Page 3 of On the Rocks

Well, no fucking shit. Not as if I haven’t built my entire brand around that very thing.

“I’m sure you’ll easily sweep this contest. I doubt there’s anyone here who can hold a candle to you.” He was trying to lay on the charm, but I still knew how to tell when his smile was faked. This one looked flat, practiced. So he didn’t remember me, he was trying to hit on me for whatever reason,andhe didn’t even mean it? Gee, just when I thought he couldn’t possibly piss me off more…

“We’ll see,” I said dismissively, hoping to end this conversation.Just go away already, I pleaded silently.There’s a dumb blonde with awful pickup lines only a few feet away who’d love for you to flash that empty, soulless smile at her. Go bother her instead.

“But how great would it be to win?” he said.

Jennifer nodded, chasing a cherry at the bottom of her glass. “So great.”

I shot her a heated glare that saidkeep it together. She was officially cut off. No more Dirty Shirleys for her.

Aiden glanced at Jennifer, then turned to me again. “Your followers probably expect nothing less. But you know what would be even better?”

I’m sure he was about to enlighten me.

“If you won the contest using Elixir in your creations,” he said.

Ahh, okay. So that’s what this was all about. That was why the guy whotook my virginity and now didn’t remember mewas over here pretending to flirt. I was a business opportunity, nothing more. A vehicle for a bunch of free marketing for his stupid alcohol brand.

There was noendto how much he was going to piss me off tonight.

“It makes a really smooth cocktail,” he continued. “That’s what everyone says.”

I snorted. “I’ve literally never heard anyone say that,” I lied before turning to Jennifer. “Have you?”

She shrugged, halfway through another Dirty Shirley.

The corners of Aiden’s mouth tightened.Point to me.“You’re sure?” His voice was thin, on the verge of pissed. “It’s on our packaging and everything.”

“That’s called false advertising,” I said, enjoying the way his face struggled to maintain its composure. “And in my experience, a lot of packages lie.” I gave him a long, deliberate look up and down. “You can dress them up all fancy, but they’re never as impressive as what people claim.”

And sure, that was a lie, too—butIknew how to sell a lie, and I managed to smirk like I meant every word. I saw his jaw clenchin response. Oooh, he was getting really annoyed.Another point to me,I thought, my smirk widening.

Aiden at seventeen probably would have blown his top by this point, but it looked like he’d learned to get a better handle on himself. “Well,” he said, holding up a large bottle of Elixir I hadn’t noticed he was carrying. He presented it to me, practically shoving it in my face. “You should definitely give it a try. I think you’ll be inspired by our products.”

Oh, he thinks I’ll be inspired by Elixir, does he? Ha!

“Consider this our thank you for adding Elixir to your drinks today,” he said.

“Did I say I was going to do that?” I shoved his hands and the bottle away. “I don’t want your liquor.”

Confusion knit his brows together. “This is a limited edition, tenth anniversary bottle.”

“So?”

“You can’t even buy these on the shelf!” he said, clearly exasperated.

“Am I supposed to be impressed?”

“You’re supposed to say thank you.” His words were close to a growl.

A noise of disbelief exploded from me. “Thank you for what? Intruding on my break uninvited and trying to pawn a bottle of Elixir off on me that I don’t want?”

“We had to make a special trip to the warehouse to retrieve this,” he snapped.

“Oh, you poor thing. What are you, a dog? Am I supposed to give you a treat for playing fetch?” I taunted.

Frustration inched into his features. I could see it in the fine lines across his forehead, the hard set of his jaw, and the way his shoulders inched up by his ears. Clearly, he’d expected me to gush with gratitude. But as far as I was concerned, he could shove that bottle where the sun didn’t shine.

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