Page 11

11

BILLIE

T he room is quiet, and all eyes are on me as Louis dries me off. Most guests whisper among themselves while sipping their Revenge cocktails.

“What happened?” Louis asks quietly, just as the quartet kicks off another song, this one more up-tempo, instantly changing the room’s vibe.

“Karma,” I reply loud enough for the eavesdroppers.

I can’t pinpoint why I feel guilty. Maybe Weston is right; I just don’t have the cutthroat edge needed for this. The pianist’s notes drown out the murmurs spreading through the crowd.

I glance past Louis, locking eyes with Banks. He’s still out on the patio, his face illuminated by the blue glow of the pool lights. His soaked coat is draped over a chair as he unbuttons his shirt and towels himself off, revealing more tattoos than I remember. When he looks up, his brown eyes seem to pierce right through me.

Louis snugly wraps the towel around me. “Are you good?”

“Of course,” I reply, my gaze drifting back to the patio, where Banks stands shirtless.

Over the years, I’ve left countless parties because of him and his cocky attitude. I usually leave to dodge an argument, knowing he thrives on getting under my skin and getting me so flustered that I can barely speak.

Another reason I can’t stand him? He makes me lose control.

“Stay focused on me,” the prince murmurs in his charming British accent, pulling my attention back to him. “He’s testing you.”

“You’re right. Thanks for the reminder.” I smile, grateful that Louis knows how to help me shift my focus away from Banks.

My publicist believes that having a royal by my side will help redirect the rumors swirling online about me and Banks. Many think we had a fling—even Easton is convinced we did. But we definitely did not.

It was awkward as hell as I explained that I would help further humanity if Banks and I were the last two people on earth, but it would only be for the love of humankind. Weston jokingly dubbed us Adam and Eve.

I wring more water from my hair.

Weston finally strides toward me. When he’s close enough, he leans in and whispers in my ear, “You have no idea who your opponent is.”

Carlee pulls him onto the dance floor, and even though no one else is dancing, I know she’s trying to divert attention from the drama brewing. I feel awful, especially since this is the first party they’ve thrown as a married couple.

“What did Weston say?” Louis asks.

I quietly repeat my brother’s words as Asher redresses.

“Curious. I wonder what was said.” His brow arches, and he glances past me.

Moments later, the patio door swings open and snaps shut. I turn and catch Banks’s honey-brown eyes fixed on me. I’ve never seen that look on him before. His jaw is clenched, and he seems almost feral.

He steps closer to me, his body pressing against mine, and I can feel every fucking inch of him through the thin fabric of my damp dress. His strong fingers weave through my hair, as if he’s rehearsed this moment a million times. He tilts my head toward him so gently that it feels choreographed. With his other hand, he grips my waist, his fingers digging into my flesh, like he owns me—like he’s fucking claiming me in front of everyone. I should push him away, but instead, I arch into him, feeling the heat pooling between my legs.

His lips crash into mine, and, holy fuck, it’s like an explosion. His tongue invades my mouth, hot and demanding, and I moan against him, my hands tangling in his hair. He tastes like revenge and sin, and I’m drowning in it, in him. His teeth graze my bottom lip, biting down just hard enough to make me whimper. Right now, it’s just us, and everything else fades away.

He massages my scalp, a deep groan rumbling in his throat. I feel like I’m falling apart, crumbling to ash. He mentioned the Asher Effect before, and right now I’m spiraling, lost in him.

“Fuck.” His voice is low and rough, sending shivers down my spine.

His lips find mine again, and this time, it’s hotter, dirtier. His tongue twists with mine, and I’m trembling with desire.

When he finally pulls away, we’re both gasping for air. Our gazes lock, and the room fades back into view. I snap back to reality and realize that everyone is staring at us.

My hair is still caught in his hand as he leans in closer, pulling my ear to his mouth.

“Tell me you hate me,” he murmurs.

“Fuck you,” I whisper, covering my lips with my hand, fully aware that they’re swollen.

That line should’ve never been crossed.

Banks laughs and walks away, knowing he’s rewritten the narrative I wanted for Louis and me.

Who will believe we’re together now after that kiss?

As I turn, I meet Louis’s gaze—his mouth slightly parted, eyes wide. It’s the same stunned expression everyone else is wearing.

This is a living nightmare .

I quickly spot Harper.

She mouths, What the fuck?

I shake my head and rush out of the room. The elevator doors begin to close, and I slide inside with Banks.

I press the button to close the doors, then turn to him. If looks could kill, he’d be on the floor right now. He shrugs and tucks his hands into his pockets, acting like he couldn’t care less.

“What is wrong with you?” I ask, frustration boiling over, aware that my panties are drenched.

Banks presses the button to stop the elevator. It jolts to a halt.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he retorts, his eyes sliding from my mouth down my body, which is currently on fire.

“You. You’re what’s wrong with me. Asshole!” I growl.

“Oh.” He laughs sarcastically. “Because you’re so damn innocent.”

“Why did you do that?” My heart races, nearly bursting from my chest. “The last thing I need is a scandal with you .”

“Too bad, Ice Queen. This is what you secretly wanted,” he shoots back.

“No, it wasn’t!”

“Aww, is the diamond princess mad because she always gets her fucking way, like a brat, but this time, she didn’t? You’ve lost control. Just admit it.”

“Why are you testing me?” I breathe out. “You’re making this personal.”

“It’s been personal since the day we met.”

He reaches past me, but I block his path to the button.

“You’re infuriating as fuck,” I whisper. “Do you realize what you’ve done? There are lines that shouldn’t be crossed. That was one of them,” I groan. “You just …”

He smirks. “You’re having an existential crisis right now.”

My brows crease. “Gross.”

“Your words mean nothing when I heard you whimper.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “I did not . ”

“Deny that shit all you want.” He steps closer, and my back presses against the cool wall. He leans in, his hot breath ghosting over my lips. “And what if I kissed you right now?”

I try to respond, but my breath catches in my throat. My eyes flutter closed as his lips barely brush against mine. The metallic box suddenly feels too small, too hot, too fucking charged.

Heat radiates off Asher’s body, his broad shoulders taking up more space than they should. His muscular frame exudes a raw, untamed dominance that makes my skin prickle. His cologne is unapologetically masculine, wrapping around me and nearly suffocating me.

I hate him. I really hate him. But my body betrays me as a flush of heat pools low in my belly.

His lips hover inches from mine, and I’m stunned by his level of control. I look up into his light-brown eyes, the intensity of his gaze nearly bringing me to my knees.

“Why are you doing this?” I whisper, my voice trembling, but the way my nipples harden against the fabric of my damp dress tells a different story.

“Tell me you don’t want me,” he mutters, his deep voice vibrating through my core.

Instead of protesting, I pull him closer. His lips crash against mine with a ferocity that steals my breath. His tongue slides into my mouth, claiming me again. And, damn, I hate how good it feels. How primal, desperate, and filthy it is to kiss him. Asher devours my lips, our tongues dancing together in a way that sends electric shocks straight to my core.

“I’m your karma,” he murmurs as my fingers thread through his hair.

My hands should fly to his chest to push him away, but instead, I cling to the fabric of his shirt, pulling him even closer. I feel the hard ridges of his muscles beneath the wet material; his pecs flex as he deepens the kiss, gripping my hips with bruising force. His cock presses against me, thick, even through our layers of clothes .

I whimper against his mouth, hating myself for the needy sound escaping me.

“Mmhmm. There it fucking was again.”

Banks breaks the kiss just long enough for me to growl out a, “Shut up,” before his lips crash back onto mine—this time even rougher and dirtier.

One hand slides down to grip my ass while the other tangles in my hair, angling my head for better access. My clit throbs with every rough touch. When Banks finally pulls away, my chest heaves, and my lips tingle.

He chuckles darkly, creating space as he presses the button for the elevator to continue down. We might not exchange any words, but the conversation is so fucking loud.

I place my fingers over my lips, still trying to process everything. The elevator stops, but neither of us moves.

His eyes burn into mine—wild and feral—and I know I’m in trouble. As much as I hate him, I can’t deny the white-hot desire coursing through my veins. And judging by the look on his face, he feels it too.

The doors slide open, and Banks gives me that arrogant, infuriating smirk that makes me want to slap him and fuck him at the same time. He licks his lips and eye-fucks me for a few seconds before walking away. I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until he’s out of sight.

“Fuck,” I whisper, balling my hand into a fist as I close my eyes tight. “ Fuck .”

Kissing him was never supposed to feel like that .

When I return to the party, I’m frazzled. My heart pounds in my chest, and I desperately crave more of that —even though I absolutely shouldn’t.

The imaginary spotlight on me feels blindingly bright.

Harper finds me, pulling me into the hallway, away from the crowd. She searches my face, eyebrows raised high. “What was that? ”

“I don’t know,” I admit. “That wasn’t ever supposed to happen.”

“Why aren’t you climbing into the car with that man and letting him rock your world until Monday morning?”

I place my hands on her shoulders. “Harper, we’re talking about Banks.”

She leans in and pinches me.

“Hey!” I wiggle away from her.

“Just making sure this isn’t some weird dream,” she says as Louis approaches us.

He immediately smiles, and Harper steps back, giving us some privacy.

“Everything okay?” he asks when we’re alone.

He searches my face. My lips are swollen, and my mind is spinning.

“Yes,” I reply, knowing I’m tipsy from Banks.

“Let’s get out of here,” he suggests. I know he wants to know more about the kiss, but he won’t ask. At least I hope he doesn’t.

“I’d love to. I need to.”

Louis takes my hand, stealing the room’s attention as he leads me toward the door. I glance back at Weston, who lifts his glass of Revenge with a smirk and nods proudly. Easton stands beside him, sharing the same expression.

We step into the elevator and his bodyguards try to crowd in.

“Out,” he demands, pointing his finger. “Meet me on the ground floor.”

They reluctantly do as he says.

When we’re alone, Louis smirks. “A love-triangle story?”

“That was not my doing and not the media blitz I wanted. I never expected Banks to cross that line. I thought some things were off-limits.”

“Asher has no boundaries. He’s fearless in everything he does,” Louis explains.

That soft look in Banks’s eyes will haunt me forever. It’s a memory that will be vignetted in my mind for all time. For a brief moment, he showed me a glimpse of the real him. I replay how we lost control in the elevator, right in the spot where I stand now.

He’s poison in my veins, and I hate it.

“Did you feel something with him?” Louis asks.

“I need time to process what happened. I’m in shock.” I feel like I committed a sin and should repent.

The elevator doors open.

Louis’s bodyguards wait for us on the bottom floor. I glance at the prince, recalling the summer fling we had in our early twenties. We used to give his security hell when we snuck away together. They wear the same glares they did a decade ago.

“Proof that you’re still a bad influence, Calloway,” Louis says with a wink, flashing me his boyish grin.

With those light-green eyes and messy hair, he’s an absolute dream.

He places his hand on my lower back, guiding me through the foyer of Park Towers and eventually outside, where a line of SUVs awaits. More men in suits stand on the sidewalk, and it’s impressive. I smile at Louis with genuine admiration as the paps snap photos of us. He interlocks his fingers with mine, kissing my knuckles as flashes nearly blind me. It’s all performative. It always is with us.

The vehicle door swings open, and we climb inside. I shiver, and he removes his coat jacket, handing it to me. It smells like the palace.

“Photos will be circulating within the next hour,” he says. “Thank you.”

“It’s the least I can do. About tonight, I’m sorry it went off the rails so quickly.”

He tilts his head at me. “No need to apologize. If I were Asher, I would have played the same card.”

“Why?” I ask, confused. “I don’t understand.”

“To show you who’s really in control. You completely melted into him, babe. If you’d ever kissed me like that, I’d have never let you go. That’s a promise.”

I swallow hard. “Don’t say that.”

Summers ago, when it was time for me to return to grad school, we agreed to stay friends. The attraction is undeniable, but the real magic is missing. Lust doesn’t last; we both knew it would only be temporary if we went any further. I could never make him happy the way he needs, and his commitment lies with his country.

So, now we’re friends who make out and fake date whenever we want to distract the world. It’s always worked until tonight. Maybe Banks knew Louis was my decoy.

Of course he did.

Louis laughs. “Say a prayer for him. Tonight, the Calloway Curse will take over.”

I glare at him. “The what ?”

“Please tell me I’m not the first one to mention this.”

I burst into laughter, finding the information absurd. “No one has had the guts. Spill the details.”

Louis shrugs. “Before we met, I was warned about you. The rumor is that any man who kisses you is doomed for life. Anyone you’ve ever been with wanders around like the Headless Horseman, but instead, he searches for his heart.”

My laughter continues. “Please tell me you made that up.”

“The curse is real, darling. I wouldn’t say I’m personally doomed, but to this day, I still use our relationship as a benchmark to decide whether to pursue someone.”

“Seriously?”

“You have no idea how unforgettable you are.”

There have never been hard feelings between us.

“You are too,” I admit, knowing I’ll never forget that time with him.

We fell fast and hard, both in and out of love. Our relationship was an explosion, but it was over quickly after it began. I have no regrets .

“I’ve always sensed that Asher has been waiting for you on the sidelines. I think my presence unlocked something in him.”

I laugh. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

“But is it?” he asks.

The SUV zooms down the street. I glance behind us and see at least eight other vehicles following closely. I’m used to security, but nothing like this.

“Will you tell me the name of the woman you’re secretly seeing?”

“No,” he replies, smirking.

I catch his reflection in the window. The prince is in love.

“Wow, you must really like her.”

He glances at me. “I do. She’s good for me. Stubborn. Fierce. Kind of like you.”

“Why are you playing games?” I ask, confused.

“I could ask you the same about Asher,” he says nonchalantly.

“That’s not fair. I’m trying to save my business.”

“Then why not focus on Josh?” he challenges. “He’s the one responsible for Asher, isn’t he? You should be playing the entire board, Billie, not just one piece.”

“Weston said the same.”

I’ve been avoiding Josh like the plague after he hurt me.

Louis smirks. “If you win over Asher, you take down Josh. If you win over Josh, you can stop Asher. You could destroy them both in the end.”

“The last thing I need is the media painting me as some slut who saved her business by sleeping with powerful men.”

He reaches for my hand. “All that matters is your happiness. Everything else is bullshit. Remember that, Ice Queen. Erase Josh socially by being with someone else. Maybe Asher could help with that,” he suggests with a nod. “It could work.”

“I don’t think it can,” I tell him. “He can’t be around me because of the noncompete.”

“He can’t work with you, but there’s nothing that says he can’t date you,” Louis counters. “Now, that’s a scandal and a love story, wrapped into one. Find a way to monetize it, and you’ll ruin Lustre. How badly do you want to save Bellamore?”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to save my company without apology,” I admit as the streetlights flash across his gorgeous face. “What are you suggesting?”

“If Asher falls in love with you, Bellamore is safe.”

“Yeah, but if I fall in love with him, Bellamore is in danger,” I tell him. “I don’t play one-sided games with love. It always backfires.”

“Do you think you’re capable of loving Asher?”

I contemplate his question. “I don’t want to find out.”

The SUV pulls up in front of my building, and I take a deep breath as my door swings open. Cameras flash, and Louis escorts me to the main entrance. The doorman glances my way before quickly turning his back.

I lean in, brushing my lips softly against Louis’s. The paparazzi snap countless photos, so we give them the show they crave. I do my best to make it look genuine.

“Thanks for tonight. I hope we achieved what you needed,” I whisper, covering my mouth so no one can read my lips.

“Oh, we did—and so much more. Good night.”

“Night,” I reply, stepping inside, fully aware that those photos will be plastered across British tabloids before dawn breaks in New York.