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Unable to hold back my grin, I baited her. “I don’t remember you having such a dirty mouth, Cherry. What happened to my good girl?”
She narrowed her vicious gaze at me. “She grew up and realized she was just another conquest for you. Like all the other girls before and after her.”
“Paige,” I coaxed, remaining in control. “Is this how you’re going to behave?”
“Don’t talk to me like that.”
“Like what?”
“You know exactly what you’re doing. Now answer my question, why the hell are you here?”
I did the only thing I could do, I replied with the truth…
“I’m here to see you.”
Twelve
Paige
Now: One Month Later
By the time I stepped into our penthouse suite at the hotel room we were staying at tonight in Chicago, I was beyond exhausted, having back-to-back meetings for the last four weeks was starting to take its toll on me. If I thought Belle was a workaholic, constantly keeping me busy, she didn’t hold a candle to Adrian’s work ethic.
The man only had one speed.
Go.
He was literally the Energizer Bunny. I couldn’t believe his stamina with the grueling schedule he kept day in and day out. He never tired. Always prepared for whatever was planned.
He was a machine.
A freaking robot.Not only was he a workaholic but he also demanded respect; governing any room he entered without having to say a word. Nobody crossed him. I watched firsthand how he had the power tointimidate powerful businessmen whose egos were as big as their bank accounts, with a single glance. Influential men always needed to be knocked down a few pegs and Adrian had no problem bringing the ax.
It was definitely a sight to see.
It was also…
A hot as fucking hell .
God help me.
There was no resisting his charm, his possessiveness, and even his overprotective bullshit he hit me with on the daily. There was no escaping him. Every step I took, he was there. If he couldn’t be there for whatever reason he left me with security he hired to watch my every move.
However, I put my foot down when he tried to follow me into the bathroom, standing guard outside the door instead. The precautions he had in place were endless, but it wasn’t as if I hadn’t experienced this with him before. Except back then, it was only with guys who wanted to date me. Now, it was everyone I came in contact with. There wasn’t a single aspect of his life he wasn’t in complete control of.
I kept telling myself I could handle him.
I was a professional.
I wouldn’t let him get to me—not his words, not his devastatingly handsome good looks, not even the arguments we’d have for him to stay in control.
He’d always had an issue with authority, especially when it came down to telling him what he could and couldn’t do. I definitely had my work cut out for me for the next five months and counting.
“Hmm…” I moaned, sinking into the hot bubble bath in my bathroom.
This was how I usually ended most of my days. It didn’t matter where we were or what time it was. We were always flying somewhere on his private plane, barely staying in a town for more than a few days.
Thank goodness tonight he was attending a gala and I’d have the suite all to myself. First, a bubble bath then my plan was to binge-watch The Real Housewives while drinking my favorite blueberry wine I finally found at a liquor shop in the lobby. Taking a sip, I loudly groaned. Loving every second of this.
I waited for this moment all day. Where I could truly relax and not have to worry about his persistent pursuit of playing hero. I hated being the damsel in distress. It only gave him further authority over me.
Little by little, I let it all go. Dipping further into the bubbles.
“Cherry,” he announced, making me roll my eyes.
“I’m in the bath!”
Seconds later, the door to my bathroom flew open.
“Adrian!” I shrieked, covering my breasts. “What the hell? Don’t you knock?”
He grinned. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”
“That was a long time ago. Were you raised in a barn? Shut the damn door.”
“Well, I’ll be damned, Cherry, you don’t have to ask me twice.” He shut the door, leaning his back against it with his arms crossed over his chest.
It was only then I noticed he was wearing a tuxedo, looking every bit the dominant and devastatingly handsome man he was.
“I meant, get out.”
“But I really want in,” he countered with a predatory regard.
“You’re vile. What do you want? You’re going to be late to your event if you don’t leave soon.”
“We’re going to be late to the gala if you don’t get dressed soon.”
“We?” I scoffed. “I’m not going. The ticket is by plate and I wasn’t even invited.”
“You’re my plus one.”
“You can’t be serious.”
