Page 66 of A Bossy Proposal

She laughs. “He handed it to me. Said you blocked his number.”

“I have. I’m getting engaged to another man, and he’s—”

“A god compared to Felix—” She leans back in her chair, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips. She blinks once and then again. Leaning forward, she whispers, “Engaged?”

“Yes, I’m getting engaged.”

She blows out a breath. “So, it’s serious then?” Her eyes sparkle with excitement.

I nod, sliding the tip of my finger around my glass. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. And that’s what I wanted to ask you. If you’ll come to my engagement party. I don’t have anyone else. Bring a plus one.”

I hand her a cream envelope with gold writing, embossed with the Davenport brand.

She takes the envelope and pulls out the card. “Engagement party. Jeez, Ames, this weekend. That’s fast.”

“He doesn’t want to wait.” I don’t tell her the sooner I’m engaged; the countdown starts for me to get the money that helps my future.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” She presses her elbows on the table, glancing at the server, who is walking toward us. “I’ve been reading up on him and he isn’t very nice. He has a mean reputation.”

I’ve worked for West for over a year. I know what he’s capable of.

“It’s all true,” I admit. I want to tell her the engagement is fake, but as I’ve signed an NDA, I can’t. It puts me at risk of being sued for one million dollars if the news gets out.

“Can I take your orders?” the server asks.

“Berry fruit smoothie for me,” I say.

“Same.” Carly smiles at the server, then turns to stare at me. “What aren’t you telling me?”

That the past few weeks have been a whirlwind. The heated nights have left me breathless, but doubt still gnaws at me. Ianswer, “Nothing. It is what it is. I’m getting engaged and would love for you to be there.”

“Is he blackmailing you?”

I laugh. “No.”

West is a businessman, through and through. Everything’s a transaction to him. Including me. I don’t know how true his words are. I could be just another asset, a pawn in whatever game he’s playing with his father.

At least, I’m well aware of what I signed up for.

And God, when he looks at me with those intense blue eyes, when his hands roam my body...it feels real. But nothing is like when hetellsme I’m his. Then it’s too real. Luckily, those moments are always during sex, so I take them with a pinch of salt.

“Be careful. Men like that will hurt you.”

I take a long sip of my smoothie while trying to focus on Carly’s words.

“I know what I’m doing.” My life hasn’t changed apart from being in a new place.

Yet, I know she’s right. I can’t afford to get lost in fantasies. This is a business arrangement, nothing more. In a year, I’ll have my million dollars and a fresh start.

And I will have a fresh start. His money gives me hope. A place where I’m not looking over my shoulder.

Still, as I sip my drink and nod along to Carly’s gossip, I can’t help but wonder. What does West really want? And how far is he willing to go to get it?

The weight of the bodyguards’ presence reminds me of the precarious situation I’m in.

I’m thankful West provided them. The trouble is, they remind me I’m dancing on the edge of a world I don’t fully understand and possibly don’t belong in.

But is West’s world any worse than the one I left behind? The one where my toes are still dipping in the murkiness.

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