Page 1 of King of Deception

one

Power Moves

Ella Rose

“Um, Ella?” my colleague, Sam, dipped his head and awkwardly pointed at a spot over my shoulder.

“What?” I breathed as I instinctively turned around, and there he was… “Jude?” I nearly winced. “What are you doing here?”

“Excuse me. I’m just gonna—” Sam’s hand randomly gestured in the air while he walked away as if escaping an impending explosion.

“It’s a wedding,” Jude shrugged. “What, I can’t go to weddings now that we’re broken up?”

In an attempt to put out the raging fire that had taken over my insides, I drew a deep, slow breath. “Fair enough. What’s the groom’s name?”

“I’m on the bride’s side,” he grinned.

“And her name is?”

“Sssmm—Mary?” he narrowed his eyes.

“Linda,” I gritted my teeth.

“Linda! Of course.”

“She’s my CEO’s daughter,” I hissed. “And this is a very important evening for me.”

“And I’m happy to help in whatever way you—”

“Help? You’re distracting me! Besides, how do you think it’s gonna look if they think that I invited my ex-boyfriend?”

“That you’re giving us a second chance?”

“I’m not.” Pulling him by the wrist, I marched toward one of the massive ballroom doors. “And you need to leave.”

“Not before you agree to lunch tomorrow.”

“I’m not having lunch with you.”

“Then I’m not leaving,” he calmly smiled, pulling his hand free.

“How can you be so callous? Do you know how many people at my level got invited to this thing?” I enunciated, “Zero. None. This is a big deal for me, Jude!”

“Well, the Director of Finance must have finally recognized your potential then.”

“It’s because, for the last six months, I’ve been well-rested and working with a clear mind,” I snapped from between my teeth.

“That really hurts my feelings, Ella,” he tilted his head with an injured expression on his face.

I wished I could have punched him.

“Ella, there you are!” Mr. Johnson, Director of Finance of my company, approached with a smile and two glasses of champagne, handing me one. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” he then looked at Jude and his designer suit.

“Oh, he was just about to—”

“Jude Thomas,” he grinned and shook my boss’ boss’ hand, despite the terrified widening of my eyes.

“Paul Johnson, pleasure.” Seemingly confused, Mr. Johnson turned to me and whispered, “I thought you said—”

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