Page 47 of Once Upon A Sale

“Of course, young man.” The older lady smiles sweetly, giving Ophelia a look that suggests she approves. The man beside her chuckles and begins to lead, who I’m assuming is his wife, away.

Ophelia…well, she looks murderous as I turn to face her, holding my palm out for her to take.

“That was rude.” She slides her fingers across mine and allows me to lead her to where others are dancing.

“I asked nicely, she said yes. What was rude about that?” We reach the dance area and I pull her into me, splaying one hand across the bottom of her back and holding her close.

“I was in the middle of a conversation. They’re great donors and we were…wait. What are you even doing here?” Her brow is furrowed, her lips pursed, until she remembers where she is and it’s like a switch flips in her brain. The fake smile she wore at her meeting with fucking Dexter creeps across her face, but her eyes are still demanding answers.

The sun has almost set at this point, and the glittering lights twinkle across the whole space, lighting it up with deep goldenhues. It’s ruined by that fake smile of hers, but I’ll bring her around. She’ll be smiling for real and screaming my name in no time.

“You’re in danger—”

“Well, thanks for that, Whoopi, but I can handle myself.” She allows me to lead our dance, while she tries to lead the conversation. I spin her out then pull her in so her back is to my front and wrap one arm around her front, the other still holding her hand.

“Is that so, Kitten?” I speak into her ear, low and deep, so only she can hear. “I prefer to be the one handling you.”

“I have a date tonight, you know.” She spins beneath my raised arm, back to facing me, and rests her palm against my chest. Her other hand is still firmly in my grip.

“Oh yeah, where is he? Because Logan looked comfortable with Tabatha when I saw them earlier.” If she’s trying to make me growly, it’s working.

“He’s a donor I met with a few days ago.” She’s smug as fuck as she tells me, but she falters a little when I push my fingertips a little deeper into her hip.

“Do you know where that donor’s money comes from, Ophelia?” I should have fucking killed him days ago when I saw him meeting with her at that restaurant.

Dexter is one of The Firm’s members with a penchant for murder. I refused to send any more girls directly to him after the last three ended up in suspicious accidents…that were most definitely not accidents.

If we hadn’t been interrupted in the bathroom at the restaurant the other day, I would have done more than grab his head and smash it against the door. But the fucker ran out of there as fast as he could and never came back. Coward.

“That’s rich coming from you, and to be perfectly honest, Jarrett, I don’t even know why you’re here.” She slips her handfrom mine and smoothes her palms across and over to my shoulders as we continue to dance. “I didn’t peg you for the jealous type, though.” She chuckles, and we both know she’s talking out of her arsehole.

“You haven’t pegged me at all yet, Kitten. I might be willing to let you try if you come home with me tonight.” I can’t—okay, I can, more like I won’t—ruin her night by telling her aboutDexternow. It can wait until we’re alone and not surrounded by hundreds of people.

“Not a chance.”

I realize we’ve danced through a couple of songs already, and I know she has to do her mingling socialite thing, but I don’t want to let her go.

I chuckle into her hair, her sass making my dick twitch again.

Someone clears their throat behind me and Ophelia stiffens before scrambling away from me. It makes my lip curl up in disgust, and when I see the person who interrupted us, I have to clench my fists to stop from starting an all-out brawl.

“May I have this dance, Ophelia?”Dexterholds out his palm for her to take, completely ignoring my presence beside her.

“Fuck off, cunt.” I can’t help the words as I grind them out, trying not to make a scene, but he used her name and I hate the sound of it from his lips.

He turns his head and grins, making my blood boil with how fucking smarmy he looks.

“Jarrett, don’t you dare ruin my gala.” Ophelia moves her attention toDexterand takes his hand. “I need a drink first, I’m bored of dancing.”

In aid of not being a complete dick, I remain in this spot for I don’t know how long, taking deep breaths and trying to slow the adrenaline rushing through me. My eyes don’t deviate from Ophelia and she fucking knows it.

They won’t.

Ever.

Chapter Nineteen

Ophelia

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