Page 152 of Catfish

"Not hungry, but thanks," I deadpan, keeping my gaze out the window. A group of teens start piling out of the hall where Wade's men are beginning to direct them in a straight line along the building like a SWAT team. "I should probably wait for these kids' parents to show up."

I reach for the door handle, because it beats being in here and getting scolded, when it locks with a definite hell no from Wade.

“It’s handled.” My neck slowly angles in his direction, teeth already clamped together so hard I’m on the verge of chipping one.

“How did your men show up at my party before we arrived? And, again, this is my party, Governor. I have an obligation to—”

"Hence why you have Sadie and Mila, Miss Shelton. I made a phone call when you were getting the car. And you won't be handling parents tonight, nor will you go the rest of the night without eating." His blues casually glide down my body. "It looks like you've lost weight."

“Excu—I’m fine. Unlock the door, please. No part in our contract does it say you get to play Dom to my non-submissive ass." Gazes still locked together, he definitely throws the SUV into drive to press his previous words of what he thinks we’re going to go do. “Are you deaf, Lockwood?”

“To certain shit, yes, Miss Shelton.” Dragging his intent attention from me, he starts to pull out of the parking lot of the hall. “Buckle your seatbelt before I have to do it. And I’ll make sure it’s extra tight if I do.”

Oww...Lord, grant me the patience to not pop this man in the side of the head.

I secure myself then proceed to watch the passing cars and buildings go by.

“I’m assuming you like Coney Island?”

“What makes you assume anything?” I snark. “First line of defense, never think you know anything about anyone.”

“Are we preparing for war or eating?”

“We’re being quiet during this ride to my car.”

“Speaking of trying to be deaf...you barely ate anything at dinner. Too busy thinking about this party and getting harassed with questions from that Nathan idiot.”

“He was just asking me questions,” I voice off with a lift of my shoulder. “It’s part of the business.”

“It’s unprofessional to insinuate other things, Miss Shelton. I’m not so locked up in my office to forget what the male species is.”

“Which is?” He doesn’t respond, which has me directing my attention to his side of the car. “Pigs?

Glancing over at me, he hits me with an exasperated look. “You think I’m just like every other man?”

“Oh no,” I claim. “You’re worse.”

"Worse?" He gives a slight shake of his head before returning his attention back to the road. "Why, because you think I'm some power-hungry asshole?"

“That,” I proceed slowly. “And I think you’ve drowned yourself so deep that it’s eating you alive.” He doesn’t respond to that either right away, turning down another street which isn’t in route to my car.

“Do a lot of men try to add on extra services to the parties you plan for them, Miss Shelton?”

“Cool it with being a knight in shining armor,” I leer before I cross my legs. “You’re not going to valiantly keep clients now or in the future from trying to get down my pants.”

"Then maybe you should amp up your resting bitch face because it was lacking its effect." We get to another traffic light, and he stops slowly on the red.

“Thanks for offering to help me practice.” Wade steers his face in my direction, eyes slamming into me with mute challenge to give it a go.

I don’t do anything, it wouldn’t make a difference anyway. He’ll always think he has one up on me because it seems he’s had one on everyone he comes across. And I’m not one to keep going back and forth, it’s a waste of my time. If he wants to think he’s the all-powerful, cool bruh. More power to him.

"I'd love to continue staring at you," he vouches. "But you have food to eat, and the car isn't going to drive itself. And even then, it'll cause a lot of what I don't want to start."

“Which is?”

He smirks, blue eyes turning somewhat wicked as I begin to think of all the dirty ideas forming behind him. It piques my curiosity, opening up the floodgates of what is lying behind the ideas that he could be constructing. What would he want to start? Maybe continue what I started in his office?

“I’m a man,” he digresses. “Which might deem me a pig in your eyes. And while I might be deaf to certain things, I’m not blind. So, if you want a challenge, Miss Shelton, you better suit up. Because everything I start, I finish.”

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