Page 110 of Mr. Wicked

She wasn’t giving in to me.

Goddamn it.

“No.” I exhaled in frustration as my hand found the zipper. “But you fucking owe me.”

She turned around once she was securely in the dress and said, “I think you owe me. Must I keep reminding you what this campaign is going to do for you? How your rich ass is going to get even richer?” This time, when she tapped my chest, I felt the sharpness of her nail. “And don’t forget how ugly this is going to get for me once this is over. My followers are going to lecture me nonstop about jumping in too quickly and saying yes after only two months and the whirlwind wedding we’re going to have. So, while you’re off cruising on megayachts, burying yourself in a million different women, I’m going to be picking up the pieces of what’s left of my business.” She bit her lip while she glared at me. “Do me a favor, don’t ever tell me I owe you. Now, get dressed.”

She could really fight when she wanted to.

And it was hot.

But she was probably right. I could disappear from social media.

She couldn’t.

I could even deactivate all my accounts.

But they were her livelihood.

She wasn’t going to have it easy at all.

“Yeah, yeah,” I whispered, and I went over to my desk and stripped off my shirt and jeans, putting on the black suit and white button-down, along with the light-pink tie that went with her dress.

Just as I began to tie the knot, Jovana appeared, taking the silk from my hands and weaving it, like it was something she did every day.

“My dad taught me, in case you’re wondering.” The sharpness was gone, in its place a tranquil tone. “Every Sunday morning, I’d grab the black tie with the light-blue stripes, the only one he owned, and I’d stand on the bed and do this for him until I was tall enough to do it from the floor.” A soft smile crossed her mouth. “He said my future husband would be impressed. I never forgot that.”

I watched her eyes.

Her lips.

The freckle she had on the side of her nose that I’d never noticed before.

A collection of characteristics that were individually alluring, but combined they were just exquisite.

“All done.”

I glanced down, holding the knot, feeling around each side. “You’re better at this than me.”

“I know.”

“I am impressed.”

She scratched the center of my chest as though it were the belly of a dog. “You should be.” She left me before I could grab her, and she opened the door to my office. Laura walked in with my assistant directly behind her, holding Jovana’s camera.

“Hair and makeup are running a few minutes late,” Laura mentioned right before the photographer entered the room, immediately setting up lighting near my desk. “Why don’t we start with the test shots and then we can touch you guys up when they get here.”

“I love that idea,” Jovana said.

She grabbed me by the hand and led me to my desk, guiding me into my chair. She took a seat on the wooden edge in front of me, facing me, with her phone in her hand.

“Let me just make sure my cell is on silent ...” Her eyes widened and she laughed as she read something on the screen.

“What’s so funny?”

“It’s just one of my followers. His comments are always so funny.” She was typing now.

“His?” I couldn’t stop my brows from rising.

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