Page 42 of Daring You

Is that what Yang wants?

This whole office is filled with questionable morals, and that’s just the first floor. I’ve stretched them, sure, maybe molded them to my own devices a few times, but I’ve never crossed them.

If I screw up, then I’ll lose everything. My attorney’s license, my credibility, my reputation.

Is it worth it?

“Hey, babe.” Mike’s face looms over my cubicle wall. “What are you working on?”

“Fuck off, Mike.”

“You used to like the way I fucked.” He smiles the one that used to have me smiling back, but all I can muster is revulsion.

“Well, you ruined it when you stuck your dick in a whole bunch of other women,” I say tiredly.

Mike dips down so he’s closer in range. “Astor, c’mon. Don’t be saying that stuff so loudly.”

“Worried people will get to know the real you?”

“No, I’m worried you actually mean what you’re saying.” Without invitation, he takes the chair that Taryn left beside mine. “It’s been two days, Astor. Hasn’t this been enough time to realize we were good together?”

“Not good enough.”

Mike leans closer. I lean away, closer to my monitor. “Honey, I’ve told you—”

“Don’t call me honey.”

“Fine. Astor, I’ve told you how sorry I am. I’ve emailed, texted, left voicemails, saying I screwed up bad. I shouldn’t’ve said the things I did. I didn’t mean them. I still love you. Of course I still love you.”

I shake my head, holding up my hand to him. “Mike, enough…”

“Why are you still wearing our ring, then?”

I clench my raised hand into a fist, refusing to answer.

“It’s because you still have feelings for me. You don’t want to let us go.”

“Yesterday you couldn’t wait to trample me for a chair in the Delaney case. And now—what? You’re giving me unrequited love? Which is it, Mike? Do you want to use me for business or pleasure?”

“Can’t it be both?” He dares to touch the back of my hand and stroke down. “We were so fuckin’ good at both.”

“Don’t,” I whisper.

“You miss me, Astor. I know you do.”

“I miss what I thought we were,” I admit. “But you ruined it, Mike. You. Because you couldn’t keep your dick loyal, because you lie, because you cheat me both in bed and in business. I’m not yours anymore, so go away. Just go. Away.”

Mike’s mouth, so supple and shining before, hardens into a thinly veiled sneer. It’s when his gaze cuts to the paper under my hand, the one with Aiden Watts’s information, that I feel so utterly gamed.

I flip it over. “Leave.”

“With pleasure,” he says. “But you’ll realize your mistake soon enough. You’ll be begging for my cock. I’m the only one, the only dude who’s ever loved you. Got that? No one else is gonna get through your cunty barrier. Well, maybe the ones who want your inheritance could deal with it.”

I go still.

“Hear that?” he persists. “You just pissed off and ditched the one guy who was willing to fuck you despite what you look like, who would’ve kept doing it as much as you wanted, and it wasn’t for your money. I have my own family stock to pilfer. You lost a sure thing, Astor. Now, whoever you choose, you’re not going to know if they want you for you, or if they’re only willing to tolerate you for your Momma’s cash.”

Mike storms off and I remain stiff-backed, staring blindly at my computer’s screensaver. The only sign of movement is a slight gulp in my throat.

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