Page 222 of King of Pain

She’s a goddamn force—sleek black dress, hair pulled up tight, stilettos that could double as a weapon. The whole look says,‘don’t fuck with me’.

She grabs a flute of champagne from a tray without missing a beat and gives me a knowing smile before turning to Ant.

“Funny,” she says, turning and pointing with her glass, “I’m pretty sure that sign saysPaciniandEvers.”

Ant’s eyes widen. “Holy shit,” he breathes. “I—I’m sorry. I think I’ve been in shock and haven’t even registered that.” He turns to her, a little helpless. “But Meg... I can’t ask that of you.”

Meg laughs, light and easy. “You didn’t,” she says, glancing at me. “Neither did he.”

I shrug sheepishly.

She sips her champagne and continues. “When Chance came to me looking for advice on setting up a nonprofit, the conversation… evolved.”

Ant looks at me in disbelief and Meg goes on. “It didn’t take long to realize the nonprofit wasn’t theonlything that he was planning.”

She side-eyes me. I shrug again, this time with a grin. “Naturally, I pulled it out of him,” she adds.

Ant huffs a little laugh, then quiets again as Meg steps toward him and places a hand on his shoulder. “Anthony,” she says gently, “I’ve hit the ceiling where we’re at. I believe in your vision, and you and me? We’re a force together. So, no—you didn’t ask. I inserted myself. Hope that’s okay.”

She pulls him into a hug, and Ant melts into it. I watch his shoulders relax a little. When they pull apart, he turns to both of us, shaking his head.

“Okay,” he says. “Okay, but—clients. We don’t have clients. That’s kind of an important part, right?”

Meg opens her mouth to answer when a voice clears from the side.

“Uh, what am I? Chopped liver?”

We all turn to find Butters strolling up, looking smug as hell. Ant blinks at him. “You have an agency,” he says. “I’ve been bugging you for years.”

Butters shrugs and throws a friendly punch at Ant’s shoulder. “Yeah, but you knew I was in a contract. That contract’s up now. As in, next month.”

Ant’s jaw drops.

“And,” Butters continues, pointing behind him, “Beau signed at the same time as me. So... he’s up for renewal too. He’s in.”

Ant just stares at him, speechless again.

Then Jason rolls up, hands tucked in his pockets. “And as you know,” he says smoothly, “I’m up for renewal too.” He flashes a grin at Ant. “I go where you go.”

I watch Ant take it all in. My man looks like he might faint.

Ant narrows his eyes at me, then at Jason, and back at me again. His voice is suspicious but amused. “So,thisis why you two seemed more acquainted earlier.”

I wince. “Guilty.”

Ant turns to Meg, one brow arched. “Andthisis why you had me pulling renewal files like a cloak and dagger operation.”

Meg takes the tiniest sip of her champagne, absolutely smug. “Yep.”

Ant blows out a breath and shakes his head, but I can see the shift happening. The excitement starting to win out over the shock. He points at Meg with the same grin that makes myheart knock against my ribs. “Kind of brilliant, actually. Talent without contracts. You’re a dirty little schemer. I like it.”

Meg winks over the rim of her glass.

Ant gestures at the entire circle: Jason, Butters, Meg, and me. “You’realldirty schemesters, in fact.”

I chuckle. “There was plenty of scheming. Andplanning.” I thumb toward Butters and Jason. “These two clowns aren’t just clients—they’re silent partners. Helped fund a good chunk of the startup costs. Liz, too.”

“Don’t forget about us.”