Page 60 of The Mastermind

Did he shut her out as simply as closing a door?Does he still have feelings for her?Was that the real reason he attended this event?

Insecurity rose in me. Why was she telling me all of this? Right here, right now?

I glanced at her, and the desire in her eyes told me she wanted him.

Was she competing with me? Warning me?

Alice was a woman who floated in Remi’s circle of wealth, prestige, and power. I wasn’t that kind of woman. The limelight and the obligation to survive in a privileged world were too much for my simple soul. I preferred hanging out with my friends at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, where I could be silly rather than paste a fake smile while nibbling on fancy delicacies that tasted good but weren’t worth the exchange.

Despite that, I wanted to be with him. I wanted to understand his world. Understand him.

So if she was testing the waters, I was game, but if she were warning me, I’d like to know that as well.

“Remi and I are friends,” I told her the truth, gauging her reaction. “He needed a date for tonight, and I was available.”

Alice studied me. “If you’re only friends, you wouldn’t mind if I pursued him?” Her red lips curled. “I want him back. He could be my friend with benefits. I’m excellent at negotiating. That was how I got him to come here tonight.” Her attention swung back to Remi. “I know what he wants—hot sex, no attachment, no talking during sex. He has enormous assets.” She smirked, and I knew she wasn’t referring to the size of his bank account.

My mouth dropped at her bluntness. Maybe she was used to talking to strangers about her sex life, but I found it odd that she was so descriptive to me. If she was trying to make me jealous, she’d succeeded, and I hated that I couldn’t fight it off.

A vivid image of them together popped into my vision and irritated me. What had they “negotiated?” Did she want a night with him after the event ended? Frustration and jealousy surged through me, and my mind went wild with all kinds of crazy scenarios. I felt my blood pressure rising.

A strong sense of possessiveness surfaced as well. I yanked at that floaty to keep me above water so I didn’t drown in a sea of jealousy.

What the hell was wrong with me? I wasn’t thinking clearly. This wasn’t me. I’d never been jealous like this. Which was why I was angrier at myself for being so weak in this moment, for letting a woman—a competitor—get under my skin.

I inhaled a deep breath, straightened my spine, and shook off the irritation.

I turned to her and spoke with clarity.

“I don’t own him. From experience, he’s a big flirt, and yes, a pretty big asset too. He has explorative fingers and an even more explorative mouth”—my memory of when I was on his lap in my apartment—“that loves barbecue sauce. Maybe you haven’t found the right way into his heart. If you ask me, it’s the barbecue sauce.”

Alice quirked one of her long eyebrows, probably shoving down her own wave of jealousy.

The next sentence that came from my mouth surprised me.

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see who he wants to bed first. A former sex partner still pining for him or someone who keepsrejectinghim. Enjoy your evening.”

Walking away from her toward the balcony, I picked up a flute of champagne along the way and gulped it down as I stepped outside. The sea breeze cooled my temper and settled my erratic nerves.

I couldn’t believe I said that to her. I sounded like a jealous girlfriend, which I wasn’t. Why did I care if Alice pursued him? Or that she was beautiful and successful? Why did it bother me she was still in love with him?

Why was I putting myself through this? What had happened to the girl who knew Remi wasn’t right for her? I knew he couldn’t commit. Even Grayson had told me. So, why couldn’t I stop myself from wanting him?

I had fallen for him somewhere between him bringing me dinner, wrestling with me in a sumo match, threatening harm to anyone who wanted to hurt me, and taking care of me after that awful incident. He wasn’t as cold, dark, and inattentive as most people said.

Or had I been hypnotized by infatuation that often distorted the truth?

Was I just a friend to him? I could no longer pretend that I didn’t want more from him. I wanted to be his lover.

Frustration whirled in me as my hands gripped the railing. I stared at the water as the horizon glowed a stunning pink hue with the descending red sun. Normally, this breathtaking view soothed me, but all I felt were nerves unsettling my stomach. I should have brought some antacids with me, but I hadn’t needed them while I spent time with Remi.

Where was Remi, anyway? Probably surrounded by a swarm of gorgeous women. He had gotten us a suite with separate bedrooms for the night, so we didn’t have to rush back to the city. Before today, I’d wanted to ease myself into his world and test the waters to see if he wanted me too.

Now, I was fueled by a sense of urgency and irritation that would probably steer me in the wrong direction. What should I do? Should I confront him? Should I let him know how I felt?

Yes, but only after I calm down. Urgency, irritation, and a muddled brain didn’t create for a comprehensive conversation. I needed to articulate myself clearly if I wanted him to understand.

“It’s a beautiful evening, isn’t it?”

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