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“It sounds like you’re getting just what you deserve.” “It does, doesn’t it?” She gave a girlish giggle. “That was sarcasm, you abominable twat.”
“What’s she saying?” Roger hissed from the opposite end of the table. “He called her an abominable twat,” Rowena whispered back. “I don’t think it’s going well.”
I couldn’t see him. I would break and either shatter into a thousand pieces or murder him. Daisy would have helped me with the body, but she was on her yacht in the Bahamas.
Rock bottom was nothing but a foundation. And I would rebuild. But this time, it would be the life that I wanted.
It was time to wake some people up. “Jenny?” I said when my attorney picked up on the second ring. “Tell me what I can do,” she announced briskly. “How are you even awake right now? It’s two in the morning.” “I’m on my seventh cappuccino. I’ve got nine cease and desists with threatening legalese drafted and ready for business tomorrow. Then I started the defamation filings just for something to do. I also spent twenty minutes scaring the shit out of that Nina Nowak into spilling everything after Jane and Derek tracked her down. You?” Her words were flying out in an over-caffeinated explosion.
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“Hi, Kimmy,” I said, leaning on the desk. “I forgot my key to Mr. Price’s place, and he’s asleep. I don’t want to wake him by pounding on the door or calling. Can you help a girl out?” Subtext: Are you amenable to help a soon-to-be unemployed billionaire break into her ex-boyfriend’s apartment?
I pulled a cashmere throw off an armchair and draped it over him. That’s when I noticed the shirt tucked under his arm. It was mine. One I’d left here. Any ice left in the cracks of my heart liquefied. “Damn you, Price,” I whispered.
The smell of fresh espresso permeated my fog of self-pity. I had work to do, and I needed the unconscious man cuddling with my gym shirt to make it happen.
“You’re a mess,” I sighed, carting an armload of empties from living room to kitchen. “Don’t go,” he said. He was on his feet, swaying. “Sit down and drink your coffee,” I insisted. “I think this is a dream,” he muttered to himself. “Price, sit down. Drink your damn coffee. And sober up because we have work to do.” He squinted at me from across the room. “You’re bossy like the real Emily.” The man was beyond frustrating. And, okay, adorable. Also so gorgeous it hurt to look at him.
“Lita.” I said the name without any of the emotions I felt. “Is a manipulative psychopath who is so envious of you she won’t stop until she destroys you. And you believed her over me.” Maybe the man was due a small apology.
“Excellent,” she said primly. “Now, on to the next one.” Another contract? Was it a restraining order? A buyout offer? A prenup?
“This is how it’s going to go…” She laid it out for them, and I had the pleasure of watching pasty complexions go ruddy. She had them by the balls, and I couldn’t be prouder. “That is a very big ask,” one of the directors said, mopping his forehead and the back of his neck with a handkerchief. “I’m not asking,” Emily said. “I’m straight, but she’s never been more attractive to me than she is right now,” Jane whispered. “Same boat,” I agreed under my breath.
“We need time to discuss this,” one of the directors began. “You have five minutes,” Emily said. I was so turned on I was afraid I was going to embarrass myself with a boardroom hard-on.
She turned to face me and rubbed her palms together. “Ready for round two?” “Please tell me I finally get to use the stun gun?” Jane whined. I was rather hopeful on that point, too.
We were eye-to-eye, and, oh, I wanted to break that surgically straightened nose of hers. A movement behind her in the door caught my attention. Derek, face full of fury, hovered in the doorway. I shook my head slightly, but he didn’t budge. Then Jane was pulling at his arm. Pushing him. And when that didn’t work, she jumped on his back and clamped an arm around his neck.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you about that. Did you really want me to die, or was there another game you were playing?” Her smile was unhinged. “I had cameras set up in his room. I could have gotten a nice payout for a sex tape starring Emily fucking Stanton.” I was disgusted. This time it was Jane who appeared in the doorway, brandishing a stun gun. Derek hooked her around the waist, but she grabbed on to both sides of the doorway and silently wrestled for freedom.
“I’m pretty freaking great, Price.” “In that case, I think we need to schedule a meeting,” he said. “About what?” “About the prospect of a joint venture.” “We’re already fifty-fifty partners.” He squeezed my arms. “Marriage, Emily. I want to marry you.” “Did Jane deprive your brain of oxygen too long?” “Yes.” I grinned up at him and brushed a kiss over his mouth. “I’m willing to discuss the potential benefits of a… merger sometime in the future. But first, I want the biggest pitcher of Bloody Marys available to mankind.” “I’m never going to get to use this stun gun,” Jane whined, standing over
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“You’ve handled enough today,” I told her. “Let me take this one.” Emily’s gaze slid over me to her brother and then back to me. “He’s all yours,” she said. “Jane? Help me load up?” “But, but, but. Stun gun.” Jane pouted.
A computer monitor flew through the broken glass next. “Now can I?” Jane asked. “Be my guest,” I said, stepping out of her way. I walked out with the delightful sound of Trey’s shrieks and Jane’s maniacal laughter ringing in my ears.
She picked up my hand and compared knuckles. Both our rights were bruised, split. “Good day,” she whispered. I lifted her bruised hand to my lips, kissed each knuckle lightly. “A very good day,” I agreed. “Let’s go get a drink,” Jane said, opening the driver’s door. “I smell charred flesh,” Emily said. “Huh. Imagine that,” Jane mused, putting the SUV in gear. “Here,” I said, digging in my pocket. “I got you something.” I pulled out Trey’s watch and handed it to Emily. Jane snorted.
“Serves those ungrateful shits right,” Daisy said derisively. “To ungrateful shits!” Luna said, raising her glass. Luna was a lovely lightweight.
“Are you proposing to me with a prenup? Because if so, I really expected something more stylish.” “You were expecting my proposal?” he asked, eyebrows winging up in innocence. “I woke up two months ago with you measuring my ring finger.”
“I love you, Derek,” I whispered. “And I love you, Emily. You continue to dazzle me every day. Now, would you like to see your signing bonus?” He plucked the box from the table. “Wait,” I said. “I have a signing bonus of my own.” “What’s that, love?” “How do you feel about being a father?” “I’ll be thoroughly excited when the time comes,” he promised. “I want a family with you, Emily. I want to raise a new generation of pick-pocketing scientists.” “Good, because we’re going to get our first crack at parenthood in about thirty-six weeks.” He blinked. “What?” “That’s what I was doing in here
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“Maybe your mother will welcome our impending nuptials and baby news as a distraction from trying to rake your father over the coals in divorce court.” “Unlikely. But Bethenny and Ed will commission a nursery designer,” I predicted. “And Jane will buy him or her a teeny tiny stun gun,” Derek said, a smile spreading across his handsome face.
