Aria’s bPOV /b

I couldn’t believe thisb. /b

How the hell did Jace even know the heir of a family like this?

And if they were really this close, then my chances of closing this deal had basically dropped to 0.

“What are you doing here, Jace?” I asked bunder /bmy bbreath/b.

That bastard looked back at me with smug little smirk, pure satisfaction written all over his face. “I’m here for business of course. The difference is, unlike you, I’m doing it the decent way

“What bthe /bhell did you say about me? I never did anything inappropriate during work-

“Oh cut the crap.” He stared at bme /bcoldly. “We all know exactly how you stole that manager position from me.

That Zane Elrod whistled. “Wait, what? This chick took your manager btitle/b? Ouch! How the hell’d you let that happen man?”

“Because apparently I don’t have a hole between my legs.”

They both burst out bughing /bbsimultaneously/b.

My fists curled at my sides bas /bbI /bred at them. “Mr. Elrod, bI /bcan promise you that nothing Jace said is true. Feel free to call Apex and bask /babout my sales numbers–I treat my work seriously. And if you actually listened to my pitch, you’d know exactly what I bring to the table.

“Right–your brilliant strategy that lost Apex millions,” Jace sneered. “And then had me clean up after you.”

“That’s aplete lie. That deal never-

“Of course you’d deny that. Especially now that you’ve had our dear Alpha wrapped around you finger.”

God do I want to fucking p himb! /bAnd he was ring right back at me bas /bwell. For ba /bsecond it felt like we were about to full–on fight.

“Alright, alright, enough.” Zane drawledzily. “God, I hate tension during business. If you two bwant /bto win me over, maybe start by entertaining me a little?”

“Of course, bro. Anything you say.” Jace grinned like a loyal puppy. Disgusting.

“Then let’s bgo /bsomewhere else. The air’s getting a little stiff here.” Zane stretched and stood up. “Wait here. Gonna change real quickb./b”

And with that, he disappeared into the house.

“You need to bleave/bb,/b” Jace snapped the second Zane was gone.

“bWhy /bam I the one who has to leave? I got here first. You go.”

He seized my wrist abruptly, tight. “You have no fucking idea how to handle rich pricks like him, Aria. To men blike /bZane, women aren’t human beings–they’re fucking toys. I’m doing you a favor by telling you bto /bbwalk /baway before byou /bget crucified!”

I red at him. “Oh right, women as objects. That must be your motto as well Considering how you dumped like trash and treat bhis /bwife like ban /bbATM/b.”

“So this is what this bis/b–byou /bare jealous.” He snorted.

“You’ve god to be kidding me right now-

-I know bwhy /byou’re hanging around Delh. You’re still trying to work your way back into my life.”

He leaned in bcloser/bb, /bvoice low in my ear.

Well, it’d be lying to say I haven’t thought about you too. Delh’s so spoiled, privileged. She never made me feel the same way bas /b

04 AM

you did. But you’ve got to stop getting my attention by getting in my way. It’s not working.”

What the actual fuck?!

Can you even believe this bpunk/b?

I byanked /bmy wrist away and shoved bhim /bback bhard/b. “You piece bof /bbshit/b. This isn’t about byou/b. And this isn’t some stupid high school drama, I’m herepeting fair and square. Got it?”

His jaw clenched. “You really think you stand a chance?”

“Won’t bknow /bbunless /bI try, asshole,”

We red at each other, breathing hard. bAnd /bthat’s when Zane came back out, fully dressed.

“Jeez, you two still going bat /bit?” he yawned as he walked over, slinging an arm around Jace’s shoulders. “Alrightb, /benough fighting. Time to have fun!”

was already mentally bracing myself for whatever chaos Zane had nned.

But turns out I’d underestimated that guy.

I thought he’d take us to some conference room in bthe /bestate, maybe sit us down for lunch while we took turns pitching

Yet instead, he took us to a strip club.

A fucking strip club. In broad daylight!

I was in total disbelief when we walked into that dimly lit space. Sure, it looked fancy, but it was still a strip club. I must be the only women in the room wearing a top.

“W–wait, Mr. Elrod, are you sure we’re at the right ce?” I struggled to walk alongside Zane. “This is bhardly /bthe ce to discuss business don’t you think?

“This is how I do business. There’s the door if you don’t like it,” He bsaid /bbzily/b.

-But-

“Oh brx/b, sweetheart,” heughed, throwing an arm around my shoulder and even stealing a kiss on my cheek. “Look around–nobody else seems as uptight as you.”

I stood there, frozen, Jace followed us in, raising his eyebrows and giving me a smug “told you bso /bblook/b. I gritted my teeth and forced

ayself to keep bgoing/b.

I bwasn’t /bgoing to let that bbastard /bwin. Not today.

They gave bus /bthe highest VIP booth in the room. Almost immediately a girl wearing nothing but a thong climbed into Zane’sp, moaning as she ground her hips and pulled his hand bup /bto her breasts.

“What about you, my bman/b?” Zane yelled over the loud music,

“You know me. The usual, bJace /bgrinned.

Zane whistled band /bsnapped his fingers. Another girl with short hair slinked over band /bwrapped her arms around Jace’s neck.

“You’re married!” I biased under my bbreath/b.

“bAnd /bare you my wife?” That jerk rolled his eyes at me,

“OK now I must bask/b, Zane turned to bme/bb, /bhis blue eyes shing with mischief. “I figured the girl who couldnd Grayson Hart must be a real freak in bed. But here you are–acting like some uptight little prude. How did you do it?”

“I didn’t get close to him because of how I look or bwhat /bI wear,” I snapped.

b2/3 /b

9:40 AM b?. /b

“No way. What else do you got besides those pointy tits and big ass?”

The whole booth erupted withughter. Even the dancers were giggling

I shot up from my seat, my body shaking with anger.

“Mr. Elrod, I do want your business. But if all you’re here for is to humiliate me, bplease /bstop right now.”

He smirked. “Do you also call stop halfway through in bed? Way to disappoint your customer.”

Okay. I’m done.

I grabbed my bag, spun on my heel, and stormed off. Yet he suddenly called out:

“Alright, alright. Aria, wait”

I paused, in my track,

“I’ll be honest with you. The thing is… I’m not ba /bhuge fan of Grayson Hart,” he saidzily. “Swore I’d never do business with anyone close to him. But admire how persistent you are. So how about this: byou /bdo one more thing for me, and I’ll signb./bb” /b

turned baround/b, suspicious. “What thing?”

He gave me a grin

It was goddamn handsome–but his eyes were pure cold malice

“You want to pitch right? Yeah you bcan /bpitch–just do it while you’re stripping yourself on bthis /btable. I promise you’ll have bmy /bundivided attention this time. How does that sound?”

I stared at him..

And then I suddenly dropped my bag, ripped off my zer, and marched straight up to him.

He whistled, eyes lighting up with excitement. “Now we’re talking-

I snatched a bottle of wine and dumped the entire thing on his head.

“How about a sshdown for byou /bto start with?” bI /bsnapped. “How do you like thatb, /basshole!”

b3/3 /b