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"I need space, okay?"

Good girl.

It's not the answer I hoped for, but at least we're getting somewhere.

"How long?"

"I don't know."

And when she looks at me—

It's the same way she's always looked at me...when she wants to know she's saying the absolute truth.

****

IT'S ANOTHER DAY ATthe office.

Another day where frustration gnaws at me.

But this time, I've decided to try another approach.

Because she's not the only one who can play this game she's playing.

A mutinous expression flashes over my secretary's face when I tell her about today's charity auction, and why I need her there.

"If you insist, sir."

"Yes, I do insist."

Shayla glares at me when she realizes her attempt to piss me off fails.

Good.

Let the games begin.

Milos drives her to the museum, and I finish up with work before heading over myself. I find my secretary right away, and my jaw clenches.

You messed up, Kontides.

I should've told her not to change. Should've remembered the last time she showed up at a party with her hair down, both literally and figuratively. But now it's too late. She's in another one of those strapless little things that she loves, and I'm obsessed with getting rid of.

Unfortunately, it's also one of those strapless little things that anyone taller than her can find joy, and the prosecutor she's talking to clearly isn't any exception. To be fair, all I've heard are good things about him. But I don't give a damn.

Even from here, it's clear to see that Prosecutor Schitt is infatuated withmyShayla.

So yeah.

I hate him, of course.

But someone blocks my path before I can even take a step towards them.

"Adriano!"

Therese air-kisses my cheeks, and I let her. We've known each other our whole lives and even attended the same law school. She's also the reason I wanted Shayla to come.

"It's been a while, right?" But the moment she places a hand over my arm, I suddenly start to wonder if I've made a mistake. My plan here is to make Shayla jealous. Enough to make her realize that she'd rather stake a claim on me before anyone else does.

But when Therese moves close enough to have her breasts brush against the side of my arm—