Page 62 of Vicious Seduction

CHAPTER 32

LINA

“Honey,what is up with you? I might as well be brainstorming with that mannequin over there.” Cosmo’s botoxed brows attempted to express concern by listing toward one another without actually creasing any skin.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“You want to try again tomorrow? We have a little leeway in our schedule for this next collection.”

“Yeah, that might be best. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. Give me the afternoon to put pencil to paper, then I should be ready to collaborate tomorrow.”

“Works for me. And no judgment here. You’ve never once let me down in the past. I know you’ll bring your A gamewhen you’re able.”

“You’re the best, Cos. I knew I picked you for a reason.”

“Girl, you did no such thing. You hardly said five words in that first class we had together. I scooped you up and made you mine—you never had a choice in the matter.”

My lips quirked upward. “That’s what you think. It was all part of my master plan.” I slid my drawing pad back into my satchel and stood. “Identify most talented mind in the room? Check. Butter him up with flattery? Check. Scare everyone else away with vicious rumors behind his back? Check and check.”

He attempted to raise a brow. “I am very susceptible to flattery.”

“I know.” I blew him a kiss. “See you tomorrow.”

“Get some rest!” he called after me.

Rest. That was funny.

How was I supposed to rest when I might have been sleeping with my enemy?

I walked to the front of the building in a daze, the same hazy state of shock I’d been in since Oran mentioned Moxy. I was so out of it that I actually squeaked when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Heart in my throat, I checked the screen to see that Gloria was calling. That was unusual. No matter how many times I assured her that I was happy to hear from her, she worried about being a bother, insisting that a busy woman like me didn’t need her old nanny checking in with her all the time.

A million and one reasons for her call flashed through my mind.

“Hey, Gloria. Everything okay?” I hoped she didn’t hear the frenetic edge to my voice.

“Yes, everything is good, Lina. How are you?”

“I’m fine. Just wrapped up a short meeting with Cosmo.”

“Yeah? Work is going well?” She sounded odd, like she was trying a little too hard.

“Yeah, work is great. You sure everything is okay?”

“I’mokay. I’ve just been a little worried about you is all.”

“Me?” Why would she be worried about me?

“Yes, you know with Mr. Brooks’s broken arm, I’ve been worried.”

I was so confused. “Charles broke his arm? What happened?”

“You don’t know?” she asked, a tinge of scandal showing through. “If you don’t know, mija, I’m not sure I should say anything.”

“Gloria Ruiz, tell me what on earth is going on,” I ordered sternly. She might have been my nanny, but our dynamic had long since shifted to one of equal footing.

She tsked. “Your mother said it was the man you’re seeing—he attacked Mr. Brooks. I’m worried for you, mija. She said this man is dangerous.”

Oran broke Charles’s arm? Would he have done that without telling me?

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