Page 78 of The Forbidden
My thoughts go to Anais once more, but I quickly shake them away.
I’ve done the relationship thing before and look how that turned out. I’ll never make that mistake again. No matter how I wish things could be different. Anais deserves better than a man like me. She deserves more. But for the remainder of her internship she is mine.
I know it’s selfish, know how she feels about me, but I just can’t stop.
She is an addiction; one I’ll indulge until this arrangement ends.
I just hope she can walk away unscathed.
Chapter 34
Anais
I’m in bed with my Kindle, lost in a very spicy workplace romance between a grumpy boss and his assistant when my phone chimes with a notification.
Placing my Kindle on the bed, I grab my phone from the nightstand and frown when I see it’s just Instagram. Unlocking the screen with my face. I tap the notification, only to wish I hadn’t. My stomach twists, pain radiating through my chest.
Because staring back at me is a picture of Evan.
My Evan…
With his ex-girlfriend Valentina.
Cuddled up at an event.
Nausea churns in my gut as I scan the photo. Her smile is wide, possessive, and she clutches his arm like she never wants to let him go.
My gaze shifts to the headline, every word taunting me in its bold font.
Evan Maxwell back with supermodel ex-girlfriend, Valentina Farina?
My heart races. I feel lightheaded. If I wasn’t already sitting down, I’d have hit the floor. How could he do this to me? Yes, Evan made it clear from the start what our arrangement would be, but the asshole could at least show me and oursituationshipsome fucking respect.
Anger replaces the heartache. Exiting the app, I quickly dial Lana’s number. She picks up on the third ring.
“What’re you doing?” I ask in way of greeting.
“Well, I was about to go to bed, but I guess that’s about to change,” she says, chuckling.
“Get dressed. We’re going out.” I tell her, sliding out of my bed.
“Oookay,” she draws out the word. “Not that I don’t want to see you Nais, but can you tell me what inspired this sudden urge to go out?”
I pause, nibbling my bottom lip. I debate how much to share. She doesn’t know about my arrangement with Evan; doesn’t know he took my virginity. But she’s my best friend. She deserves to know the truth.
“It’s a long story. I’ll explain when I see you.”
“Right. And where are we going?” I hear the hint of caution in her voice.
“We’ve got our fake ID’s.” I smirk, “Anywhere we want.” My brows furrow. “Just not the club Evan co-owns with my brother.”
Lana laughs, “Be more specific, Nais. Am I wearing jeans or something slutty?”
“Slutty. Short dress. We’re going dancing,” I mutter absently, my fingers moving over the row of dresses in my closet.
“Oohh, okay.” She hums. “In that case, lets hit Harbor. I fucked a promoter that works there, last month. He’ll take care of us.”
I smile. “Perfect. Meet you outside in an hour?” I ask, settling on a very revealing, very short, pink dress.
