Page 55 of The Forbidden
Nodding, I skip the niceties, getting straight to the point. “My…” I trail off, frowning. What is Anais? Not my girlfriend. But she’s also not just Harrison’s little sister. Not after that kiss… I shake my head, focusing on the task at hand. “I need you to shut down the restaurant for the night.”
His mouth drops open, as his eyes bug out of his head. “You want me to shut down my restaurant for the night?” he splutters in disbelief, before laughing nervously. “Are you fucking crazy? It’s Saturday, my busiest night of the week.”
I shrug. “Don’t care. Kill the power, say the chef went home sick. I don’t care. Just shut down this damn restaurant.” I order, feeling not an ounce of remorse for my ridiculous demand.
“Why?” he demands.
“Because my best friend’s little sister is on a date she has no business being on.” I grit out, running a frustrated hand through my hair. I glare, quickly running out of the last slither of patience I possess. “You owe me a favor. I’m calling it in.”
He studies me like I’m insane. And maybe I am. I don’t know anymore. But as long as it gets me what I want, I don’t care.
“Jesus fucking Christ, Evan. You’re serious?”
“Deadly.”
“You realize how much this is going to cost me, right?”
“I’ll cover the loss.”
He stares at me for a long moment before exhaling. “Fine. I’ll tell my patrons we are closing due to unforeseen circumstances. Fuck.” He curses, running a hand through his hair. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
A smirk tugs at my lips. “Good man. Now tell me, in which private room is Prince Fredrik dining?”
It’s an assumption, but I have no doubt I’m right on the mark. Of course, the prick prince would choose one of the private rooms. I’m proven right when Rodrigo responds. “The one at the end of the hall.”
Rising from my seat, I nod. “Good. Now hurry up and get rid of everyone. Time is of the essence.”
Rodrigo stands, grumbling out. “You’re really fucked up, you know that, Maxwell?”
“I’m aware.”
He looks at me once more before shaking his head and brushing past me. “Give me fifteen minutes.”
Pacing his office, I constantly check my watch, obsessing over every minute that passes. When the allotted fifteen minutes pass and Rodrigo still hasn’t returned, I growl, yanking the door open. Stalking down the hall, I pause,smirking when I spot the disgruntled, confused patrons filing out of the restaurant.
My gaze lands on Rodrigo, who shakes his head as he walks toward me. “I’m going to my office. You have thirty minutes, Maxwell.” he growls, pushing past me. “And don’t forget to deposit me a hundred grand. That’s more or less what you’ve cost me tonight. I’ll send you the details.” He grumbles.
Smirking, I head toward the private dining rooms, briefly wondering how the hell I’ve managed to drop a substantial amount of money on this girl in less than a month. I really have lost my fucking mind. But honestly… it will be worth every penny to see her reaction when I disrupt her date.
Coming to a stop in front of the door, I give myself a two second pep talk about not losing my head. But that all goes out the window, as soon as I push the door open and see the prick prince running a finger down her cheek, as Anais laughs softly.
“Ah, I was wondering where our food was...” the prick drawls in his thick Dutch accent, only to pause when his gaze lands on me. He blinks, confusion flashing in his eyes. “Mr. Maxwell?” he questions.
That’s when her lilac eyes finally snap to me. She blinks. Then blinks again. And again. That’s right, Brat.Your manishere. I pause. The fuck? Where the hell did that even come from?
“Evan?” she gasps.
My lips curl into a snarl as I will myself to calm the hell down. “Date’s over,” I snap, moving toward her. “It’s time to go.”
“Now wait just a second.” The prick stands, then takes a protective stance in front of her. My jaw clenches, and I have to ball my fists to stop myself from hitting him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
I move around him, reaching out and wrapping my fingers around Anais’s delicate wrist. A jolt of electricity shoots through me, and I know she feels it, too, by the gasp that falls from her lips. I gently tug her to a stand, inwardly groaning when my eyes take in the dress that clings to every inch of her body. A dress she wore forhim. What the fuck was she thinking?
“Let’s go,” I demand.
Anais glares at me, yanking her wrist out of my hold. “I don’t think so.” She shakes her head as those lilac eyes shoot fire at me. “What the hell are you doing, Evan? I’m on a date.”
“Not anymore, you’re not. You have two choices. Leave with me now.” I turn my glower on the prick. “Or he leaves.”
