave you alone for a bit.”
I have the unnerving feeling that he won’t leave us alone if I don’t agree, and the only person I want to spend time with right now is my best friend. It fucks me off to realize I can’t spend any time with her without what is considered his permission. But it’s also been so long since I’ve seen her.
I turn to Angel. “Are you free later?” I ask.
She looks to Crue and then back to me with a nod. “Sure.”
I turn to Crue. “Fine, I’ll have dinner with you. And then leave me the fuck alone,” I say.
“As you wish.” He smirks, and almost immediately another sleek black car pulls around the corner and parks at the curb.
I look between the car Dominic has just driven and him. A spark of irritation flutters through me. The prick knew I’d end up going with him. “Do you always have men on standby?” I ask dryly, so annoyed at his arrogance.
A cocky smile curves his lips. “And even more women.”
An unfamiliar burn sets my stomach alight at the thought of Crue with another woman. I swat it away, wondering how any woman in their right mind could seriously consider falling for this asshole. Then again, with looks like his, he could have anyone.
He adjusts his suit jacket as he opens the door for me. I get in, and he walks around to the other side and slides in next to me. I look out the window to see Dominic blow out a whistle and Angel offer a small wave.
It still blows my mind to see them as this… happy family. After all these years, I knew about them. Not the marriage. But still, seeing it is so different to the sixteen year old friend I’d left behind all those years ago.
“I can’t believe they’re still together,” I say.
“And still insufferably infatuated with one another. It’s sickening.”
I turn to him and see the disgust on his face. “You don’t believe in love?” I question.