Page 124 of Off Limits Mogul

The shrimp was so succulent, I thought I was having a communion with God. The wild sea bass melted in my mouth.The chef is gifted. Everything else was on par with an unforgettable dining experience––from the attentive wait staff, to the irreproachable wine list, to the relaxing atmosphere.

Even though I was stuffed beyond words, I couldn’t resist dessert. Neither could Rhys. As we polish off the last bite of the chocolate espresso ganache cake with two scoops of the cherry sorbet we shared, the mental countdown starts in my head.

I drop my fork on my empty plate. “So…”

Rhys mimics me. “So…”

“Don’t you think I’ve suffered enough? I even had to endure Addison.”

“She wasn’t part of the program.”

“She monopolizes people’s attention, that’s for sure.”

He grimaces. “Addison Moody is an Instagram model with a massive male following.”

I was right about the model part.

“She’s an attention whore, and so desperate for relevance she’s willing to flash her semi-naked breasts and butt to make sure everyone knows her name. That’s how she managed to land a lucrative sponsorship deal with an adult toy company. Other than that, there isn’t much to her.”

“I see.”

“Let’s focus on why we’re here tonight.” He veers the conversation.

I sit straight in my chair.

“I told you about SCORE Yours?”

“It’s your shiny new project.”

“Beckett and I feel strongly that this is a game changer for us?—”

“I’ve said it before, but I’m so proud of you and I’m super excited for you.”

“As of this morning,you’repart of SCORE Yours.”

My face twists in confusion. “What does that mean?”

“You made quite an impression on Arianne,” he says.

“It’s mutual, but that still doesn’t explain what you just said.”

“There’s so much you underestimate about yourself, Keira,” he says.

“Okay… I thought this was a celebration. Why does it feel like my head is on the chopping board?”

“You have it all wrong,” he says. “Your head is about to become a commodity.”

“Can you translate that in English, please?”

Rhys tells me all about his meeting with Beckett and Arianne.

When he finishes, I stare at him, my eyelashes batting a mile a minute, my heart lurching in my throat.

He narrows his eyes. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“Me?” That’s all I manage. My hand goes to my hair, playing with the short strands as I worry my lower lip. “Really?”

“Yes. You. Really.”