Page 27 of My Grumpy Billionaire Protector

“I’m not falling for your act, and I’m not going to cooperate,” Evie spits at me, a myriad of emotions dancing across her face. “So you can forget all about that. I’ve known you were shady since high school but even this is beyond what I could’ve imagined.”

I give her a blank look.

She glances around the room, taking in the king-sized bed overlooking a fireplace with a TV above the mantel. On one side of the fireplace is a desk, polished and gleaming underneath the overhead light. On the other, there is a dresser with a full-length mirror.

Evie wanders further into the room, pushes a door open, and sticks her head in. “A dressing room? Really?” Evie draws her head back and peers at me. “What the hell is this?”

I glance over my shoulders and back at her. “It’s a room where people get dressed.”

Cory snorts behind me and peers over my shoulder. “You’ve got your own bathroom too. Don’t worry, princess. At least you’ve got a nice room with hot water and a tub.”

“It’s not her fault we’re in this mess too,” I grumble underneath my breath. “We should all try to work together to get out of here.”

I cast a quick glance over my shoulder at Cory who shrugs and leaves. When I look back at Evie, she is hesitating at the bathroom door.

“Look, I really don’t know what’s happening here,” I told her after a lengthy pause. “However, if I were you, I would just do what they want and get it over with.”

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Act like I get a say in any of this,” Evie replies without looking at me. She takes two steps back and wanders back over to me. “We know that I’m a prisoner here, so let’s cut the crap and call it what it is.”

“Isaiah is not going to hurt you,” I maintained. “You are too valuable. Besides, if he wanted to hurt you, why would he set you up in a nice guest room and everything?”

Evie raises an eyebrow. “Is that how you justify being a part of this?”

I clear my throat. “I don’t know how much time I have before they drag me back into that room, so turn around. Quickly.” The least I can do is make sure one of us isn’t suffering. I feel guilty enough for the role I played in this mess.

I have no idea how Isaiah managed to pull the wool over my eyes or hide his true nature for so long.

All I know is that when I get out of here, there’s going to be hell to pay even if I am reluctant to take down my primary investor and the only man who’s believed in me from the start.

There has to be an explanation for all of this, something I’m not getting.

Evie opens her mouth to protest then spins around. I hurry into the room and begin to undo the rope around her wrists. She leans back, and I catch a whiff of something floral and the smell of citrus shampoo, making my stomach tighten in response.

Jesus. Get a fucking grip, Shane. This isn’t the time to be sniffing her. You’re both hostages for Christ’s sake.

“Thanks,” Evie says, gingerly. She moves away from me and rubs her fingers against her wrist. “I would say I’m sorry about your men, but I’m not.”

“They’re not my men.”

Evie glances over her shoulder, her gaze settling on my face. “So, you’re all his lackeys.”

“I’m the CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation. Isaiah is one of my biggest investors, and a member of the board of directors. I had no idea he was going to do any of this.”

“So you’re his favorite dog.”

I stiffen. “Does it make you feel better when you do that? Like it’s going to make you safe? Like it’s going to change anything about this?”

Evie wheels around to face me, her eyes burning with hatred. “It’s not like you’ve left me with anything else. You drag me out of my house, tie me up, gag me, and you bring me here. Am I supposed to fall all over myself in gratitude because you’re treating me with the slightest hint of human decency?”

I step closer to her. “I already told you that I have nothing to do with this. But I think if we work together, we can help each other.”

Evie sucks in a harsh breath. “Let me guess. You’re about to give me the whole you’re the lesser of two evils speech, aren’t you?”

A muscle ticks in my jaw. “I am.”

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