Page 46 of From Us, Forever

His eyes darkened. “You.”

I bit my lips, ignoring the throb between my thighs. “First.” I hiked myself into the seat across from him. “I need to know what’s happening out there. I’ve been controlling the urge to Google myself.”

“Must you ruin the mood?” He exhaled. “But it’s bad. I don’t want you getting worked up by reading that nonsense. My team is taking care of it, and I’ll post a statement later today. It’ll take a while for it to wind down, and until then, you need to lay low.”

“Was it her? You know all the things they said.” I swallowed. “Implying that you were together and that I’m your mistress or something.”

His jaw clenched, and his eyes turned icy. “I’ve no idea how the hell they got the information, but yeah, it was probably her. I can’t tie her to shit, and I’m fucking tired of her games.”

“Did Silas not get anything on her?”

“No.” He pulled out his phone and set it on the table. “But she sent me this.” He pressed the play button.

I stiffened as her poisonous voice polluted the air.

“Emmie, you have to know that this wasn’t my doing. I wasn’t the one who told shit to the media. Look, I’ll admit, yes, I was obsessed with you for a while, but only because it was part of a bigger plan. I’m not really that clever, okay? To play games and manipulate shit. I’m just good at acting, at playing a role—that’s all. But look, I don’t have much time. I need money, Em. Wire me twenty million dollars to the bank account I sent you, and I’ll be out of your hair. I’ll leave you and that bitch alone to drive off to paradise in peace. You won’t hear from me after that. Think about what I said. There is more at play here than you know.”

My hands were shaking with anger even after the voice note ended. Numerous scenarios ran through my head. “What the hell is she saying? More at play?”

“I have no clue, but that’s going to the cops. I asked Silas to dig up more, and my legal team is putting together the case while Micah handles the media.”

My brows pinched. “I don’t understand. What does she mean by saying that she didn’t do it? Then who else could?”

He shook his head, his expression grim. “She’s clearly lying. She is good at that. It could have been Dorian, but he’s dead now.”

“I just don’t know why she couldn’t leave us alone. She’s like that dirt on our feet that won’t go away.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

I nodded, puffing out a breath. “Also, her audacity to ask you for twenty million dollars while calling me a bitch.”

A chuckle rumbled out of him. “Don’t worry, baby. I’m not going to give her a penny.”

“But I think that’s what she wants. I know she’s obsessed with you, but she is more obsessed with money, and now she has none. I think that’s why she filed the lawsuit.”

“It still doesn’t make sense. Yes, the company lost a lot of money, but Dorian comes from old money. He must not have saved up a lot, but it should’ve been enough to live happily the way she did before. Cece was his only heir; she must have inherited it.”

“But didn’t he say he was in some kind of trouble last time he came here?”

“Yeah.” Jay lifted his brows, shaking his head. “With the Storms, no less. That’s one family you don’t mess with.”

“You mean that guy at Alacteon, right?” I spoke in a hushed whisper for some reason. “He did look scary but also hot—very, very hot.”

Jay’s gaze sharpened. “You did not just call another man hot right in front of me, Evelyn.”

“So what if I did? I think every woman on the planet agrees he was hot. Don’t tell me you don’t appreciate other women.”

He gave me a blank stare as if he didn’t really understand what I was saying.

“I mean, you do look, right? At other girls, I mean.”

He blinked. “No, I don’t. I only find you beautiful.”

My heart warmed, and I couldn’t help but pinch his cheeks between my fingers. “You’re adorable.”

He looked offended. “You didn’t just call me adorable, Evelyn.” His hands snaked their way around my hips.

“Oh, but I did.” I giggled, jumping off the chair and easing away from him.

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