“When did she come back?” I probe.
“Don’t know, don’t care.” He shrugs, but I can tell he’s lying. “She picked the wrong law firm to come work at, though.”
I don’t get any more out of him as Phillips and his companion stroll up to us. She’s hidden slightly behind him, so I can’t see her features.
“Gentlemen, how lovely to see you.”
His nasally voice grates on my nerves, but I plaster a fake smile on and hold my hand out.
“Phillips,” I greet, wrapping my hand around his. His handshake’s just as bad as him—limp, wet, and lacking.
“Can I introduce you to my daughter, Tara?” He pushes the woman closer to me, a smile on his face.
“We’ve met,” she purrs.
Wearing a white dress that clings to her body, her hair up in a—honestly, I don’t give a fuck what she looks like. Her presence is boring the shit out of me. Especially considering she’s already pissed me off with that little stunt in my office.
I take a step back, not wanting her near me. “Unfortunately,” I mumble.
“Did you get a chance to have a look at my proposal?” Phillips asks, puffing his chest out. I’m not sure why, because I’m about to tell him exactly what I think of it.
“Yeah, that’s not gonna work for me,” I reply, running a hand across my chin. “I’m not in the market for a new whore.”
Tina gasps and clutches her pearls while Phillips gapes at me before spluttering, “How dare?—”
I take a menacing step forward. “How dare I?” I growl, my tone low and dark. “How dareyou. Selling your own daughter off for a merger?” I scoff, and Phillips’ face pales. “Or was she in on it as well, seeing as she doesn’t understand the word no?” I clench and unclench my fists as my rant continues. “People like you disgust me. Wanna do business like a real man? Contact my office on Monday. Until then, get the fuck out of my sight.” I gesture with my head to anywhere but near me.
Phillips’ face goes bright red in anger as Theo and Caleb snigger beside me.
“Toodle pip.” I grin and wiggle my fingers.
He storms off with his daughter in tow, and Caleb slaps my back. “Toodle pip? What are you? A British aristocrat?” he laughs.
“What? So you assholes can act like teenagers, but I can’t? Fucker deserved it,” I groan.
Theo chuckles. “I love you, man, but we need to work on your comebacks; they’re severely lacking.”
“Fuck off, the pair of you.”
“Never,” Theo says. “Come on, let’s get another drink.”
Chapter Fifty-One
RAVEN
Iwatch as that bitch from the restaurant and lingerie shop strolls toward James with an older man attached to her arm. A wave of jealousy washes over me as I watch her approach him, but my anxiety eases when James steps back.
“What’s going on?” Mia nudges me, gesturing over at James, Theo, and Professor Anderson—I didn’t know he was friends with him.
I shrug. “I don’t know, but I don’t like it. That’s the nasty woman that I’ve bumped into too many times now to be a coincidence,” I muse.
Mia hums next to me, watching the scene unfold with me. “Oooh, did James just clap back at the old dude?” she laughs, a hand coming up to cover her mouth.
“Well, considering he looks like he’s about to blow a blood vessel and James is looking smug as sin, I’d say that’s a yes.”
Getting turned on at the sight of James in his CEO role gives me an idea. “I’ll be back,” I tell Mia.
She grins. “I’ll find my own way back home.”
