Page 49 of Vow to Hate You

A cold laugh escaped me. “I am. Which is why I’m declining. Let me make something perfectly clear—I will never sign a contract with you again.”

“Maybe I’ll open one myself.”

I arched an eyebrow. “You want to be my competition? While still taking money from my business?”

“Ourbusiness,” he hissed, anger seeping into his voice.

I strode forward, enjoying how he shrunk away as I got in his personal space. My pulse was hammering, absolutely despising how much hatred I had for this man.

“Club Facade would be nothing without me,” I said, my voice cold. “I built that damn place?—”

“With my money,” he cut in, lifting his chin.

“I paid you back over a year ago,” I growled. “What the hell are you contributing to the club now?”

“I bring smart business decisions.” He stumbled over his words. “You need me?—”

“No, you needme.” Reaching into my back pocket, I grabbed my wallet. “You want to start your own club, Percy? Let me be your first investor.” I plucked a hundred-dollar bill out, slapping it against his chest. “Good luck. You’ll never have the success Club Facade has. I made it what it was. Without me, you’ll have another failed business that men will talk about behind your back.”

“I’m very successful,” he snapped, his face turning red. “Watch yourself, Damian.”

I laughed. “Watch for what? You have nothing on me. You need me to keep Club Facade as successful as it is. You can’t fire me. Unfortunately, we’re partners. Never come to me asking about a second club again. My answer won’t change.” I turned and strode toward the door, swinging it open. “Don’t come to my house again, Percy. You’re not welcome here. Talk to me at the club.”

He grumbled something under his breath, dropping his eyes to the floor as he rushed past me. Sliding my hands in my slacks pockets, I followed him down the hall, making sure he left my house. Once the front door slammed shut after him, Ispun around and stared down the hall toward the kitchen. I’d told Talie to go upstairs, but highly doubted she listened since ignoring me seemed to be her favorite pastime.

I tried to force the entire conversation with Percy out of my head as I wandered toward the kitchen. I hoped he abandoned the idea of wanting to open a second club. He’d never be able to do it without me, and there was no way in hell I would ever entertain that idea. I wanted him out of my life.

“Damian.” Harry closed the refrigerator, looking at me once I entered the kitchen. “Did I not bring enough food into the dining room? Your wife was just in here grabbing another plate.”

“You did,” I said, giving him a small smile. “It was delicious. We had an unexpected visitor. You wouldn’t happen to know where Talie went?”

He nodded toward the back door. “Outside.”

“Thanks. Have a good night, Harry.”

I spotted her the second I stepped onto the large patio. Instead of sitting at the table where we had the seafood dinner the other night, she was on one of the lounge chairs with a plate of food on her lap. There was no way she didn’t hear me walking toward her, but she continued to eat as she watched the sun lowering in the sky.

I dropped onto the lounge chair beside her. “You can go back into the dining room to eat.”

“Why?” she asked, still not looking at me. “You want to finish what you started? Sorry, Damian. I’ll stick to your books and my toy if I need to get off again.”

I inhaled a slow breath, watching her take the last couple bites of her food. My conversation with Percy didn’t even last long, but it had given her enough time to close back up. Once she finished eating, I leaned forward to snatch the plate before setting it next to me. Talie’s eyes cut to me, a frown on her face as I stood up.

“What are you doing?—”

“Ididfinish what I started.” I swung my leg over the chair she was on, watching her tense. She bent her legs, crossing them as I lowered myself down on the cushion, facing her. “Watching your eyes roll from the pleasure I gave you will play on repeat until I do it again.”

She straightened up. “It’s not happening again. I told you this marriage started as a business transaction, and that’s how it’ll stay. Sex isn’t part of our contract. Feel free to wrap your hand around another woman’s throat.”

My pulse thudded as I worked to control my facial features. Instead of rising to her bait, I changed the subject.

“Did you explore any other part of the house besides my library?”

She searched my face, questions in her gaze. “Yes.”

“Did you see the empty room next to my office?”

“I did,” she answered slowly.

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