Page 79 of The Bad Girl

Chapter 29

Maxwell

The last place I want to be at 2 a.m. on a Sunday is waiting on an airport runway for Akinyi Adebayo’s private jet to land, but since my eight-figure counsel has determined that this is my best course of action, I’m left with little choice.

“Did you see her Vegas runway walk of 2012?” Harry says enthusiastically. “It was on a special-made Roomba, combating housewife stereotypes!”

I let out an exhausted sigh. “I was at that show, Harry.”

“Of course you were,” he says dejectedly. “She was dating that rocker at the time, Bane! Oh my God—they were fabulous! Do you think she can get me a meet and greet?”

While Harry’s mind is on Akinyi’s wardrobe and various hookups, I’m reliving my time with Nadine, remembering every kiss, every feather touch, the soft curve of her hip, the way she moans, her hands raking through my hair. I’ve pictured her half a hundred times since we were rescued. It’s damn near become my infatuation.

“And do you remember when she was dating Austin Sinclair!” Harry says with an exuberance that’s reserved for when he talks about the royal family of England. “Wait? What’s wrong with you? You look like you’re going to a funeral.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Bullshit.”

“Fine, it’s none of your business.”

Harry feigns offense, and I have to laugh at how comical he looks.

“Look, just don’t bombard her as soon as she exits the plane. Give her a little room to breathe..”

“Well, thank you for taking me to greet her. I swear, with how you’ve been taking Nadine—”

“Nadine will no longer be accompanying me,” I say curtly.

“With her move to PR, I can—”

“She’s no longer working in my office, or rather, at InStryde.”

Harry does a double-take, jaw gaping open. “What?”

“I thought you’d be happy.”

“Happy? Well…of course I’m happy. I mean, I guess I am. Did she quit? Did the hostage situation push her into safer pastures? The least she could do is say goodbye!”

“She was let go and is negotiating a severance package.”

Harry blinks at least a dozen times in peak ‘Prince Harry’ fashion. “I beg your pardon!”

“It’s for the best,” I say, though I’m not at all convinced that it’s true.

“Bullshit! That woman worked tirelessly for you for almost two years. She’s gone above and beyond the scope of her position countless times. This job is her life.”

“She’s negotiating her severance now, so there’s no need to…wait…since when do you care about Nadine? You hate her?”

“Yeah, but because of her, I can stroll into the office at noon and put in half-effort.”

“God, Harry, do you ever not think of yourself?”

Harry purses his lips, eyeing me critically. “You’re upset by this.”

“Of course I am. She was a great worker.”

“And you liked making her into a bad girl.”