Page 262 of Savage Bosses

“Well, at least I wasn't fired.” She taunted.

“Bitch, I quit. Your dumbass is going to cause a distraction that will set the entire company back. At least with no fuel, the company won't suffer. Now I understand why you were so terrible at your job. Blow Jerry and stay out of my face.” I bent over to pick up my tote.

Someone hissed, and I stepped sideways just in time for her dumb ass to overshoot her reach and fall flat on her face.

“Bet you won't do that again.” I picked up my tote, nodded to the lobby cameras, then left the building to a mix of murmurings and applause.

I may not have laid hands on her, but at least I had the joy of setting her up to come at me and view her nose-diving on the hard tile floor. The only thing better would have been developing telekinesis so I could curb-stomp her with my mind without Chantel or Marcus yelling at me for taking petty revenge.

I gotta tell Ryu.

The whole thing would have amused Ryu, minus the worker's compensation part. It was something that Victoria would do if up against a political figure and her hands were tied. He probably—

No.

What in the world was I thinking? He was the enemy. I had to get him out of my mind. Whatever it took.

Novel marathon and ice cream, here I come.

CHAPTER 20

Ryu

Three months without her…

“Y

ou have your second chance. Use it wisely,” was all Teddy said that morning before ending the call. That was hours ago. It was too much to hope for that he meant Judy-Lynn was in Las Vegas. The statement was too cryptic. His words were in the back of my mind, always of a second chance with her—the do over of a lifetime. Sitting in the green room at Love Con just before the unveiling didn't make it any more straightforward, even if I was alone with my thoughts.

It was difficult to know what Teddy meant. I hated it when he went all elder on me. Our agendas varied too much for me, to be sure. About the only thing I knew was that the company would be in a stronger position which was fine, but I wanted Judy-Lynn.

He wouldn't be able to give her to me. Despite the crazy interrogation he and Jason pulled off earlier in the week, nothing came of it. I made the first move and messaged her from my other account, where I poured my heart out worse than the sappiest novel.

No reply. Not even a read.

That was that.

If Judy-Lynn wouldn't look at a DM from me, then there was no way in hell she would come to Vegas. She knew I was here for Love Con. Wishful thinking wanted me to believe that some serendipitous event would lead her to me, but that was not how my life worked.

I had to make it happen with my cunning or move on. That was life. First, I had to get through the beta launch. Later, I would sort out my personal life.

I studied my dark green slacks, shirt, and black blazer in the mirror. Then I imaginedhernext to my reflection in that minidress that I never got to slide off of her or the heels that I never fucked her in.Okay, never mind.

I didn’t want to introduce a dating app with a hard-on. It would be forgiven, but I did not desire my unrequited lust to be in the news. Or for it to detract from the story of Aroma's spy network.

His stockholders would eat him alive.

It would also deter betrayal, which I couldn't abide by. All that was left to do was to fire Ellen, and I would handle that on Judy-Lynn's behalf.

“Mr. Tsuki?” A harried gopher with an earpiece and a clipboard stood in the doorway, holding the door open. “They are introducing you now.”

I instantly got control of myself. Public speaking turned out to be the ultimate cock block.

“Thank you.” I followed him out of the door and down a short causeway where the previously muffled sounds of convention goers grew louder. Unintelligible murmurs of conversation and laughter surrounded me as we walked to the side of the stage. A black curtain hid me until it was time for me to go to the podium.

Crowded speeches weren't my favorite, but it was just an intro. I would have a teleprompter on a tablet nearby and there were less than a thousand people in the room—child's play.

“—CEO of Dragon Moon and one of Benson Magazine's fifty influential people under fifty, Ryu Tsuki.”

---