Page 86 of Keep Your Friends Close and Your… Work Enemy Closer?

In some ways, it felt like we were putting on a show. But at the same time, we really were close, so it wasn't a complete farce, although sometimes we seriously got on each other's nerves.

After gushing about how nice it was to have all of us together, my parents went around the table, asking each of us about our work, our personal lives, how everything was going.

While Aria and Astrid had plenty to talk about with their fabulous careers of event planning and fashion design, respectively, I dreaded my turn and performing this odd dance I'd created for myself with my faux persona.

I sort of hemmed and hawed a bit, explaining that my new "consulting" job was going wonderfully, Aria purposely asking me a few questions, a smirk on her face as she played the instigator, despite my kicking her under the table with my heels.

Astrid came to my rescue, returning to the topic of her upcoming fashion show, kind soul taking the heat off me. I smiled at her, grateful beyond words, then turned to Aria and hissed, "So lucky to have one nice sister."

She laughed before pouring me more champagne, filling it to the brim.

Now that we'd moved on from the obligatory conversation about my work, I exhaled a bit and actually enjoyed the rest of the night. The food was incredible, the drinks were plentiful, and for the most part, I did have fun with my sisters, plus all the extended family and friends that were here, as long as I avoided any questions about work.

With a nice buzz by the end of the party, I stepped outside into the fresh night air with my sisters, waiting for our rides home. No sooner had I exited the building than I nearly bumped into a group of tall suited men who were also waiting in the pick-up area.

Our small groups readjusted so we weren't right next to each other, and I let my eyes roam over the men, something about them familiar, one in particular. The way he held himself reminded me of Jared.

Actually, everything about him reminded me of Jared, even though I could only see his back. Except, and this was a big exception, the fit of his clothes. This man's suit was impeccable, tailored perfectly to his frame, everything about it exuding luxury, wealth, and power.

A black SUV pulled up, and they all moved forward, the Jared clone turning at the last minute to meet my eyes, and holy fuck, my heart stopped.

It was Jared!

For a beat, we were held in each other's spell, but then he quickly turned away and disappeared into the vehicle, shutting the door firmly behind him.

Wait, had that been Jared?

"Was that Max Sterling?" Astrid asked. "And the Gotham Global Media guys?"

Not only had that man been fucking Jared or at least a Jared doppelganger, but he'd been hanging out with the same guys Jared seemed to know at our karaoke night a while back—Gabriel, Xavier, and Landon of Gotham Global.

"I—I need to sit down."

Her brows creased together, Astrid led me to a seating area, Aria and Ethan rushing over, the group of them crowding over me as I plopped down into a chair and took a shaky breath.

"What happened?" Aria asked. "Are you okay?"

"I think... I think..."

Flashes from the last few months bombarded my brain, odd things Jared had said in the beginning, that his mom had supposedly helped him get the job, the fact that he got us into Venus' gala, his fucking goddamn penthouse,hispenthouse, not his mom's, not his grandma's, and all the elegant, expensive furnishings.

I let my face fall into my hands, not caring about my makeup or hair or anything else but what a damn fool I was. "Oh, my fucking God. I can't even believe this."

"Believe what?" Astrid said, her voice filled with worry.

Looking up, I faced them all and their concerned, questioning expressions. "Jared...Jaredis Max Sterling. At least I think. I'm pretty sure. I mean..."

Aria reacted first, squinting her eyes at me. "Wait, what? Jared, the annoying guy at work, is really Max Sterling?"

I groaned again, remembering what had just happened a few short hours ago. "I gave Max Sterling a blow job."

Shocked gasps all around.

"Uh," Ethan said, "I'm going to go check on our ride."

Reaching up, I grabbed his arm. "No. Wait. I need your help."

His eyes went wide. Sometimes the girl talk that my sisters and I engaged in was too much for Ethan. "You needmyhelp?"

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