Page 44 of Billion Dollar Revenge

A soft giggle leaves me as I answer lightly, “Yes. I’m serious, it helps.”

“I could barely move for days,” he murmurs, as if he’s still bewildered from the experience.

I sit up, loving the fact that another person has said Pilates is hard. It’s way harder than it looks. I couldn’t get Bobby to one, so Evan attending a class means something. It proves to me that Evan is willing to take interest in things that are important to me.

The car stops. We unbuckle and get ready to climb out. Evan is already opening my door and holding out his hand.

He’s so attentive, and I love it, but now he’s raising the bar so my standards for men are way higher.

My hand slips into his, and our touch causes my heart to race. His hand is large, warm, and rough. I let go as soon as I’m out of the car and standing. Our connection is too much right now. I need to concentrate on being a good guest for him. I spot the entrance to the exclusive event space, which is in an historic building in Manhattan. My temperature rises with anticipation, the grandness of the venue adding to the gravity of the night ahead.

Glancing at mydate, I take a deep breath. This fake dating arrangement seemed like a simple plan at first, but now, standing at the entrance, it feels like so much more. As if I spoke the words out loud, he asks, “Are you ready for this?”

I turn my face toward him, with a reassuring smile.

“Yeah,” I reply through a shaky exhale. “Just remember, we’re supposed to act like we’re crazy about each other.”

He chuckles, encouraging me to link my arm through his. So I do, and touching him again is making my insides flip. There’s this old-school gentleman in Evan that hits me hard in the chest. “I think I can manage that. Let’s go have some fun.”

“Okay,” I sputter out.

We walk closer to the doors of the grand entrance, and before we walk through, he leans in closer, his lips to the shell of my ear, his warm breath against my ear. “Relax. We’ve got this.”

For a moment, the Manhattan noise is all drowned out, and all I can hear is my heartbeat in my ear and feel his breath on my skin.

I nod, hoping he doesn’t notice the slight tremor in my hand. “Right. Just a night pretending.”

His hold on my arm tightens slightly, a comforting gesture that sends a shiver down my spine. “Exactly. And who knows, it might even be fun.”

His heated gaze grips mine, and for a second, I don’t want to go in, wanting to stay alone with him. But he encourages me along.

We step through the doors, and the interior makes my heart race even faster. Chandeliers glimmer above, highlighting sleek modern furniture, and elegant floral arrangements drape from the ceiling. We walk through until we join the crowd inside. Soft Jazz music is playing in the background of the ambient lit room.

I look straight ahead, plastering on a smile, expecting people to be watching us walk in, but it seems every group is too invested in their own conversations. I sigh in relief. Most are dressed in stylish evening gowns and designer suits, holding glasses of alcohol in their hands, while wearing easy smiles. I wasn’t expecting this. People seem to be genuinely happy. No one is happy at a work function. Well, not unless you’re drunk.

“Let’s go to the bar.” He’s not asking, he's telling me, and I love that because I’d kill for some alcohol just to take the edge off.

A server passes with a tray of delectable hors d’oeuvres, and I grab one as Evan walks me over to the bar’s edge so we can be away from prying eyes. A few have noticed him, but he’s shaken his head at them. A silentleave me the fuck alone, and I have to give it to him, they are following his instructions.

He orders us both drinks, without ever having to ask me what I want.

“I don’t expect you to stand by my side the whole night, you know,” I say with a crooked grin while we wait for our drinks.

He turns to face me, staring at me for a long moment. I feel naked under his intense stare. When he speaks, I release the breath I was holding.

“I’m not.”

I clear my throat before I answer, needing to sound stronger than I feel. I wouldn’t mind a second to have a drink and pull myself together. “You can talk to your colleagues, and I can wait here.” I point to the spot I’m standing in.

His hand slips to the small spot on my back. “I’d rather hang out with you,” he says, like it’s the most natural thing in the world, effectively blurring the line of what’s real and what's fake.

Chapter 15

Chelsea

I look back atEvan and smile. “Don’t blame me if you’re bored.”

The bartender makes the drink in front of us. He moves around the bar effortlessly in a crisp dress shirt and sleek, fitted vest, while smiling at the few patrons waiting down the bar for a drink.

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