Page 23 of My Arrogant Millionaire

»You’re nuts.«

The waitress returned, flashing me another smile and bending down especially low as she placed the drinks on the table. I dared to glance at her ample cleavage. Nothing. I turned away, her expression disappointed, and she vanished. But perhaps she was just hoping for a generous tip from her performance.

I leaned forward and reached for my glass. The drink was delicious, like everything here, and I stuck to my belief that alcohol wouldn’t save me. I hadn’t had a drink in ages before the tequila night with Grace, so why start now? The last thing I wanted was to go home drunk with any of the women present. It just felt wrong.

»What?« I asked as Theo watched me like I was possessed.

»Then tell me about this extraordinary woman who’s stolen your heart.«

I flipped him off. »I can fool myself.«

Theo sipped his glass and smiled. »I’m serious.« His voice softened. »What happened?«

I sighed, unsure where to begin. But maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to talk about the situation with a friend. Even if Theo would just continue advising me to screw my brains out with someone else in order to forget Grace.

»You know the apartments across the street that you can see from my place?«

»Of course. If I were you, my biggest dream would be for some exceptionally hot babe to move in there so I could watch her every day.« I raised an eyebrow, and Theo instantly understood. »No! Really? You lucky dog! So that’s the woman?«

»We met, and she’s...« I ran my hand through my hair. »Incredible. Smart, funny, hot, just different. Someone you stick with, you know?«

Surprisingly, Theo nodded, his gaze expressing a brief recollection of something or someone. »Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.« His voice was quiet and slightly pained, so I didn’t press further when he immediately continued with my story. »So what’s the problem? You acted like an asshole, and she was smart enough to kick you to the curb?«

»Almost. I acted like crap, but I apologized. For the first time in my life, a crazy feeling. It felt good somehow, relieving. You should try it sometime.«

This time it was Theo who snorted. »When things are really messed up, an apology doesn’t help. Actions need to follow.«

»Actions?«

»That’s right. Grand gestures like in romance novels; women love that stuff.«

»I’m sure that’s complete bullshit.« I took another sip of my drink.

»No, trust me.«

»Because you’re such an expert on relationships and women.«

He laughed. »Okay, touché. But keep going, I want to know everything.«

»She apparently lost her job recently, and her new one is with Nic as an event manager. Guess which event she’s supposed to organize?« Theo knew Nic because he occasionally hosted events for his hotels through him.

»I can imagine. And now she’s worried about how it’ll look if she fucks with the client.«

»Don’t talk like that,« I growled.

Theo raised his hands in appeasement. »Alright, sorry. And what do you think about the situation?«

I had to think about his question for a moment. Normally, I wouldn’t have cared at all. »Honestly, I have no idea. All I know is that I feel good when I’m with her, but I don’t want to be responsible for her losing her job again.« Wow, that was the most sincere confession I’d ever made. And Theo seemed to notice my seriousness too, falling silent for a moment before continuing.

»Then be her friend, or whatever she needs right now, without causing her trouble.«

»Sure, if it were that easy.« I thought about the attraction she had on me as soon as she came anywhere near me. Being just her friend wouldn’t work. I imagined things a friend definitely shouldn’t be imagining. Dirty things. A lot of dirty things.

»Okay, then keep your distance. There are only those two options. If you can’t keep it in your pants, don’t even put yourself in a difficult situation.«

Every muscle in my body ached from the tension. And even though everything inside me recoiled at the thought of not being able to see or touch Grace anymore, I knew Theo was right. There was only one way for me to not make Grace unhappy.

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