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He’s chatting with Phillip, whose family owns one of the largest cattle ranches in the country. He’s known as the playboy cowboy.
Josh’s gaze locks on me, and a smirk touches his lips. I turn my back, only to realize I’m facing Banks.
“Ahh, ex-lovers. Some called you the perfect couple—Jo-illie,” Banks mocks, nodding at Josh standing thirty feet behind me. “His model girlfriend of the night is cute. Do you find it odd that every woman he’s dated after you looks nothing like you?”
My jaw clenches, but he doesn’t stop.
“Don’t get it twisted. You’re drop-dead fucking gorgeous in comparison. Having a twenty-five-year-old wannabe model on hisarm after getting dumped by the Ice Queen is not a flex for him. You were the best he’ll ever fucking get. The echelon.”
Somehow, Drunk Billie holds it together.
“However, I can’t believe you fucked him or kissed that dirty mouth. I always knew you were disgusting, but wow. Low, even for you, Ice Queen.” Banks shakes the thought away, then downs a glass of champagne before grabbing another one.
I want to be mad at his words, but I can’t. The truth might hurt, but it doesn’t make it less true.
“I agree,” I tell him, raising my glass and tossing it back.
“Oh, it looks like Joshie is gettingreallyfucking jealous that I’m chatting with you. Mmm. That’s a surprise actually,” Banks says.
“Josh knows exactly how I’ve always felt about you, trust me,” I explain.
“Nah, he’s threatened. Wow. I think he may still have it bad for you.” His brows crease before he glances back at me. “You must have one of those magical kitties.” Banks takes a step forward, removing more space between us. “You think I’m making it up. Go ahead. Take a peek, princess. It’s fine to gloat about it. He’s the one who fucked up. Not you.”
I slowly glance over my shoulder, fake searching for my brothers. Weston meets my eyes, and I wave at him again, and then I see Josh. He’s livid, with his jaw clenched tight and nostrils flared. He’s glaring at Banks like he wants to fight him, ignoring the woman on his arm. I turn my back to him again.
“You weren’t lying,” I say, looking up into Banks’s light-brown eyes. “I don’t understand that reaction.”
“You do,” he says.
I glare at him. “Josh knows you’re the last man on this planet I’d ever be with, along with every single person in this room.”
“Ouch,” he says, focusing back on Josh. “But you’re lying. Your tell always gives you away.”
“I donothave a tell.”
“Ah, you do. You always have. I noticed it within five minutes ofmeeting you. Wait.” He laughs sarcastically. “No one has told you? It’s so obvious.”
“You’re lying,” I say. “Have you forgotten who I am?”
“I don’t give a shit about that, Little Calloway. Youdohave a tell.” He glares at me. “Not knowing your weakness is dangerous, Billie. It disrupts the power of negotiation. How have you survived in your industry this long? By being a good person? Unbelievable.” He rolls his eyes like he’s mocking me.
“This conversation is a perfect example of why I can’t fucking stand you. I grow exhausted by the mental gymnastics. And the reason Josh is probably pissed is that he wants to pay you billions and you’re busy eye-fucking his competition like you’re putting me in a to-go box to have for later.”
He bursts into laughter. “I don’t eat another man’s leftovers, princess. I’m going to pass on Josh Lustre’s sloppy as fuck seconds.”
“Notice you didn’t refute the eye-fucking. You’re scared of me,” I say, blinking up at him. “You and Josh both are.”
He tilts his head and narrows his eyes. “Sweetie, you’re acting too cocky, considering you’ve already hit the iceberg. Right now, you’re taking on gallons of water, and you don’t realize how much. You’re going down with the ship like a stubborn captain. In the end, I just hope you keep your dignity. If I take that, I might feel guilty.”
“You’re not taking me down,” I say. My heart doesn’t even race when I say it because I truly believe it. I’m silently thanking the champagne for the confidence boost.
“When carrying that big fat L on your back, I’d like you to remember that you ultimately forced me to do this. If it feels personal to you, it’s because it fucking is. Every night, I hope you lie awake and thoughts of me coming for Bellamore haunt you.” He gives me his boyish smile, and it’s wicked, considering the topic. “The thought of that brings me joy.”
“You’re an asshole.” I glare at him. “You probably already signed the contract.”
“Not yet. I was giving you a chance to humble yourself,” Banks says, leaning in, twisting a piece of my hair in his fingers, causing my breath to hitch. His voice lowers an entire octave. “I won’t work with him if you drop to your knees for me. You have the power to stop this.”
My blood pumps faster as the smell of him encapsulates me. I take a step away from him and meet his eyes, lost in him. We’re surrounded by crowds of people, but every single one of them fades away when our eyes lock.