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“Lake,” Jasper calls my name, and I turn to glance his way.
“What’s up?” I ask.
Nervousness clouds his eyes, and he rubs the back of his neck. “What’s going on with Poppy?”
“She’s getting married soon.”
“I know, but I figured she’d back out of it. He doesn’t treat her right.”
“How do you know?” I ask, pretending to not know what happened between the two of them.
“She told me. We’ve spoken, and I want to make sure you sh—”
“She’s a big girl, she won’t put up with what she can’t handle,” I interrupt.
“Well… I… I was hoping she’d come to her senses before she marries him.”
“She has her reasons for marrying him. Trust me. I don’t support her decision either.” I sigh. “Poppy isn’t some girl you can discard for sex, Jasper. Even if she wasn’t going to marry Link, she doesn’t deserve another heartbreak.”
Atlas stands beside Jasper, playing on his phone.
Jasper shakes his head, sliding his fingers into his pockets. “She wasn’t just a quick fuck to me. I can’t stop thinking about her.”
Atlas glances at me, then mumbles under his breath, “I know the feeling.”
I roll my eyes at him and stroll to the elevators with Jasper following suit.
“I’m sorry I wasted your time. I wanted to know if I still had a shot. Thanks.”
“No problem,” I say.
After work, I meet Ember and Alyssa at a bar right around the corner from our workplace. I sip my Coke slowly—no more alcohol for me. The last time I drank, it was horrible, and I ended up at Atlas’s place, and I don’t want it to happen again. We sit at a table, and the waitress brings Ember and Alyssa their beverages.
“This place is dead,” Alyssa says. She has her hair cut into a bob, and she has on a blouse with a pencil skirt.
She’s Trent’s executive assistant. I don’t know much about her, and I only said a few words to her during our meetings.
“It’s a Monday, of course it’s dead. It’s the perks of coming here on a weekday. Otherwise, it’ll be packed with too many people,” Ember says as she flips her braids over her shoulders before she sips her beer.
Alyssa scrunches up her nose. “How was work for the both of you?”
I shrug. “The same old stuff. Atlas is still being an arrogant asshole who thinks he rules the fashion world. ”
“What’s up with you and Atlas?” Ember asks. Her ears perk up as she’s ready to hear some juicy gossip.
Trying to play it cool, I inhale deeply, then exhale slowly. I’m not telling them about my business with him. It’s bad enough I slept with him, and it’s even worse he’s still wants to sleep with me. Even if I did know them well enough, I wouldn’t tell them anything. My father always taught me that if you don’t want people to know your business, then keep it to yourself.
“Nothing,” I say too quickly, and Alyssa raises her eyebrows. “He’s a friend of my family, but our relationship is nonexistent.”
“How is he a friend of your family?” Alyssa asks.
“My father used to be contracted withNaked.”
“Who is your father?” Ember says.
I swallow loud before answering, “Ambrose Ortiz.”
Both of their eyes widen in shock. I’m used to it, people fawning over my father, looking up to him as if he’s a god. People would do anything to work with him to further their careers. “TheAmbrose Ortiz?! Everyone knows him as a legend in the fashion industry.Oh,you’re his daughter? He never put you in the public eye,” Alyssa says in awe. “I heard what happened to your mother in the blogs, I’m so sorry.”
