Page 64 of Billion Dollar Revenge

I shake off my daydream. I’m unfocused because it’s been less than twenty-four hours since I last saw him. And I miss his voice, his spicy scent, and his heated touch that makes my knees weak.

When the doors open, I step inside on instinct.

“What floor?” Colby asks, when I haven't pressed a button.

I’m pulled back into work mode. “Sorry,” I say, reaching forward to press the second floor.

Just as the doors begin to close, a hand reaches out.

A smooth, deep voice penetrates the air, causing my knees to buckle. “There you are, Shell baby.”

Evan.

I turn to see him enter the elevator, dressed sharply in his crisp black suit. As I bite the corner of my lip, I watch his eyes narrow at Colby, not looking at me yet. His focus on the twenty-something-year-old man standing beside me is intense. A man I have zero attraction to. But Evan can’t read my mind. He won’t know why Colby is actually here and going upstairs with me. Colby visibly shrinks under Evan’s intense scrutiny.

To put both men out of their misery, I speak. “This is Colby?”

Evan moves beside me, his hand snaking across my lower back and pulling my body into his. His muscles are coiled tight. But his strong hand and affectionate touch is welcomed. I don’t think I will ever get sick of it. When you’ve needed and craved it for so long and to finally have it makes it hard to push away. Despite the unprofessionalism of the situation, I struggle to fight the craving I have for him.

I’d normally play along or get mad at his possessiveness, but I’m aware of his past. Evan needs reassurance; his lack of trust still weighs heavily on him, and it breaks my heart that he went through that.

“This is Colby. He’s looking at the studio because he’s a new trainer I’ve hired. We met during our Pilates course.”

Evan nods, drawing in a breath through his nose but keeping his eyes narrowed on Colby. “Nice to meet you. I’m Evan Lincoln.”

Colby reaches out and shakes Evan’s hand, his shoulders dropping away from his ears. He doesn’t seem to be intimidated by Evan anymore. Instead, his eyes shine with awe.

“Evan from The New York Press, right?”

Evan gives him a curt nod, still not entirely comfortable with Colby. “That’s me.”

Colby beams. “Nice to meet you.”

“My office is in this building too,” Evan adds, like he needs Colby to know that piece of information. It’s Evan’s way of subtly warning Colby that he’s keeping an eye on him. Or both of us? I shake off the idea; Evan shouldn’t distrust me because I’ve given him no reason to. “Have you seen the studio?” Evan asks.

“Not yet,” Colby says.

“I was getting to that,” I interject, tilting my head to gaze up at Evan and giving him a silent warning.

Evan dips his head to bring his face close to mine. His hot, minty breath tickles my face. “Did you want to have that meeting we never finished after you’re done showing Colby around?” He’s staring at me through his dark lashes with a mischievous glint in his eyes. I know what he’s insinuating, and a new ache stirs within me.

I should say no…

I let out a shaky breath. “I’m working.”

He quirks an eyebrow. “Afterwards?”

I ignore the flip of my stomach and give him a playful wink. “Maybe.”

The meeting with Colby is over. He took his contract to read over at home after I gave him a tour of the studio. He loved the place, and even offered to teach mat Pilates and yoga if it was something I wanted to offer. I would love that, so we talked about the layout and how many clients we could fit in a room for yoga.

I made a note to order more mats and any other accessories, like blocks that Colby suggested.

He was a great help, and we came up with some good ideas. He also recommended another trainer who would be a great fit. I tell him to share my number and have the person contact me. I have more interviews scheduled this week, but the more options, the better. I need additional staff for casual shifts.

Before I know it, half an hour has passed. I walk Colby downstairs, and as I wait by the elevator, I remember the way Evan grabbed me and called meShellbaby. I find myself grinning, strangely loving his possessiveness. I never thought I’d be into it, but with Evan, it feels right. Maybe it was because in my last relationship I was so out of control. WithEvan, I willingly surrender the control because I trust him wholeheartedly to not hurt me. It’s both refreshing and sexy.

As I step into the elevator, my phone chimes. I pull it out, expecting it to be a delivery update, but it’s Bobby. I ignore it because I have zero interest in talking to him.

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