Page 101 of Hostile Takeover

Perfect.

At some point on the way, Jess had lost a few more buttons. Her bra and ample cleavage were fully exposed in the now deep cut of her blouse. She offered a mischievous smirk as I held the door open for her and we headed straight to the dining room.

Ms. Wallace raised an eyebrow at me, passing on her way out as we stepped in. She looked at Jess, who’d placed herself on my arm, then back at me, shaking her head. “Calli is feeling a bit tired. She decided to have dinner in her room. I’m going to join her,” she informed, then walked off, leaving no room for argument.

Good.

Calli’s ability to handle too much excitement had been my only qualm about this stunt.

With her tucked away for the night, all bets were off.

“Go retrieve my wife from her room please,” I told Henry. “I expect her at the table for dinner.”

Henry’s usual blasé expression hardened as he looked me in the eyes, giving a quick glance to where Jess had already moved to take a seat. “You sure about this?” he asked.

“I’m positive.”

He let out a grunt and a quick nod, saying nothing else before he moved to gather Nalani for me.

“Why is everybody so uptight today?” Jess asked. “It’s not like this is the first time I’ve come to dinner.”

I didn’t respond to that.

Jess wasn’t dumb by any means, no matter how much she might fake it to get her way.

She knewexactlywhat was going on.

“Henry didn’t mention that we had a guest.”

Nalani’s voice pulled my attention to the doorway. Her natural hair was out and wild, which I loved, but knew wasn’t for my benefit. Her skin was glowing like she’d just finished her skin routine and she’d clearly already showered and changed into loungewear since coming home. I teased her about her comfort wear, but my body’s reaction to her curves poured into the ultra-soft, clingy fabric of her matching set made me shift a little in my seat.

If I couldn’t say shit else, she was… exquisite.

She wasn’t looking at me, though.

She was looking at Jess, as Chef served dinner.

“Nalani, it’s so lovely so see you,” Jess gushed. “You look so… comfortable.”

Nalani shrugged, making her way to the table, to the setting directly across from Jess. “How else should I look? This is my home.”

“Oh. Well… of course,” Jess said, taken aback. “I love that you’ve settled into the role.”

“Role?” Nalani asked, smiling at her. The most beautiful, alarming smile I’d ever seen. “Surely we can leave the corporate speak at the office. I’m assuming that’s where the two of you are coming from?”

Finally, she looked at me, expecting an answer.

I nodded.

“Yes, a marketing meeting that ran a bit long.”

Nalani’s eyes narrowed, and she nodded too. “Nice. I’m guessing the length meant it was productive?”

I met Chef’s gaze, and he shook his head, excusing himself from the drama. I couldn’t blame him. I was already regretting the shit I’d clearly started.

“Very,” Jess chimed in, pulling attention to herself. She made an exaggerated point of wiping her mouth as she glanced at me. “I’m sure you know how Orion gets when he’s locked in on… reaching a certain peak. Like a dog with a bone.”

“Huh,” Nalani said, looking at me, then back to her.

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