Page 113 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

“I never said he didn’t love her. You haven’t seen him pissed off.”

“And you have?”

“Well not exactly, no. I can imagine it though.”

“Then shut up and stop being unhelpful.”

“Hey, I resent that accusation.”

Gert stuck her tongue out at him.

“What the fuck do you even know anyway, Mr ‘I don’t commit to girls because they’re too much work’?”

“Hey!”

“Okay, that’s enough you two,” I said, dropping my hands. “I will speak to Aiden. I have no other choice.”

It wasn’t just that he was acting weird, we hadn’t had sex since Monday. It had been fucking amazing, but it didn’t make up for the fact we’d stopped sleeping together daily. He’d been working late dealing with the new security acquisitions for the company and spent a lot of time talking things over with John.

I had to fix this shit between us. I had to make it right.

“Anyway, I thought you had news,” I continued.

Gert’s ears went red. My senses prickled immediately. What on earth did she have to be shy about?

“Well…”

“You’ve met someone, haven’t you?” James butted in.

Gert folded her arms over her chest and scowled.

“Way to ruin the surprise.”

“I knew it. Come on, tell us all.”

She was trying to hold back a smile and failing miserably because both of us could see that grin forming.

“Okay, okay… her name is Tilly, she’s doing a fine arts degree, she’s got pink hair and she’s just so funny, smart and cute as hell.”

Gert had been with a lot of different people unlike me. When we were twelve, she’d expressed an interest in both sexes and had come out as bi by the time we were fourteen.

“Fine arts? Really, Gertie? You know what happened last time you went out with someone doing an arts degree.”

“That was different.”

“Don’t bring her up,” I said.

Her ex, Manuela, was a fucking bitch who’d broken Gert’s heart. I honestly could’ve strangled the girl. She’d lied about them being exclusive. Gert found her in bed with two other girls. It’d taken a month of Gert sobbing into my shoulder and eating ice cream for dinner every night before she got over it. James had been less than impressed with Gert’s choice in partners ever since.

“What? She doesn’t have a stellar reputation for picking the right girl… or guy for that matter. Don’t forget what Rodrigo did to her.”

Rodrigo was an exchange student who Gert had lost her ‘guy virginity’ to. She liked to think she’d lost her virginity twice, once to a guy and once to a girl. He’d basically wooed her into bed then told her the next day he was dumping her because she wasn’t that hot compared to Lucy Danvers, the most annoying stuck up girl in our class.

James was right. Gert really didn’t have the best track record when it came to dating. Probably why I’d been so reluctant to get involved with anyone after seeing what those breakups had done to her. The George thing hadn’t helped either. I should never have slept with him.

“Can we not bring up all my failed relationships?” Gert said, folding her arms over her chest. “I really like Tilly and she likes me, okay? She’s not Manny or Rodrigo. She’s a nice girl and I want you two to be on board with this.”

“I’m sure she’s great,” I said. “Do you have a picture of her?”

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