Page 6 of King of Deception

My lie was beginning to gain a body of its own, and I had to breathe life into it. “Well, a bird… sort of…” I started to gesture with my hand.

Slowly shaking her head, she stared at my face with a baffled expression. “Yes?”

“Well, there’s bird… excrement on your—”

“Jesus,” she looked away in disgust. “Fine, let them wash it. How much is that gonna cost me?”

“Cost? Uh—No! It’s… it’s a complimentary service. Mr. Engelbert is aware that his garden is a—”

“Fine. Tell them fine. Thank you,” she rushed the words.

As if dropping from the sky, Jude suddenly appeared next to us. “You didn’t ask about the kind of connections I have!”

“I don’t care.” She grabbed her dress at the knees, marching away as he followed her.

And I… followed them.

“I’m grabbing Wall Street by the balls here, Ella. And I want you to be right there with me when I’m at the top of the company.”

“Well, my sincerest congratulations, but I don’t see how your promotion is gonna make this work.”

“I’m earning more, which means that you can work less or not at all if you please!”

Abruptly, she turned to him, and I spun on my heel so she wouldn’t realize that I was still listening. “I am not going to be your kept woman, Jude. We’re not even together anymore, and I really hope that you get that through to your skull.”

“You can keep that strong, independent act for your friends,” he mocked. “Because you, honey, have some pretty expensive hobbies. How are you gonna keep up with your shopping, spas, and beach trips on your salary, huh?”

“Oh my God!” she breathed. “Every word you say right now is confirming to me that I did the right thing… leaving. I am never coming back to you. Do you understand me? If they fire me, and I lose my apartment and become homeless? Guess what? I’m still not coming back!”

He shifted behind me, and something happened that prompted her to whimper, so I quickly turned around to find that he was clutching her wrist tightly enough to make her wince.

That was it. That man had to be kicked out.

“That’s it. Sir?” I swiftly interfered, freeing her hand from his grip. “Sir, please leave.”

“What the fuck? Who the fuck are you?” he shouted, his eyes looking around for someone to take his side. “How dare you touch me? Where’s your manager?”

“Sir?” I warned with a glare. “If you’ll please come with me.” I started to drag him out, and two security guards caught our altercation and came to assist me.

“Ella? Are you fucking kidding me?” He tried to turn around, but the guards’ stern push kept him walking forward.

“Are you alright, miss?” I turned to her as she rubbed her wrist.

“This night is a fucking disaster,” she admitted, looking away.

A waiter came with a tray of fresh drinks, so I grabbed one, offering it to her. “Drink?”

Her eyes landed on my fingers, touching the glass before rising to meet mine. She then sighed, accepting it. “Has anyone taught you not to meddle?” she stared at me from under her eyebrows before taking a sip.

“Was I supposed to watch him abuse you and do nothing?”

“You should’ve called security right away. You don’t know who he is or what he’s capable of.”

“He’s not my boss. I know that.”

“Well, he probably knows your boss, or he’s about to.”

“Really? And because of that, I should’ve let him bruise your arm.”

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