Page 54 of Villainous Rise

Canceled. Suddenly more interested in what’s under your Alliance-approved outfit tonight.

And what exactly are you doing right now besides harassing me about my underwear?

Imagining taking it off you.

Slowly.

With my teeth.

I stared at my phone, debating whether to respond or just throw the device out the window and be done with it. My common sense was screaming to end the conversation, but apparently my thumbs had their own agenda.

You’re impossible.

Just honest about what I want. Unlike your fake date tonight.

Can we please stop talking about Valor?

Fine. Let’s talk about how I’m going to be at Elysium tonight. Table by the window. Perfect view of your “romantic dinner.”

My heart stopped.

You wouldn’t.

I absolutely would. Already made the reservation.

Cipher. Don’t.

Too late.

Valor preening for cameras was bad enough, but add Cipher watching from across the restaurant? That was a recipe for disaster.

Wear something blue. It makes your eyes shine when you’re furious with me.

I threw my phone down onto my desk.

I had a job to do tonight. I needed to manage a delicate PR campaign, keep Valor on script, and play the role of the adoring girlfriend flawlessly. I could not afford a disaster.

And I had to do all of that while Cipher sat in the shadows with a front row seat to me pretending to like another man’s touch. He would be analyzing every smile and every brush of hands, waiting for a single excuse to snap Valor’s neck.

I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath. I needed this interview to go perfectly without any shattered bones or ruined reputations while a dark, twisted piece of my soul didn’t care about the PR campaign at all. That treacherous part of me just wished I could slip away to sit at that table with the monster.

CHAPTER 10

ANNIE

The elevator climbed toward Elysium’s private entrance with all the speed of a glacier, giving Valor ample time to itemize every flaw in my appearance.

“The dress is too tight across your hips.” His emerald eyes swept over me. “And that shade of red washes you out completely. You look like you’re recovering from the flu.”

I didn’t really care what he thought. The Alliance stylist had given me options and I’d chosen the red specifically because Cipher had requested blue because maybe I wanted to disappoint both men’s expectations tonight.

Besides, I’d thought I looked pretty good when I left my apartment. The red dress hugged my curves without being indecent, and the stylist had assured me it photographed well.

So much for that brilliant strategy.

“Your posture is all wrong too. You’re hunching. Shoulders back, chest out. And your hair.” Valor gestured vaguely at my head. “I specifically asked for an updo. Something elegant. This,” He waved dismissively at my loose waves. “This looks like you just rolled out of bed.”

“I spent forty minutes with the stylist and a curling iron to achieve these “just rolled out of bed” waves, thank you very much.”