Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
I swallow down the words before they can spill out. The need to confess to someone, anyone, eats at me from the inside out.
There's a sound at the door, and Elyse stumbles into the room. She freezes in the doorway when she sees us gathered around the counter. “Um...I'll just...”
Aries smiles at her and then hops off the counter. “Ahhh, there she is. We were just talking about you, little pet. So cute and tiny.”
I ignore him and her. Reacting to anything he says or does gives him ammunition that he can use against me later. But my lack of response pisses Aries off, and he stalks closer to Ely. If he touches her, I just might fucking lose it.
Lee’s eyes ping-pong between Elyse and me, suspicion building in their depths. “Is she the reason you haven't been pulling your weight?” I grind my teeth together so hard I’m shocked they don’t crack. “Fuck. Don’t tell me you’re pussy whipped, too?”
“If you haven’t claimed her yet, I might be interested.” Aries grins and leans in closer, his nostrils flaring as he inhales her scent. My scent.
His single saving grace is the fact that Elyse flinches away from him like she despises the idea as well.
“I… I think I should go,” Elyse stutters awkwardly.
“But you just got here, sweetheart…” Aries raises his eyebrows.
I grit my teeth. If I show even the slightest response, these fuckers will know what’s up, but I won’t stand by and let them touch her either.
“Leave her alone, Aries. She’s my employee. I’m not fucking her, and neither are you.”
The resounding sound of high heels clicking on the tile greets my ears, and I let out a sigh of defeat. Could this day get any fucking worse?
23
Sebastian
Tanya saunters into the kitchen and stops just behind Elyse. “I don’t pay you to stand here looking like a statue,” she snipes at Elyse, who jolts forward. In a flurry, she rushes past Aries and straight to the cleaning closet on the other side of the room.
Tanya stares after her for a whole second and then crosses to the counter, her skintight dress riding up as she walks. Aries watches her closely, but not in a sexual way, more like how you’d watch a rattlesnake that’s about to strike. I always thought he was smarter than he looks, especially concerning human nature. He’s a true Casanova and a playboy, but he’s also manipulative and cruel when he needs to be.
It’s probably how he manages to see Tanya for the snake that she is.
“Oh my, what a pleasant surprise. It’s been far too long since I've seen you all.” Tanya eyes Aries curiously, while I have to stop myself from vomiting on the floor. “You sure have filled out.”
“What do you want?”
“Do I need to want something to walk into my own kitchen?”
I release the spoon in my hand and let it fall into the bowl. I can’t fucking stand her, but I can’t make her disappear either. Closing my hand into a fist, I press it against my thigh beneath the island and sink my nails deep in my palm. Pain lances across my flesh, awakening my senses and grounding me.
“It's not your kitchen. It belongs to me, according to the Arturo estate.”
After my grandfather’s death, it became clear to me that I couldn’t simply write Tanya off. I wanted to so fucking badly, but there were certain stipulations, certain things that she owned a stake in by virtue of her marriage, and I needed to play it smart if I wanted to ensure that when I left, it would be with my entire slice of the pie. So while I despise her presence, she’s nothing more than a necessary hurdle to me getting what I want.
And knowing just how much her touch and mere presence pisses me off, she leans into my side and slices her fingers through my hair. It takes serious self-control to force myself to stay still because any out-of-place reaction will only entice her further. Even with me in control of the Arturo empire, I still can’t make her disappear. She’s got connections and knowledge. Plus…there’s truth in that old saying that it’s safer to keep your enemies close.
“Your grandfather was not in his right mind when he finalized the will.”
Here we go again. I’m not about to get into another argument with her about what belongs to her or doesn’t belong to her. According to the will, I’m to ensure she lives comfortably. It says nothing about whether that’s in a shallow grave or a foreign country.
“So you’ve told me half a dozen times. Now did you need something?” I ask more politely this time, trying to modulate my tone enough that she will get on with it and leave us the hell alone.
She shrugs. “Not really. I only came down for a drink, but I see we have guests, so...I'll stay a moment and chat.”