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Nina must have noticed I wasn’t listening because I notice the irritating buzz stops for some time. But then she must have also followed my gaze because her next comment is, “Looks like your new girlfriend is a little bit of a flirt.”
My growl is unintentional. It’s the culmination of the restless energy inside me, the possessiveness demanding that I walk over there right now and stake my claim on Ava.
And guilt from not doing it earlier.
Nina mistakes the sound and smiles deviously. “Wanna play around and make her real jealous?"
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I growl out. She’s not expecting it because her eyes widen as she leans back.
“Excuse me?”
“You don’t talk about her,” I say. “You don’t make a snide comment, you don’t insult her, I don’t even wanna hear her name in your fucking mouth, okay?”
“Relax,” Nina argues back. "Just because your girlfriend is a flirt, don’t take it out on me.”
I suppress the anger. Yeah, I can't do this. A billion dollars is not worth putting up with this irritation.
I rise and Nina's father glances over when I do. “What’s going on?”
“You’re not talking business so I’m heading out,” I tell him. “Next time you want to talk to me, you come to me yourself, instead of sending your daughter over. Teach her some manners while you’re at it because the next time she badmouths the woman I....my girlfriend, I’m not going to take it so lightly.”
“Excuse me?’ Her father looks insulted. “Did you just threaten my daughter?”
"No.” I’ve never threatened a woman in my life and I don’t plan on starting now. I lean down to look him in the eye. “I’m threatening you.”
And with that and the knowledge that I just imploded one of my most important business relationships, I walk away.
Finally, I head toward where my heart and mind are urging me to go. To Ava.
The woman Ava was talking to turns first when she sees me coming and her eyes widen.
“Oh my gosh,” she says as I approach. “You’re Maddox Reign.”
The rest of the crew turns to gape at me too. Everyone except Ava who pointedly avoids looking at me.
“I am,” I say and keep staring at Ava. “Can I borrow my girlfriend for just a few moments?”
“Your girlfriend?" The woman's voice is confused until she follows my gaze. Then her jaw drops. “Oh! Oh my gosh, you’re….”
“Yeah," I say, and that is directed at the green-eyed bastard. "I'm her boyfriend."
He isn’t cowed. He smiles in return and rage burns in my heart.
“I’m kind of busy,” Ava says, finally turning her eyes to me with a tight smile. “We’re having a very important conversation, so if you would come back later, I'd appreciate it.”
The silence is deafening.
You could almost hear a pin drop.
Thing is, no one tells Maddox Reign to come back later. I’m typically the one giving other people the brush off, never the other way around. No one can quite believe what’s happening. I don’t care about my bruised pride, though. It’s her hurt that makes me ache.
I fucked up. Colossally.
“Ava," I say. “Give me a minute.”
“Maddox,” she says in the same tone. "No."
I know she’s trying to humiliate me in front of these people but she doesn’t know how little pride I have when it comes to her. I will do something stupid like go down on my knees right here.
