Page 59 of Burning Your Lies

“We’ll see about that.” She takes predatory steps towards me and leans down so her lips are millimetres from mine. “What was it I said this time two years ago when you fucked me for the first time?”

I hope you were satisfied with my service, Mr Rivers.

She laughs at my silence. “I should tell you, I ammuchmore satisfied tonight.Thank you, Mr Rivers.”

As she walks out of the room, I can barely see straight. She knew my ultimate weakness was her, and she preyed on it. Everyfibre of my being is quaking in anger. My hands form fists, wishing it was her neck between them. They slam into the wall as I let out a scream. I catch my reflection in the mirror and am haunted by the look on my face.

I crack my neck and straighten my attire. My shoulders brace back and I stand taller.Nobody plays me.

I calmly rejoin the party. I don’t look for her because I’m too busy locating Rowan. He catches my gaze and smirks at me.

“Savannah just came from the same direction,” he teases.

“Get the job done.”

To anyone looking our way, we merely look like spectators watching those on the dance floor. But it is only us that feels the tension brewing in the little distance between us.

“Don’t tell me what to do, Mr Rivers. I am not your employee.”

“When I pay you for a job, that makes you my employee,” I fire back. “I want her dead.”

He doesn’t respond, too busy watching Ray and Savannah with a calculating look. The couple share hushed words before he leads her out of there. Savannah wears a troubled expression as she follows closely behind him.

This has a smile gracing Rowan’s lips. “I have other plans for her.”

“Like what?”

He peers at me from the corner of his eyes. The knowing glint in them only irks me further. “Like one of those secrets you said you could find. You touch a hair on her head, and it will bemeyou’re playing a game with. Understood?”

We lock eyes, challenging each other to yield. I almost ask him what he could want with Savannah, but a man of my stature doesn’t beg for information.He finds it himself.

Our staring match is broken when Brynn stands in front of me. Her fingers are twisted into a knot and she can barely hold my gaze. “Xavier?”

I force myself to sound calm. “What’s wrong?”

As if my night can’t get any worse, her fingers touch her bare neck. “I lost your necklace.”

27

Savannah

I take the liftto the top floor alone. Huxley has decided that he’s still angry with me for hiding Rowan’s attack on me. He can’t understand that I won’t give Xavier an easy out via death. I want him to suffer, and Huxley’s promise to kill him won’t give me that. He knows I’m right, which is why I’m letting him be angry because he will see sense soon. I apologised, and that is all I can do for now. That and celebrate my victory.

I giggle to myself as I walk towards the office. The high from the weekend hasn’t worn off. Getting Xavier alone served two purposes: a confession and getting him away from Brynn long enough to swipe the necklace. I wish I could have captured a picture of his face in both instances.

But I’m sure I’ll get to feed on his misery today. Xavier is already at his desk, rapidly typing away. My high spirits are apparent when I greet him. “Good morning, Mr Rivers.”

“Good morning, Miss Hayes.” His face gives nothing away. I expected him to threaten me. I expected him to unleash the monster inside, but Xavier keeps his expression neutral.

His calm demeanour throws me off, and my eyebrows furrow as I take my seat. Most of the day passes like that. Xavier doesn’t mention the weekend’s events as if they never happened. We work in a harmony that leaves me unsettled.

Why isn’t he attempting to retrieve his necklace?

Maybe it’s not the real necklace. As part of covering his tracks, Xavier had replicas made when he realised I knew the truth. What if he just made me think Brynn was wearing the real one as a ploy? Maybe it was a test to see if I would make a move.There’s only one way to find out.

An exaggerated sigh passes my lips. “I have a hypothetical question.”

“What’s that?”

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