‘I’d choose your alternatives any day,’ she replies with a sweet chuckle.
She can’t help herself, can she? Compliments, teasing, giggling. This chick wants me. ‘Oh would you?—?’
‘Tom has a very different approach to team communications,’ she muses, circling her drink. ‘I’d love to hear more from him about it.’
My smile freezes.
It’s a question in disguise, and it hangs in the air like she’s thrown a grenade between us.
What.
The.
Actual.
Fuck.
She played me. She played megood.
She must’ve found out about the guest access restrictions. Clearly figured they didn’t apply to me. I’m that low in the food chain. I can’t believe I fell for it. I’m such a delusionalidiot.
Me, a stepping stone? Last year, I had my choice of girls, but now I’m paving the way for Mr Legendary Champion?
It’s official, I’ve hit rock bottom.
‘No pressure, I know it’s chaotic in here,’ she expands, expression totally unreadable.
How humiliating it’ll be to tell my sister Jules did pick me – to be her middleman. Her gopher. Her servant. I’d prefer to be ignored than this. She saw me, we connected, I made her laugh, I felt some kind of?—
Then she rejected me to my face.
She’s nothing but a user. A manipulative super bitch hidden underneath a hot body and mesmerising accent. She’s using me to use Tom. Well not under my watch. Bro code means something to me. I mean, he’s not my bro, but I hate her so I’m invoking it.
‘Sure,’ I say slowly, ‘I can introduce you to Tom. It’ll be my pleasure.’
She gives me a demure smile that I can see straight through. ‘Thank you.’
I lead her through the packed room to where he’s speaking with his management.
‘Tom, my man,’ I cut in, clapping him on the back as the group silences. ‘Let me introduce you to a friend of mine. She was asking about you. Thought I’d save her the trouble of working her way over.’
I can feel deep blue eyes watching me heatedly. By the time I look over, she’s schooled herself.
‘Sorry again for bumping into you earlier.’ She’s all fluttery eyelashes and I can see the careful strategist underneath evenclearer. Manipulating a moment. Preying on an unsuspecting target. It makes me sick. ‘I’m so clumsy sometimes.’
‘Oh, no problem at all,’ Tom says. ‘I’m?—’
‘That’s ridiculous,’ I snort. ‘Clumsy? You’re the most deliberate person I’ve ever met.’
Before Jules can respond, the Australian woman beside Tom cuts in. ‘Sorry to break this up,’ she shoots Jules a meaningful look and I have to press my lips together to keep from laughing, ‘but Tom’s needed elsewhere. Thank you.’
And just like that, he’s gone. Just Jules’ luck. What a crying shame.
She watches him go, pure panic on her face, and I’m about to smugly get on with my life when she spins to me.
‘Whatis yourproblem?’ Her hiss is venomous.
‘Me?’ My hand rushes to my chest. ‘Aproblem?’
