Page 56 of His Ruthless Match
Theo clapped dramatically. “Oh, yes. Please do.”
I shook my head. “It’s not worth bothering Jareth over a handful of loiterers with nothing better to do.”
But even as I said it, I couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at me.
After a few more minutes of small talk and congratulations, I excused myself and retreated into the sanctuary of my office. There was too much work to do to sit around eating fruit and drinking champagne like I didn’t have a care in the world. I sat at my desk and stubbornly resolved to work multiple hours to get caught up.
But before I could get very far, though, my email chimed with a new message from Genevieve. My stomach sank when I read the subject line:It’s Getting Worse.
Attached was a photo, and I already dreaded it. It showed her stumbling out of a club. The caption insinuated she’d gone on a drunken rampage through the city.
The photo had already gone viral. I had been so caught up in the news of my nomination that I hadn’t checked social media. Huge oversight on my part.
I grabbed my phone and texted her.
Eva:Why did you leave the hotel? I told you to stay put until we had a handle on this!
Genevieve:I didn’t leave. I swear to you, Eva, I’ve been here the whole time.
Groaning, I tossed my phone on my desk and buried my face in my hands. How could I help Genevieve if she lied to me?
16
JARETH
The cold shower hadn’t helped. I’d stood under the icy spray for an eternity, willing my body to forget how Eva had looked in my hoodie, her bare legs peeking out of my shorts. It had completely unmoored me. It was infuriating.Shewas infuriating.
The cold water had done little to shock my traitorous thoughts into submission, but at least it had bought me enough time to avoid doing something reckless, like calling her just to hear her voice again.
Now, I was back in the dining room, tearing into a roast beef sandwich and pretending that my libido wasn’t in overdrive. Grelth hovered in his usual spot across the room, watching me like I was a particularly disappointing science experiment. His stare was unsettling, even for him.
“Are you going to say whatever you’re thinking,” I snapped, “or are you just going to stand there staring at me like a fucking hairy creep?”
Grelth didn’t flinch. He stepped forward with deliberate purpose, his clawed feet clicking on the tile. He crossed his arms and narrowed his beady eyes at me. “You’re an idiot.”
I paused mid-bite and put my sandwich down slowly. “And why, pray tell, do you think that?”
“Because you’re not pursuing Miss Eva.”
The words hit me like a sucker punch, though I did my best to play it off. “That’s your grand revelation? That I’m an idiot because I haven’t thrown myself at Eva? If that’s the case, then congratulations, Grelth. You’ve officially lost whatever scraps of sanity you had left.”
Grelth growled. “She’s a lovely person, and for some unfathomable reason, she seems to somewhat tolerate your antics.”
I barked out a laugh. “Ah, I see now. Is that what you think of me? That the only reason anyone would entertain the idea of being with me is because they cantolerateme? That’s setting the bar pretty low, don’t you think?”
Grelth shrugged, his expression infuriatingly neutral. “I can’t imagine anyone not having to lower their standards to be with you.”
I clenched my jaw. Normally, Grelth’s jabs were good-natured. It was part of our routine. But today, they grated on my last nerve, chipping away at the walls I’d carefully constructed around my pride.
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” I said, my voice colder than I intended. “I’m a catch, Grelth. Any woman would beblessedto have me in her life. Do you hear me? Fucking blessed.”
Grelth snorted, the sound dripping with disdain. He sauntered over to the table and picked up my plate, clearly unimpressed by my outburst. “If you say so. But if I were you, I’d make sure I stayed on Miss Eva’s good side.”
My hands curled into fists, and I stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. “Well, you’re not me,” I shot back. “You’re approximately four feet too short and much hairier. Idoubt I’ll be taking relationship advice from you any time soon, Grelth.”
Grelth smirked, clearly pleased with himself, and carried my plate to the kitchen sink. “As you wish, Master Jareth,” he said with a mocking bow. “Have a nice day.”
I didn’t respond. My blood was still boiling, but I refused to let him see how much his words had gotten to me. I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. “I’ll be back later.”
