Page 31 of Catfish

She looks like Jessica Rabbit, but her dress is silver, plunging down between her breasts and displaying each dip and bend to her body. Her long blonde hair sways freely across her back and, Lord help Holden, he's a dead man walking when his wife sees her.

Bunny must see Holden somewhere in the crowd because she beelines towards someone. Each stride a mission I’ve set in place to destroy and warn.

I'm done playing with him.

Security begins to enter the room, but mine immediately stops them.

Nothing and no one is going to stop what is about to transpire in the next few moments.

Holden misunderstood my kindness for weakness, considered me a little boy because he and my daddy were old buddies.

But by the end of tonight, Bunny and I would get what we wanted—his ass on a silver platter in front of hundreds of influential people and bottomless donors.

“Who’s this?!” I hear Mrs. Montgomery exclaim. A crowd begins to form to where I can’t see the short wife of the stupidest politician I know.

Looking over my shoulder, I nod for two of my men waiting by the door to make a space for me. I want to see every second of this demonstration to its full extent.

They nudge away men and women, opening up room for myself and Em. The music abruptly ceases, deafening the room into stillness as the scene plays out perfectly in front of me.

The lover standing in front of the married couple about to be torn apart by lies and betrayal.

The people here tonight serve as my jury, the press that will show up within minutes of this happening, my gavel, and myself, the executioner. A perfect example to be reported and spoken about that when I help someone, I expect them to follow through with their side of the agreement.

For Montgomery, he fucked up when he regarded me still as the little boy who used to sit in the empty office of my father’s. Who played with Post-it Notes, pretending to give a board meeting.

I’m way past that.

And I don’t believe in those dreams anymore.

A small piece of sympathy goes out to Mrs. Montgomery when I notice her small frame start to tremble. We've spoken a few times in the past. She's sweet and considerate but also naive and foolish. She’s ignored the tell-tale signs of an unfaithful husband. From his late-night sessions in the office (he's a mayor, his life isn't that complicated) and so-called business trips, it should've posed a million and one red flags.

Obviously, it didn’t or she wouldn’t look so shocked.

“You need to leave,” Mrs. Montgomery barks, latching on to her husband’s arm possessively. “Or we’ll have security escort you out.”

"I'm so sorry to be such a pest," Bunny quips, unaffected. "But, your husband hasn't paid me yet and isn't answering my calls. I didn’t know what else to do.“

Mrs. Montgomery's face blanches as she lifts her chin to look at her husband, whose face is the exact opposite—fuming red.

His crow’s feet deepen as he glares at Bunny with such animosity that its as though laser beams are going to come out of his eyes to smit her down.

“Holden,” Bunny implores. “We’ve been fucking for over six months—” (Insert shocked gasp from crowd here.) “—and I’ve sucked your cock more times than deemed necessary by our agreement, but I liked you. You ate my pussy so—”

“Stop," Mrs. Montgomery wails, her chest heaving rapidly through her pink fitted dress. She has blood pressure issues, short and fragile as she is, so I send one of my men to take her away since Holden won't, too concerned with himself.

“What’s going on here?” Another voice comes through as I search the crowd to see Reagan approach and step into the ring of fire.

My eyes instantaneously latch onto her, and I know I'm not the only man that's noticed how fucking stunning she is. How perfect that dress fits her. A dream shrouded in blue wrapping that would be so easy to peel off.

I almost feel remotely sorry for ruining her planned party, except I've had this planned for a few days, and I wasn't about to stall it because it was her event.

Another reason to stay away from me.

She's collateral damage, and we haven't even met officially in person yet. It gives me the easiest out to not have to every explain myself.

Reagan strides towards Bunny, hands in fists, eyes targeted on my leading lady.

And I can't help the smirk that graces my face.

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