Page 57 of Conquering Oz

Her phone rang and she eyed the number suspiciously. At the suggestion of Chris, Madalyn’s husband, she’d blocked Julian’s number. It only stopped calls for a day before she started receiving several from random numbers. Elodie wasn’t taking any chances. She hit ignore, turned off her phone and shoved it in her pocketbook. Elodie took a sip of her wine and another look at the entrance.

It was the perfect time to hit the ladies room before he showed up. She made her way through the main restaurant toward the back. She’d only been there twice for dinner but knew the layout. The back half of the restaurant was usually reserved for private parties. On a Monday, she was surprised to see it occupied. And even more shocked to see the couple dining at a corner table.

Elodie stopped mid-step. Her stomach dropped, her throat tightened, and her heart pounded in her chest.Of all the fucking restaurants in this goddamn city.

Oz was seated with a gorgeous younger woman in the corner of the room. It was reminiscent of her own date with him. It was quiet and intimate. The woman seemed to be doing most of the talking. Again, reminiscent. When the woman laughed, Elodieshifted her gaze to Oz and gasped. Elodie had barely gotten anything more than a shadow of a smile. But for this woman? The corners of his mouth spread, and his gaze softened. Elodie felt the heat rise from her chest and her blood race through her veins.Fuck!At forty years old, jealousy should’ve been long past her. Unfortunately, it was alive and well.

She must’ve been staring too long because Oz’s gaze shifted to her. She swallowed the knot in her throat, straightened her shoulders, and turned toward the bathrooms in the back hall. She was careful not to rush her steps. Elodie wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her unhinged.

She took longer than needed in the bathroom, stalling. She’d have to walk through the room again to get to the bar. It was inevitable. She braced her arms on the counter and stared at her reflection in the mirror.

“You got this!” She straightened. “And fuck him.”

She inhaled a deep breath and grabbed the doorknob. She would just walk through the room with her chin up and head held high. The likelihood he’d even say anything was small. He was obviously on a date with another woman. Why would he openly want to engage with a one-night stand?That fucking phrase.

Elodie opened the door and walked down the hall. It was the first time she’d noticed Oz’s security. None of them acknowledged her as she entered the room. She kept her eyes straight forward. She was only twenty feet from the main dining room and bar.In the home stretch.

Out of nowhere, Nash stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

“Hello, Elle.”

Fuck!

She forced a smile.Too forced.It was as if the muscles in her face were at war. She rolled her shoulders to relieve the tension.It was fruitless. The only remedy for calming down would be to get far away from Ozandhis associates.

“Hi, Nash.” She attempted to pass by him but Nash matched her steps.

“I thought it was you sitting at the bar.”

Elodie raised her brows. “It was. And if you don’t mind, I’d like to get back there. I have a drink waiting.”

Nash nodded but made no effort to step aside. “I’m sure Oz would like to say hello.”

That caught her off guard. She knitted her brows. “Excuse me?”

“If you have a minute.” Nash waved his hand to the opposite side of the room. Elodie didn’t look over at Oz’s table, but a chill ran down her spine. She knew he was looking at her.

“I actually, don’t. My date…” Elodie paused and blinked. Why did she say date? This was a business meeting.

“He hasn’t arrived yet,” Nash said, and motioned to Oz’s table. “Oz insists.”

Who the hell was Oz to insist on anything?We fucked once!Obviously he hadn’t been that interested if he hadn’t called her in three days. It was preposterous of him to think he could demand anything from her. Elodie was prepared to tell Nash no, but she hesitated.

“Does Oz always get what he wants?”

“I think you know the answer to that.” Nash’s lips twitched, and he stepped aside, clearing a path to Oz’s table. “Shall we…”

Oh yeah, we fucking shall.

Elodie squared her shoulders, walking across the room to the table. Oz’s gaze had been locked on her the whole time. She stopped at the edge of the table, smiling.

“Oz.”

His gaze traveled over her body, sending an undeniable heat through her veins. It was not the reaction she was hoping to havewith him sitting across the table from another woman. When his eyes met hers, they darkened slightly.

“Elodie.” He lowered his chin then gestured to the woman. “This is Camille.”

It felt like a game of chess, and Oz was currently winning. Elodie smiled at the pretty young woman. She couldn’t have been more than thirty. Beautiful bone structure, striking eyes, and stunning smile.Goddammit!Elodie leaned forward offering her hand, which the woman immediately shook.

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