Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
“This, can’t happen.” She goes to get off of me, but I grip the back of her blonde hair, which is straight tonight, and pull her back down for one last kiss before I feel the car come to a complete stop.
Kissable.
That’s all she is.
Theadora shakes me off and pulls her dress down, and I see a glimpse of her black lacy panties before she retrieves her red lip gloss and starts fixing her lips. My thumb wipes the red from my own lips as she looks up at me.
“That has to stop happening. This cannot happen.” Theadora shakes her head, looking between us.
Moving to the side, she gets out, leaving me sitting there fixing myself up before I can follow her out.
Chapter Eighteen
Theadora
Atlas isn’t far behind me when I slide out of the limousine. I don’t even know where Tina is when I walk through the doors. This year, Chloe didn’t want to go all out, so our event isn’t as flashy as it usually is. We had to stick to a tight budget, but with what we had, I’m glad it has managed to work out and looks reasonably good.
“Ummm… where is the food?” Tina comes over and grabs my elbow sliding her hand into mine.
“Chloe wanted to save money,” I tell her.
Tina rolls her eyes.
Marissa walks over with an edgy look on her face. “Chloe’s telling me not to let the food come out until later on. But, Thea…” she looks down at her sparkly watch, “… it’s already after dinner and people are hungry.” She bites her lip in nervousness.
Usually our events have tables overflowing with flowers and beautiful decorations where you can sit and take photographs. This year, we had to hire an outdoor area with bar stools and smaller tables with only a few flowers scattered around. Marissa and the other girls have been here all morning blowing up balloons to create balloon arches, which we would usually pay someone to do, and they have done a magnificent job.
“Tell them to circulate the food. Where is Chloe?” I ask, putting a hand on her arm to relax her.
Marissa looks over her shoulder and motions behind her. “She’s with Jesse.”
Of course she is.
Marissa turns and looks at something behind me and her eyes go wide. I turn to see her staring at Atlas, who’s dressed like a sex god, standing directly behind me. He steps forward, placing a hand on my hip.
Again.
“Theadora speaks highly about your work.” Atlas nods which makes Marissa blush.
“Oh, gosh.” She looks at me.
“No wonder you turned my brother down. Look at that,” she says louder than she should have. Atlas doesn’t let go as she walks away.
Turning into him, I say so only he can hear, “What are you doing?”
“Perfect couple. It’s what we are,” he says. Then his voice drops. “Make them believe it, Theadora.”
Pulling back, I look up at him and see he’s staring right at me. His amber eyes are bright as they lock onto mine, and I know he’s serious.
Is this another one of his jobs and I’m just a pawn?
“You won’t make me lose my job.” I shake my head. “I draw the line at that.”
He chuckles, but it’s dry, then he reaches out, brushing my straight hair back behind my ear as he whispers, “You get no choice in the matter. Maybe in the future, you shouldn’t make deals with the devil.” Atlas stays where he is, his mouth close to my ear while I manage somehow to catch my breath.
“You are going to ruin me, aren’t you?”
“For everyone after me. Yes.”
“Atlas Hyde, that can’t be you.” Atlas pulls back as a woman says his full name.
I try to move, but he grips my arm, pulling me back to him, so I am pinned to his side.
She looks at me, and her eyes go wide. “Lucy’s sister, right?”
“Yesss,” I say, unsure of how I should answer that.
“She spoke of you. Said you ran a powerhouse clothing company.” She smiles.
“I’m sorry, who are you? And how do you know each other?” I ask while looking from Atlas to her.
“Oh, sorry, I worked with her for Atlas.” Her eyes flick to him. “Lucy was… interesting.”
“Miranda, it’s great seeing you, but we must start mingling.”
“Yes, of course. Enjoy.” She waves us off and walks away.
I turn, looking for Tina and see her at the bar getting as many drinks as she can hold.
“Did you sleep with her?” I ask.
His eyes narrow before he speaks. “Why? Would that bother you?”
I turn and manage to escape his hold as I make my way over to my boss. Chloe is talking to an influencer when I reach her. She smiles and gives me a one-arm hug as she says goodbye to the woman she was talking to.
“You told Marissa to bring the food out?” she hisses.