Page 20 of Worthy: Cassius and Faith 3

Thank goodness I was too much of a coward to ever say it out loud.

CHAPTER NINE

two can play

Faith

After we recovered, Cassius stepped away from me. I felt cold and vulnerable without him; I wished we were in bed so the billionaire could take me in his arms.

But Cassius quickly got dressed and barely looked at me. His lips were pressed together in a thin line of disapproval and regret. “We can’t let people know we were together again. It’s a violation of club rules.”

I opened my mouth and then closed it. What could I say? I knew what we’d done was against the rules. But I’d thought he didn’t care…

“I need you to change and get back to the club,” he said, no hint of warmth in his voice. “I’ll have Gina bring you fresh clothes—go to the employee area, clean yourself up, and wait for her.”

I felt as though he’d slapped me, but I didn’t let it show on my face. “Yes… Sir.”

He frowned. “See you out there.”

“Yes,” I mumbled, mortified. “See you.” I didn’t look at him as I hustled from his office.

What the hell had just happened? Cassius had stalked me on the security feed, intercepted me from Tate, told me I was his, then fucked me until I’d had the best orgasm I’d had so far.

And then he sent me away. Again.

What. The. Fuck? My legs were wobbly as I headed down the hall, but I refused to think about the mind-blowing sex I’d just had with Cassius Blackwood. Who the hell did he think he was, jerking me around like that? The man was giving me emotional whiplash!

He told me I was his. He said no other man could have me. He fucked me senseless, and then he threw me out?

Anger was not my go-to emotion. It was uncomfortable for me. I had plenty in my life to be angry about, but I’d decided a long time ago that focusing on it would only hurt me in the end. But right now, I was mad. I fumed as I stalked to the employee area. Cassius Blackwood was a billionaire, and he was my boss, and blah, blah, blah. That didn’t give him the right to treat me like I was disposable.

I was going to be a millionaire. I had a brother who loved me. I had friends. For the first time in my life, I realized that I was someone, too.

It was high time I started acting like it.

Gina didn’t ask any questions as she handed me a fresh black teddy, God bless her. I quickly showered, fixed my face, and pulled on the new outfit. After one final approving glance at myself in the mirror, I lifted my chin and straightened my shoulders. Then, I headed back to Club 444.

Cassius Blackwood wants to mess with my head?

Fine with me.

I looked up at one of the security cameras and blew it a kiss.

Two can play that game.

I stalked back inside the club. The music throbbed with a popular dance song. I scanned the crowd but didn’t see Tate or Macy anywhere. Darren Payne was sprawled out on one of the couches, getting a blow job, but I still thought he saw me. I maneuvered away from him, through a tangle of pulsing, half-naked dancing patrons and employees, to the bar.

Beau, the bartender, grinned at me. “Can I get a Shirley Temple for the lady?”

“Yes, please,” I said. “And can you put it in a martini glass so it looks like a real drink?”

He winked at me. “I got you.”

Beau went all out for my mocktail, shaking it in a mixer, sugaring the rim of my martini glass, and finishing it with a twist of lime.

“Perfect,” I said, accepting it gratefully. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” he said kindly. “Anything else I can do for you?”

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