Page 9

—about me.

SHAYLA

Dinner with Hope and her husband Colin has me feeling free and relaxed like I can't ever remember being. So much so that I end up having one too many sips ofsake,and the next thing I know—

"Greek billionaires think they own everything," I declare, "including people."

—saying out loud the things that Ionlythink about but know better than to express.

Hope leans forward, amusement dancing in her eyes. "This sounds specific. Are we talking about a certain Greek billionaire lawyer?"

"The one and only."

"And yet you've stayed nine years," Colin observes.

"For the salary."

Colin's gaze turns thoughtful. "Hope has told me a lot about you, and so you saying that you've stayed all the years for the money? It doesn't add up."

"It does," I insist even while taking another sip. "I'd have left if I could afford to. He's just so...mean!"

Hope laughs. "If that's all you can complain about him, then I'll have to take Colin's side—"

The sake hits me suddenly, and my head feels light, my tongue too loose. Did I really just vent about Adrianoout loud?Andin public?

"He's going to kill me."

"For calling him mean?"

"For lying to him about being married," I say with a gulp.

Hope nearly chokes. "Did you just say—"

"And he thinks I'm divorced, too, and...and...and I think I'm going to be sick!"

I rise unsteadily to my feet. Turn around to slide the door open. Only to have my worst nightmare come true as I find myself face to face with Adriano Kontides' gorgeous and un-gorgeously furious face.

Oh no.

Because I just can't control it.

I want to, but I can't.

And the next thing I know, I'm throwing up on my boss' ten-thousand-dollar suit.

I am so fired.