Page 32 of Bait

My brow furrows slightly, but I just smile back. “Yeah, it’s wonderful to see all of these pieces.”

“And so nice for your….father, to bring you?”

I smile widely, blushing as I shake my head.

“Oh, no, he’s…” I swallow. I know I could just go along with it. But, seeing as we just kissed right in the middle of the gallery hall, I think that might not be the best story to go with.

“He’s not—”

“Oh!” The woman mimes this fake looking embarrassment, though I can tell she’s not in the slightest.

“My mistake, dear. Your uncle them is it?”

She saw us kiss. I can see it right then in the glint in her eyes. She’s one ofthosetypes of rich older people. The kind who’ve truly been poisoned by wealth and who just for whatever reason enjoy tormenting people. Sheenjoyingwatching me twist on the line.

Well, fuck that.

“My boyfriend, actually,” I say flatly, the smile on my face only growing wider as her lips purse with disdain.

“Howoldare you?” She mutters.

“Eighteen.”

“And your…yourboyfriend?” She says with a snobby tone.

I smile as I lean closer to her.

“Much older,” I say evenly, the corners of my lips turning up. “Much, much older.”

She bristles. “Well, it’s disgusting to waltz around in here parading it in front of everyone. It’sperverseis what it is. He should know better!”

“I should know what better?”

I shiver at the sound of Oliver’s voice behind me, and when his hand goes to the small of my back, I sink against him slightly, almost on instinct. The woman slides her gaze to him, her eyes narrowing.

“Parading around here with this…thischild.”

I hear the growl catch in his throat.

“Ma’am,” he says quietly, his voice edge. “For one, she’s an adult.”

“She’s—”

“And the only one I see around here acting like a fucking child isyou, madam.”

The woman’s face goes white, her jaw dropping as she quite literally reaches up to clutch her pearls.

“Pervert!” she hisses as she glares at his hand on me once more and then whirls to storm off.

“Bitch,” I mutter at her back, bringing a chuckle to Oliver’s lips as I turn to look at him. He smiles, reaching down to cup my jaw.

“You okay?”

I shrug. “Yeah, she just…” I make a face.

“You want to get out of here?”

“No, no, I….” I frown. “I mean, I don’t know. Ilovethe works here, it just might be….” I look up at him. “Maybe it’s a little stuffy in here.”

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