Page 48 of Billion Dollar Revenge

“Come over here,” he says, and we move away from the bar to a seating area.

The tables are arranged so each table has two seats and are at a distance that allows for private conversation, instead of smashed together like most events. I appreciate the break from the crowd.

I sink into the chair, crossing my legs and settling the glass on top of my thigh.

“So, my studio is getting thirty beds. I have ordered the balls, weights and rings, but I want supplements to sell,” I say as I show him photos on my phone. As I scroll, it lands on pictures of potential supplement brands.

“Mmm,” he murmurs as he drinks.

“I don’t know which one to sell. There’s so many on the market.”

He lowers his glass. “Have you tried any?”

"A few."

“My advice would be for you to never sell a product you can’t vouch for."

“My clients might have different needs.”

"I have a friend who might be able to help. He’s in the pharmaceutical area.”

“You have a lot of friends.”

He nods and cradles his glass in both hands.

I uncross my legs as I answer. “I’d love help.”

His gaze drops to my legs and then slowly tracks back up to my face. “What else are you doing for the studio?”

“I have towels being embroidered to sell, and my signage is being made out of acrylic.”

“What colors?”

I’m so distracted by the intensity of his stare, I forget momentarily what we were talking about. “Of what?”

“Both.”

I shuffle in the seat, trying to refocus. “I like the neutral tones, so a mix of brown, nude, and taupe.”

His eyebrows lift. “The sign?”

“No, sorry, those are for the towels, booty bands, and mats. As for the sign, I’m thinking it should be brown.”

“I love how excited you look when you are talking about this.”

With a mischievous grin, I tease, “You’ll have to take a class there when it opens. Practice makes perfect.”

He sinks farther into the chair, leaning to one side with a tilt of his head. “Not happening. I've had my lifetime quota of Pilates.”

I giggle. “I know, I’m just teasing. I appreciate you coming to check it out, though. You’re the first to come to one of my classes.”

“You’re fucking kidding me, right?” The rasp in his voice has my belly flipping.

My teeth scrapes along my bottom lip. “No, everyone was too busy.”

“Bullshit. No one can be that busy to support their girlfriend.” He shakes his head.

“I obviously wasn’t a priority,” I mumble, unable to hide how small I felt in the relationship. Evan knows exactly what I went through.

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