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The front door of the club is open when I get there. They must be working early to get the club ready for my friend, Tyson with a T tonight. I'm looking forward to it; even if I have to stand behind the bar with James, I'm going to be there.
There's chatter in the club when I enter, and I follow it into the main room. She's there. With another man's hand on hers, giving it an affectionate squeeze.
My ears roar with jealousy. What the fuck. "Well, hello."
Clarissa's head snap around at my voice. "Matthias! What are you doing here?" She doesn't sound shamed, just irritated.
I lift the bag of food. "I was bringing my fiancée some lunch, but apparently I'm also interrupting something."
She sits back, her hands slipping out of the other guy's, folding her arms as she narrows her eyes at me. "Itoldyou I had a meeting."
"So, I see." I want to slap myself. If I thought I sounded like a lovesick teenager before, now I sound like a jealous husband.
I drop the food on the bar and walk over to the table, Clarissa's eyes following me.
As I get closer, I realize I know the guy. I can't remember his name, but he definitely looks familiar.
"Matthias," I say, extending my hand.
"Hello!" He greets me cheerfully as he takes my hand. "I'm Halifax. We met at Leanne's a few weeks ago, remember?"
Right. I knew he looked familiar. Was that really only a few weeks ago? A little over a month, I think. Time with Clarissa has felt like just a second and an eternity, both at once. No wonder I don't know my brain from my asshole.
I give him a friendly smile. "Of course, Halifax, how are you doing, man? It's good to see you. I'm sorry, I didn't place you. It's a little dark in here." In my soul, maybe.
"It's okay, we were just—"
"Itoldyou I was busy, why would you come here?" Clarissa interrupts, her face a swirling dark storm.
Halifax clears his throat and leans away from her as I mouth an"I'm sorry"to him before addressing her. "I just came to bring you some food. I know how you forget to eat if I don't remind you."
She slides her chair out, ignoring the squeak of the chair legs on the floor, and grabs my arm, pulling me over to the bar.
"I run a business, Matthias," she hisses, her anger hardly simmering, rather boiling over. Hot, spitting oil.
"I know, darli—"
She throws her hand up. "I wouldn't just barge into your office if you had told me you were in a meeting. It's not professional."
"I'm sorry! Like I said, I was just dropping some food by." That's a lie and even I know it. "I just miss you. I feel like we haven't had any time together for a week. My heart misses its hellion."
There's a thawing of her eyes, and then she blinks and it's gone. "I'm busy. I'm trying to make this club work, Matthias. I spent two days away from it when we went to Milan."
"I know. It wasn't planned, but it all worked out, didn't it?"
"Luckily! And with all the extra traffic from the"—she rubs her temple and drops her voice—"the fake engagement, it's just taking a lot of juggling so that we can fit more people through while keeping up the service that we're being known for."
I want to reach out for her, but the fear of rejection holds me back. "I get it. Can I help in any way?"
She nods. "Yes. When I tell you I'm in a meeting,please,respect that I'm in a meeting."
My jaw twitches, she keeps pushing me away, and I don't know how to bring her back. "Fine. I'll go, but promise me you'll eat some of the food."
She sighs. "Matthias."
"Promise or I'm not leaving."
She lets out a little snort and rolls her eyes, and for just a second, it's just us again. I pull her in and kiss her, her scent calming me, her skin against mine, bringing me peace. She leans into the kiss, and everything is okay.
