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The sound of their palms softly slapping fills the air.
“I knew he was playing me, so I beat him at his own game.”
“You totally did—at least temporarily, right? I know Bas really well.”
“You do?”
“Oh, yeah,” Nia assures her. “For years. So I know he didn’t take that lying down.”
“He didn’t. He also didn’t appreciate me blackmailing him to come back to Dallas. So he plotted revenge.”
“What did he do to get back at you? Squash a project? Slash your budget? Take over your department?”
“No. He demanded I marry him.”
“What? I mean, I saw the ring on your finger, but I assumed that somewhere in the last week or two you fell for each other and—”
“No. Sebastian was looking for some way to get me under his thumb. He used my weakness against me until he found it.”
Nia doesn’t respond right away. “Are you sure that’s what’s happening?”
“Of course. From everything I hear, he’s ruthless in business and he enjoys the kill.”
“He does, even more than Evan—and that’s saying something. I’ve seen Bas plow through an organization financially, with all the finesse of a wrecking ball, never caring what or who stands in his path.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re different.”
“You don’t have to blow sunshine—”
“I’m not. When he returned from his first trip to Dallas, the only thing he wanted to talk about was you. Not Reservoir, not its financials, not strategy. You. When I pointed out that you wouldn’t have cried over him if you didn’t care, he felt terrible—something he never allows. But he was also relieved that he mattered to you.”
“He doesn’t.”
“Sweetie, you can lie to me all you want. You don’t know me, and I don’t blame you for trying to protect yourself since you’re in the enemy’s lair, so to speak. But I hope you’re not peddling that lie to yourself. I saw the way he looked at you. Just like I saw the way you looked back at him.”
“Don’t read too much into that. He’s easy to look at, and I’m human.”
“If you want to pretend you’re not into him, go for it. I just don’t believe you. And Bas is too smart to buy that BS for long. By the way, before you get angry with me—or him—you should know he’s fighting for you right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“That conversation on the lanai out back? That’s not a friendly chat between fellow executives and buddies. That’s my husband reaming Bas out for not telling him the damn truth. Bas assured Evan he had a plan for making the Reservoir thing come together. He didn’t tell my husband—his boss and best friend for a decade—that involved marrying you. Want to know why?”
“Because Evan wouldn’t have cared?”
Nia scoffs. “That’s definitely not the case. No, Bas didn’t tell Evan because he knew my husband would object to him marrying—no offense—the enemy. And because he’s trying to protect you. Evan wanted to walk you out the door with the rest of the movers and shakers in the organization. Marrying you is Bas’s way of shielding you. He’s literally standing between you and my husband, telling Evan that you’ll be dismissed over his dead body.”
Damn it if Nia isn’t right. I both hate and love that she sees right through me. Can she reach Sloan in a way I can’t? Convince her that what I’m feeling isn’t one big corporate game?
“Why?” Sloan breathes.
“You really can’t guess? Bas didn’t have to even buy you an engagement ring, much less a rock you can see from outer space.”
“I figured he wants to show off.”
“Usually I’d agree, but with you… No. He wants everyone—especially you—to understand that you’re his. This isn’t merely a corporate acquisition. He’s staking his claim. He’s making you his in a way that has nothing to do with business.”
