Page 67 of Fifth Avenue Devil

I cross my arms, my frustration mounting. I stare at the iPad that Scarlet confidently thrusts in front of me. The sleek device displays a gallery of potential suitors, each one impeccably dressed, each one posing with practiced charm. On any other day, I might have been intrigued. But today, it feels like an insult.

I grit my teeth and force myself to swipe through the profiles. Each man is more generic than the last.

My mind drifts to Nate, the infuriatingly smug businessman who has somehow worked his way under my skin. In comparison, these men seem bland and utterly forgettable. I flip through a dozen profiles before handing the iPad back to Scarlet. "I don't need a matchmaking service to find a man."

"Annalise, darling, just give it a chance," my mom pleads. "You never know who you might meet."

"Is there something wrong with them?" Scarlet asks. She seems genuinely perplexed.

"Of course not," I reply. "They're all just so… predictable. Predictably rich, predictably handsome, and predictably boring."

"Annalise, don’t be ungrateful." Mom looks nonplussed. “Just pick a few.”

“No! Mom, this is my life we're talking about. It’s too much! Be a CEO! Find a husband! Have kids! I can’t do every single thing all at one time."

Mom narrows her eyes and leans toward me. A threatening look blooms on her face. "Youwilllook through these profiles. Youwillchoose someone appropriate to date. And youwilldo it with a smile. Or else."

“All right.” I stand up, putting my hands on my hips. “I’d like you both to leave now. Please.”

“Oh!” Scarlet’s eyes widen. She turns bright pink. “Of course. I didn’t mean to cause you any offense.”

She scoops up her iPad and shoulders her purse. I reach out and touch her arm. “There is no way you could’ve known. My mom is a witch. She enchanted you, I’m sure.”

My mom huffs. “I did no such thing!”

“That’s great.” I start shooing them out of the living room. “Mom, before you leave. Where the fuck is the rest of the living room?”

“Language, Annalise.” She scowls at me. “I removed the excess furnishings for you. You’re welcome.”

“I’m going to fire whoever let you in this building,” I say mildly.

Mom hustles toward the front. I stand back and watch Scarlet open the door, only to be stopped by the tall man standing in her way. My eyes widen.

Nate glares at Scarlet. “What areyoudoing here?” he asks.

“We’re just leaving.” Scarlet grabs my mom’s arm and waits until Nate steps back to let her through. Then both women vanish toward the elevator.

Nate runs his hand through his hair and turns back to me. “You had a matchmaker here?”

I turn on my heel and walk to the kitchen, calling, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Did you invite her here?” I hear him shut the door and his footsteps following behind me.

“Would it matter if I had?” I grab a wineglass and pour myself a glass of chilled wine. “If you care to remember, we’re not even a couple.”

“Wow.” Nate shakes his head. “It took you like an hour to throw my words back in my face.”

He’s so full of shit. “You said it, not me. I’m just a piece of ass.” I take a long sip of wine.

Nate purses his lips. I am ready for him to tell me why it’s my fault. Or even to yell at me. But he doesn’t do either of those things.

No, Nate Fordham actuallyapologizes.

“I’m sorry, Annalise. I was all stressed out about seeing my parents, and I took it out on you. It was unfair.” He moves closer, his gray eyes glinting. “That’s why I came here. I felt like shit after you got out of the car.”

His admission knocks the wind out of me for a solid few seconds. “What world is this?” I look to my left and right, feigning distress. “You admitted that you were wrong about something? Unbelievable.”

“So you accept my apology, then?”

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