Page 96 of Strictly Business

“About what?” I shake my head, crossing my arms over my chest. “You said everything you needed to say that day. We have nothing else to talk about.”

He nods, looking down at his feet for a moment before meeting my eyes again. “I know I fucked up, okay? I know. I… I thought I needed something different—someone different—but I was wrong. I was so wrong, Amara.” He steps closer, and I take a step back, his proximity suffocating. “I want you back.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Of course I’m serious. I told you I made a mistake, but I know what I want now. You can stop playing this game now and come back to me.”

My stomach churns. “Playing this game?” I repeat.

“Yeah,” he scoffs, his eyes narrowing. “Playing hard to get. Trying to make me jealous by fucking your boss.” His eyes scan the penthouse. “We both know Nicholas Blackwood will never end up with someone like you. This is just a phase. He’ll get bored and leave you. Come back to me, Amara. We can spend the rest of our lives together. Just like you wanted.”

I can feel my heart race, my pulse hammering in my ears. I take another step back as he reaches out for me. “Wanted,” I say. “Past tense. I don’t want that anymore. Especially not with you. I’m engaged to Nicholas, and whatever happens between us isn’t any of your business, Liam. You need to leave.”

Liam’s face hardens, his eyes narrowing. “I need to leave?” He steps closer, his jaw clenching. “You act like you’re some kind of saint, giving me shit for cheating, when you did the exact same thing.”

“Excuse me?” I say, my eyes widening at the audacity.

“You were working for Nicholas while we were together,” he points out, a sneer curling his lips. “And a week after we break up, you two are engaged? Don’t stand there and pretend like you didn’t open your legs for him when we were still together.”

My whole body stiffens, but I don’t back down. “Get out,” I say firmly, every inch of me resisting the urge to break down. I won’t cry over him anymore. He isn’t worth it.

Liam’s face tightens with disgust as he steps into my space. “Don’t play innocent, Amara. You want to know why I fucked someone else?” His eyes scan me coldly. “You were boring.” I suck in a breath at the cruelty in his voice. “You were so fucking vanilla and predictable. You think you’re some kind of catch?” he sneers. “I couldn’t fucking stand the thought of touching you anymore. Fucking you was a chore. You didn’t evencome.”

My chest tightens, but before I can speak, a deep voice cuts through the room. “She’s never had that issue with me.”

Chapter thirty-two

Nicholas

My blood is burning in my veins.

Every inch of me is coiled tight, my muscles tense, my eyes locked on them. The way he’s standing way too fucking close to Amara, the way he speaks to her, like he still has some kind of claim. I don’t know what pisses me off more. The fact that he’s even here or that Amara is letting him get this close.

He turns around, his eyes widening when he sees me standing in the doorway and Amara’s eyes widen. What the fuck is she doing here alone with him? Does she still want something with him? Does she miss him? The thought hits me like a punch to the gut, and I have to fight to hold it together.

“I was just—” he starts to mumble, but I’m done with his excuses.

“Trying to insult myfiancéeby insinuating she cheated on you?” I cut him off, anger boiling inside me. I won’t give him a chance to speak. I won’t let him act like he has any right tobe here. No one gets to talk to her like that. Especially not this asshole.

His eyes narrow as he breathes through his nose. “I know she—”

“You knownothing,” I interrupt. My fists itch to pound into his face, wanting him out of my sight, away from my penthouse, away from my fiancée. “Amara and I only happened because you made the mistake of even looking at another woman,” I tell him, the sound of my shoes against the hardwood floor the only noise as I approach the bastard, seeing his chest rise and fall as he breathes hard, anger building inside of him.

“Youwalked away from her. Don’t blame anyone else for your actions. You decided you didn’t want her anymore, and I took my chance with her. I didn’t waste any time, because I knew someone like her deserved the world, and unlike you, I wanted to give it to her.”

The words feel like they’re coming from somewhere deep inside me, as if I’ve been holding them back for too long. But now that I’ve started, I can’t stop. My hands are shaking from the overwhelming need to stake my claim on her, to remind him—and myself—that Amara is mine. I look at him, daring him to say something, to contradict me.

“While you were busy looking at other women,” I continue, pressing a finger to his chest. “I was looking at yours, wishing she was mine.”

He shakes his head, breathing out a scoff. “Amara and I have history. We dated for years.”

The audacity of this asshole. God, I want to punch him. “And yet you threw all of that away for some easy pussy. You might have history butI’mher future. So, remember that when you think you have some kind of claim on her, because you don’t. Not anymore. She hasmyring on her finger, she sleeps inmybed, and it’ll bemylast name on her documents.”

I feel her eyes on me, wide with surprise. She never realized how much I thought about her. Even when I shouldn’t have. How often her face came to mind when I was alone. How I would do anything to make her feel safe, to make her feel like she’s the only woman in the world.

I move forward, approaching Amara who’s still glancing up at me with her lips parted and I stake my claim, clutching her waist in my hands as I look down at her, not bothering to give him any more of my attention.

“You gave up your shot,” I say, brushing a strand of her orange hair behind her ear. “You had your chance, and you blew it.” I lift my head, glancing at Liam. “Now you regret it and want her back. But you thought she would be here, begging to have you back.” I tut, shaking my head. “You were fucking wrong. She traded up, so thanks for letting her go. I’ll make sure she forgets you ever existed.”

---