Page 60 of The Billionaires' Prize

“Look. Five minutes. I’m not leaving until I’ve seen her.”

“I can put you on her schedule,” she says.

“Fuck her schedule.” He spins around, and I can see it in his eyes. He’s prepared to toss all professional courtesies aside. I doubt Katherine locks her door, and he’s probably betting on that.

“Take the appointment,” I say, stepping into his path. It’s a slow step. Measured. But I don’t have to move quickly to outmaneuver a hot head.

His eyes narrow, and his nostrils flare as he rocks back on his heels.

“I don’t need an appointment to?—”

I cut him off. “Take the appointment.”

“Why? Worried I’ll cut into your lunch date?”

Every time I deal with a smarmy asshole, I wonder if someone like him was the last thing my sister saw. It’s a dangerous game. A test of my willpower.

Can I keep my cool, or will I snap?

For his sake, he’d better hope I can keep it in check because him breathing the same air as Katherine makes my fist itch to hit something. Preferably that pretty boy face. I’d love to knock the polish right off his shoes.

“I don’t worry about you in the slightest.”

He searches my face and whatever he sees makes him swallow.

“Last chance. Make an appointment and leave.”

He rolls his eyes and scoffs. My heart rate accelerates as he steps to my right, trying to go around me. I toss the bag of sandwiches at Roman and grab Jerkoff by the back of the neck.

“Let’s go for a walk.” A bit of pressure, and he’s falling into step beside me.

“Get your bloody hand off me.” He tries to shake me off.

“You’re being disruptive. It’s time for you to leave.”

“Fuck off.”

“No.” I lean in close. “I don’t know what your game is, but I will find out. I always find out. If Katherine doesn’t want to see you, she’ll never see you again.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I’m telling you what will and won’t happen. We’re going to walk to the elevator like two pals. You’re going to get on and go to any other floor but this one. You see, my company has the security contract here, and I’ll be sending them your picture.”

I hold out my phone and take an usie.

He sneers. “Good luck with that. Lucinda Winthrope is a friend.”

“Is that right?” We reach the elevator and I hit the button. He shrugs off my hold, and I let him go. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him just how close they are, but I don’t want to tip him off that I suspect anything.

“Yeah. She will not be happy about your. . .” He throws a look over his shoulder toward Katherine’s office. “Intrusion.”

“She’s not my concern.”

“But Katherine is?”

The elevator dings, and the doors open before I can respond.

“I guess she must be if you’re willing to pay a million dollars for her.”

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