Page 14 of Playing the Neutral Zone

“So where do you guys want to go?Illusions?Tilted Flask?I’d suggest The Rusty Anchor, but it’s game night.”

When I turned around, I saw Knox staring at me with an annoyed look on his face, shaking his head.

“What?”I asked.

“Don’t you know by now that if I’m going out with all of you, we go to Illusions?”

I held up my hands in front of me and chuckled.“Sorry there, big guy.I guess our decision has been made.Illusions it is.”I laughed.

I stoodin our private room, a drink in my hand, looking down over the dance floor while the guys behind me stood talking about the game.

“I can’t believe you were so late tonight,” Dylan said, coming up beside me.“When I messaged you, you said you were on your way.I got a little worried when you didn’t show up on time.”

“Yeah, well, there was a bit of a mishap with a cup of coffee and one careless woman who wasn’t paying attention,” I said, grabbing a slice of pizza from the tray before Lucas returned it to the table.

“Doesn’t sound too good.”

“It wasn’t, and when I went to take Mia back to the condo to get her cleaned up, she had a full-on meltdown.If it hadn’t of been for Mrs.Fletcher, I’d have missed tonight.”I sighed, taking a bite of my pizza.

“So, who was hell on feet?”Dylan chuckled as he grabbed a slice of pizza from the tray.

“Remember Scarlett Green?”I questioned.“The reporter from theIce Insiders?”

“Yeah.”

“Fucking reporters.Get her the fuck out of here, Tommy!”Colton yelled, grabbing both of our attention.

We both turned and looked in time to see Colton come back into the room, looking seriously annoyed and pissed off.

“What the hell is going on?”Dylan asked, looking over at Colton and Knox as they stood talking to one another.

“That fucking reporter from theInsiders.She followed me through the club, demanding an interview now.Almost got up here if it hadn’t of been for John at the bottom of the stairs.They go overboard when they are fucking desperate.”Colton huffed, taking a cold beer that Lucas had ready.“That’s the reason I hate doing interviews.”

Irritation and worry flooded me as I looked over my shoulder and quietly scanned the dance floor.It took me a minute, but I finally spotted Scarlett in the centre of the dance floor with a couple of girls, dancing and laughing.Then a man approached her, handed her a drink, and placed his hand on the small of her back, joining in the conversation.

“I told Tommy to have her forcibly removed if necessary.None of us are going to be harassed because we need to take a piss.”

“I’ll call Pamela, ask for a meeting, then we’ll notify her of this,” Dylan said, pulling his phone from his pocket.“They won’t have the opportunity for another interview if I have my way.”

“Good thinking,” Knox added.“I already had to call once last week because one reporter followed Lorelai through the grocery store and out to her car.”

“Jesus, better tell all the girls to watch their backs,” Dylan added.

“I’ll be back,” I mumbled as I made my way out the door and down to the dance floor.I would not allow her to do this.

Anger flooded me as I made my way through the crowd.I had no clue what I was going to say to her once I got to her, but she needed to know she crossed the line.

People bumped into me as I made my way through the crowd.I went straight for the location I’d seen her in earlier, only to find she wasn’t there.Looking around, I finally spotted her over at one of the small side bars with the two girls.I made my way over to where she stood and tapped her on the shoulder.She whipped around and looked at me.

“Levi?”she questioned.“What are you doing here?”She smiled.

“Don’t you dare pretend like you didn’t know I was here.Who do you think you are?”

A stunned look came over her face as I waited for her answer.

“I…I do not know what you’re talking about.I’m here on my date,” she said through clenched teeth.

“Yeah, right.That is why you followed Colton through the bar, begging him for an interview,” I barked.“Are you that fucking desperate for an interview?I take it you are probably up for a promotion and are looking for a fast way to get one?”

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