Boss Me (Private Listing #3)

Her eyes widen.

“I don’t want you. I don’t want to fuck you. I don’t want to see you. I don’t want to use you. You fucked with Coop’s and my lives without any consideration for what you were doing. The only reason you’re here tonight is because I needed a date and your mother threw you at me. I figured why not, because it wouldn’t matter. Because I don’t want you.”

She draws in a deep breath and turns her face to the window. Her features are flat.

“You hurt my relationship with my brothers back then, but you can’t now. Tonight was a business transaction.”

A sharp laugh comes from her as she turns back to glare at me. “You should know about business transactions. I tried to downplay the rumors, but then I saw you in action tonight.”

My heart speeds up. The rumors. The whole purpose of bringing dates was to suppress them.

“Coop’s not the only one fucking the charity case, is he?” Elizabeth spits it out harshly.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say carefully.

“It’s all anyone who’s anyone talks about. The fucked-up little world of Morrigan Technology Group. That first assistant, Amber? No, Andrea, spread a rumor that you all wanted to fuck her. Most people didn’t believe it, but I knew.” Her eyes sparkle in the streetlights.

I sit back. Let her fucking talk. Who cares? It won’t hurt us. We could spin it that she’s a bitter ex.

“You guys were so close even back in college. And I know how you like to watch. Pretty sure Coop likes to be watched.” She laughs bitterly. “I always wondered, if I’d just asked you, would you have wanted to watch me fuck Coop? Mother wanted me to get pregnant and blame it on him. She wanted his family’s power merged with ours.”

“This is all ancient history.” It’s over and done with.

“But is it?” She taps her fingernail against her lower lip. “Because it’s weird how your assistant lives in the building. From what the rumors said, it’s shared living space. Do you all fuck her together? Or do you just get off on watching?”

“You know nothing about me.” I keep my face expressionless.

She’s too close to the truth, but how much of that is the liquor talking? I’m sure she wouldn’t be saying any of this to me if she were sober.

“Am I hitting a sore spot, Seth?” She fake pouts. “I played nice all night, but I should have been drawing blood. It’s definitely more fun than pretending I want you back. You know that’s Mother’s idea, right?”

My lips tighten, and the car can’t drop this bitch off fast enough.

“She even figured I could convince you to sleep with me.” She lets out a sharp laugh. “That’s how she ended up with me, after all. She didn’t realize you’re probably getting everything you need at home.”

The car stops in front of her house.

“It’s been enlightening as always,” I say as the driver opens her door.

“It’s been an awful evening.” She slips out of the car and stumbles up the steps.

When the driver gets back in, I have him wait until she’s in the house before we leave for home. After opening the door, she turns and watches me drive off.

I hate it when Coop is right.

The kitchen light is on when I walk into the apartment. I’m dead tired and I need a shower. Elizabeth’s heavy perfume clings to me.

“Hey.” Her voice is soft, and I almost didn’t notice her sitting at the island. Madison.

“Where’s everyone else?” I’m surprised the guys let her out of their sight. Noah kept her hand the entire time after the attack. It took me longer than I wanted to get here, but now with her before me, my chest loosens.

“Bed.” Wearing a silky camisole and shorts pajama set, she stands and flicks off the light in the kitchen. The city lights pour in through the windows, casting us in shadows as she moves toward me. She takes my jacket out of my hands and folds it over her arm. “How was your night?”

We walk toward my room.

“Exhausting. Yours?” I open my door and she leans in the doorway.

“Confusing.”