Page 27 of Prickly Romance

“Your email seemed to indicate a misunderstanding between us. It appears you think I’maskingyou to work with me. On the contrary, I am not.”

His words are delivered so smoothly, so elegantly, that I almost miss the threat in them.

When it hits me, I stop walking.

The guards stop too.

Sazuki turns to me, his face impassive. “Name your price, Miss Williams. What I have is money. The only thing I do not have is time.” He walks toward me. “And especially time to waste.”

A hint of his cologne wafts through the air.Why does such a terrible person smell so good?

He arches an eyebrow, waiting for me to respond.

“Are you trying to insinuate thatmytime is less valuable than yours?” I spit. “Or that I’m so beneath you that I don’t deserve the basic right of choice?”

“You do have a choice. The key is thatallthose choices lead to one place.”

There has to be something wrong with him. No one isbornthis self-absorbed.

“What if I make the choice to slap you right now?” I lift a hand. “Where does that choice lead me?”

He doesn’t bat an eyelash. “The probability that you will be able to hit me before one of my men stops you is quite low.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

He steps so close to me that his Armani shoes kiss my dusty sneakers. Lowering his face until it’s almost on top of mine, he gives me a look of challenge.

I stare into his eyes and my insides do a somersault.

Standing in the middle of the circle, surrounded by his lavish display of power and wealth, it’s hard to remain brave.

Sazuki lowers my arm until it swings loosely at my sides. Next, he lifts a hand and checks his watch.

“Your class begins in five minutes. You will be late if you dawdle.”

“Is this how you got your first album released?” I walk angrily ahead to hide my sudden nerves. “You go around intimidating people to get what you want?”

“My first album was produced for a friend. And I do not usually work this hard to hear a yes.” He slides a hand into his pocket. “Fortunately, I am willing to work hard to get what I want.”

“Just say you’re willing to play dirty. That would be more honest,” I grumble.

We pass the concert hall and turn left. Sazuki studies me. “For someone so young, you’re proving to be a handful.”

“It’s my way of thanking you for your tyranny.”

There.

A flash of dimples craters both cheeks, but it’s gone before I can blink.

We get to my building, but Sazuki doesn’t stop walking.

“Where are you going?” I hiss.

We’ve been getting attention the entire way. Whispers have steadily increased since the quad. Plus I can see sneakers, socks and sandals gathering if I peer between the legs of the suits.

The entire campus is on alert. Which makes sense. It’s not every day a fleet of SUVs take up all the parking spots and spit out beefy Asian men in suits.

And it’s definitely not every day that those beefy guards blow through the quad like they’re protecting a dignitary.

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