Page 25 of My Grumpy Billionaire Protector

I wonder how I’m going to talk my way out of this one or if the woman in front of me will agree to have her silence bought off.

“I’m very disappointed in you, Shane. You should’ve figured it out by now.”

“Shane? Shane O’Connor?”

My gaze snaps down to hers, and I grimace. “Do I know you?”

“Holy shit. It is you. I thought you looked familiar.”

I turn to face her completely and study her more intently. “I know you.”

“You should, asshat.”

“Did I forget to call you back or something?”

She scowls at me. “I’d rather crawl over a pit of burning hot coal than sleep with you. You dated one of my friends and then ghosted her for no good reason.”

My frown deepens. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Her lips twist in disgust. “Of course, you don’t. You’re a manwhore who has, like, five brain cells put together!”

I stand and fold my arms over my chest. “Look, I’m sure this is all a misunderstanding. I can take you back home—”

“I’d rather gouge my own eyes out than go anywhere with you.”

“I’ll call you a cab then,” I reply, pausing to take a few steps back. “Whatever this is, it’s just a big misunderstanding. Right, Isaiah?”

“She’s seen too much.” Isaiah begins to shake his head. He presses two fingers to his temples and drifts over to the fire. “We’ll have to keep her here.”

She pales. “You can’t do that! I’m not the person you wanted anyway, and it’s not my fault you grabbed me instead of my mother. She’s—”

“Isaiah, what the hell are you talking about? We don’t kidnap people. What the fuck is the matter with you?”

Isaiah is by her side in an instant, tilting her chin back and studying her face. “Did you saymother?”

She tries to move away, but her eyes stay on his face. “You wanted Alba Coombes, right?”

Isaiah nods slowly. “You’re Evie.”

“How did you know my name?”

“I know your mother.” Isaiah releases her chin and takes a step back. “You weren’t supposed to be in the house.”

“No shit.” Evie keeps her chin up and glances around the room. “What was the plan here? Scare her into cooperating with you? Is this some kind of ransom plan? Because you’re already off to a bad start.”

Two armed and burly security men sneak into the office and one of them rolls his eyes. “She talks too much. Can I gag her?”

Evie’s eyes narrow into slits and she shoots him a dirty look. “If you come near me, I swear to God, I will bite you.”

I choke back an uneasy laugh. “Okay, Isaiah. That’s enough. I think you’ve had your fun. She needs to go back home.

“Stop talking about me like I’m not here,” Evie snaps, her dark eyes burning. “You need to take me back.”

Isaiah stares at her before turning back to me. “This wasn’t such a screw-up after all. She’s the governor’s granddaughter. We can still use her.”

Evie stiffens. “My grandfather isn’t the kind of guy you want to mess with.”

“Who said anything about messing with him?” Isaiah walks over to his armchair and lowers himself onto it. “I want to get into business with your grandfather, but he can be a hard man to reach.”

---