Page 49 of A Mutually Beneficial Proposal

I want to say no. I want to tell him to fuck off. I want to not feel something in my chest when I look into his blue eyes so full of life. I want a lot of things, but I’m realizing we don’t often get what we want in this crazy thing called life.

“Fine, but I’m not going to like it,” I reply with a childish pout.

His lips press against mine, taking me by surprise. The quick kisses feel more intimate than when he has his tongue shoved three inches down my throat.

Fuck. I don’t like this.

At least, I don’t want to.

* * *

An hour later,we’re sitting at a table in the night club. I’m disappointed to find out that Jack has reserved the whole area for only his company. I was hoping to see the frisky old couple that we met in the elevator once I realized we were getting off on the same floor they had.

They could have made this night more bearable.

Owen leads us to a table, and the farther we walk into the room, the tighter his hold becomes on me.

“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want. I thought this might be fun, but maybe I was wrong,” he says when the other employees stare. None of them have brought dates, and my presence hasn’t gone unnoticed.

I try to avoid some of the looks, but there are so many glares and thinning of lips that they’re hard to ignore.

“Yeah, maybe I should go,” I say.

Before we can turn around, Jack approaches us. “Your concierge must not have relayed that this is a private event.”

His dark gaze travels over me, and his upper lip lifts briefly before the jackass smirks. “But you’re here now, so why don’t the two of you join us at our table. I’ll have another seat brought over.”

Owen shakes his head. “That’s okay, Jack. Ella wasn’t going to stay. She just wanted to grab a drink from the bar, and then she was headed back up to her room.”

I don’t miss the way he says “her room” instead of ours.

Jack’s predatory stare burns into me. “No, I insist she stays.”

My stomach churns. I want to run for the door, but it would give Jack too much pleasure to see that he’s gotten under my skin.

Instead, I lift my chin and grin at him. “Thanks, Jack. I love karaoke.”

Owen groans next to me, but there’s nothing he can do. I’m staying, and I’m going to fuck with his boss as much as I can while I’m here because why the hell not.

“Fantastic. Follow me.” Jack’s posture is stiff, but his stride is swift while we trail behind him.

Owen leans closer to me and whispers, “You really don’t have to do this.”

I wink in return. “But I want to.”

He groans. “This isn’t going to end well.”

“Probably not, but don’t worry, I won’t take things too far unless he forces me to,” I say. Seeing Owen’s unease, I decide I won’t push Jack unless he pushes first. Okay, maybe I will a little, but not as obviously as I’d prefer.

When we get to the table, there’s a seat next to the woman Owen called Natalie. I make an assumption, thinking Jack will place the extra chair there, but he doesn’t. Instead, he sits it right next to his own.

“Have a seat,” Jack says to me, then gestures to the rest of the table. “Everyone, this is Ella. She’s Owen’s friend. Ella, this is Todd, Mason, and Natalie.”

I offer a smile and wave to the rest of the table. “Thanks for letting me crash your party.”

Mason licks his lips. “You’re welcome to crash my party anytime you want.”

Owen stiffens as he takes his seat between the dirtbag and Natalie.

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