Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
I was really going to do it, even if it hurt.
But now? Now he took it too far, and I’m going to make him regret it.
The old Charli would just want to move on. Forgive and forget, or something along those lines. I don’t want to be the old Charli anymore, though. The old Charli gets deceived by manipulative men. The old Charli can’t even figure out her boyfriend is cheating on her right under her nose because she’s too damn ready to trust and give second chances.
Maybe I need to force myself to be some kind of new Charli. A new me. Maybe I can be a version of myself who doesn’t blindly trust and doesn’t let people take advantage. I can go after what I want, and I can make the people who treat me wrong pay for it and regret it.
“Do you have a plan?” I ask. I’m surprised by how cold my voice sounds.
Jameson nods. “We let legal look into whether we can do anything to get your story back, first of all. In the meantime, I think Vaughn needs to realize he made a huge mistake by letting you go.”
“How do we make him realize that? Slash his tires?”
Jameson’s lips twitch. “Um, no. That wasn’t the idea that popped into my head. Although it’s a good one. We can definitely keep that on the back burner. I was going to say you come as my date to the mixer in two weeks. Gray Wolfe and Landmark get together after the convention every year with a Halloween party. It’s all good fun.”
“I know the party. Vaughn wouldn’t let me come last year. He said it would be embarrassing. He thought people would judge me if they knew I was working as his personal assistant. He said it was demeaning, even though he was the one who practically begged me to quit and take the job.”
Jameson presses his lips together. “He was with a woman last year. I remember it. She dressed in a ridiculously slutty bunny costume.”
I expect to feel a fresh wave of sadness. I know he was cheating now, but I didn’t expect to learn it had been going on for that long. I don’t even try to ask what she looked like so I can figure out if it was the same woman. I don’t care. I just want to make him pay.
“Wait,” I say. “How would that work? You want me to pretend to be your date? You don’t think people will realize we’re just acting like we’re together?”
“Who said anything about acting? I’m asking you to be my date.”
I blush. His statement momentarily blasts away all the ice forming around my heart with a rush of heat and embarrassment. “I appreciate the offer, but…” I shake my head. “I don’t feel ready to trust anyone again. Not yet.”
“Then we’ll pretend. Convincingly. You just agree to let me play a little grab ass and maybe kiss you on the neck or cheek at strategic moments, and we’ll be golden. No trust required. No strings.”
I feel my blush deepen. “I wouldn’t want to give you the wrong idea.”
“What wrong idea is there to give? You just told me how you feel. I’m a big boy. I can handle that. This whole revenge scheme benefits me, too, remember? You’ll be doing me a favor by letting me piss off the Vanderlesh fuckers.”
“What makes you want to piss them off so badly?”
Jameson is sitting backwards in an office chair with his arms folded over the headrest. He lets his chin settle on his forearms and, for a moment, he looks more serious than I’ve ever seen him look. Maybe there are certain things in life that even Jameson Wolfe doesn’t take as a joke.
He suddenly looks like his usual, playful self again. Except I think maybe he’s putting it on this time instead of wearing his carelessness naturally. “If I told you that, I’d lose all my mystery. I’ve got to keep a trick or two up my sleeve, remember?”
I nod, but only because I’m sensing I’ve touched on a very sensitive subject. The idea of making Jameson uncomfortable is enough to stop me from pushing harder. “Okay,” I say.
He smiles, clearly relieved. “So? Will you be my date to the mixer?”
“I will.”
He straightens and claps his big hands together and gives them a rub. “Great. Do you have something to wear? A good costume? The sluttier the better, I’d say.”
“Um, well, I’ve never really been a slutty Halloween costume kind of girl.”
“Even better. Think how much it’ll make Vaughn jealous to see you flaunting what he let get away while you’re on my arm. It’ll drive him mad.”
He’s right. Vaughn gave me such a hard time when he saw my costume last year. I was a giant worm with a book in my hand. Bookworm. I thought it was hilarious. He rolled his eyes and told me I was twenty-four, and if I was going to dress up, I should choose something more age appropriate. I hadn’t wanted to start a fight, so I just took my lumps and agreed with him, promising I’d think of something different next year.