Page 167 of The Morally Grey Billionaires Boxset

Abby

"You sure you don’t want me with you?" Penny scowls at me from across the bar table.

I asked her and Mira to meet me, knowing full-well I’d have to be at the press conference where the twathole is going to announce our fake engagement.

He texted me the details earlier today. The least he could have done was call me to inform me.

Of course, if he had called, I wouldn’t have answered, or maybe, answered just for the satisfaction of hanging up on him.

No doubt, he expected that and opted to text me instead.

And I don’t have much choice but to turn up.

If I don’t, I fully believed he’ll follow through on his threat to tell Knight about what happened to me.

Doesn’t mean I have to be on time…or sober.

I reach for the glass of wine and drain it.

I know I’m putting off the inevitable, but anything to avoid looking the alphahole in the eye.

"Easy girl, or you’re going to get drunk," Mira murmurs.

"That’s the general idea."

After that evening at the nightclub, Mira and I have hung out a few times.

She’s asked me about Cade, and each time I’ve tried to pretend, and failed to convince her, that he’s ‘just’ my boss.

While I’m probably not going to take her up on the offer of joining her knitting club, our conversations are always amusing, and she makes me laugh.

Which is why I decided to meet her along with Penny.

I chose them because I don’t want to meet or talk to anyone else who knows Cade, which means I can’t call and cry on Solene’s shoulder.

She has too much on her plate, anyway. And I couldn’t involve any of the wives and girlfriends of the Seven and the Sovranos.

Which ruled out Zara or Isla or any of the other women.

Hence, my attempt to form a new girls’ circle—one in which the others are single, too.

"He’s an asshole." I grab the bottle of wine and refill my glass.

"He is," Penny agrees, then talks out the corner of her mouth to Mira. "Who’s she talking about again?"

"I think she means Cade Kingston. At least, I guess it’s Cade," Mira mutters under her breath.

Penny’s eyes round. "You don’t mean, Cade Kingston, the captain of the English cricket team?"

Mira’s eyebrows knit. "Yep, that’s him."

Penny swings her head in my direction. "I know this is our first meeting and all, but girl, how did that happen?"

"By mistake. It’s my mistake, actually." I scowl into my wine glass. "If I hadn’t been a dick to him in high school, he wouldn’t have been a cock to me when we re-connected.

Not that I have anything against his cock.

In fact, it’s just the opposite, you know?

" I hiccup, then reach for the glass of water and take a sip.

"Spill, girlfriend. I knew there was a reason I liked you even before I met you." Penny leans forward. She places her chin in her palm, her stance that of a person settling in for the evening.

"I had crush on him in high school. I hoped if I ever met him again, I wouldn’t be attracted to him, but unfortunately, that was not the case. Jerkface is even more gorgeous, and his body—?" I sigh. "His body is to die for."

"Oh, I concur, based on everything I’ve seen of him in ads and on screen when he’s playing a game." Mira chuckles.

I scowl at her. "Don’t talk about him like he’s a piece of meat. He’s more than just a hot body and hotter face."

She exchanges a look with Penny, then they both nod.

"What?" My gaze ping-pongs between them. "What is it?"

"I wanted to thank you for trusting me with the details of your love life, especially as we don’t know each other that well. But today, I feel we’ve crossed a line. I feel the three of us are going to be very good friends." Mira holds out her palms. "What say? Shall we seal the deal.

"You bet." Penny places a hand in one of Mira’s, then holds up her other. "Girlfriends forever?"

I jerk my chin. "Girlfriends forever." I take each their hands in each of mine, and the three of us smile hugely.

My phone vibrates, and I glance down. So do the others.

"Oh shoot." I release their hands, then grab my phone and begin to type an answer, then delete it.

"Is that…?" Mira asks.

Penny nods. "It is."

"What does he mean by 'you’re late for your engagement announcement'?" Mira whispers loudly.

"I’m not sure, why don’t you ask her?" Penny hisses back.

"I can hear the two of you." I glance up and between them. "And yes, it’s my fake engagement announcement he’s talking about."

"Ooh fake-relationships are my favorite kind of spicy books to read." Mira reaches for her glass. "That forced proximity, those sneaky glances, the pining for the other… Wanting to say your feelings but not able to, the—"

I hold up a hand. "Yes, fellow Goddess of Smut, I know all about that trope. Trust me, it’s not that great when you’re living it, though. Especially not, when the man is an alphahole."

"Alphahole?" Penny scowls.

"An asshole who’s an alpha, and who’s graced with panty-melting good looks," Mira explains.

"I like that," Penny declares.

"You’ve never heard the term alphahole?" I frown.

"Umm, no?"

It’s Mira and my turn to exchange looks.

"What?" She scowls.

"I’m guessing you don’t read spicy books, either?"

She shakes her head.

"OMG, a real-life smut virgin," Mira exclaims.

"You have much to learn, girlfriend." I chuckle.

"First, we need to get you a Kindle, of course.” Mira taps her finger into her cheek.

"Wait—” Penny looks between us. “I don’t read books."

"These books, you’ll want to read, trust me." Mira’s lips curve.

"She’s right." My phone buzzes again, and I stare down at it.

King Jerkface: Are you on your way?

King Jerkface: You’d better be on your way Abby, or…

Gah! Doesn’t the word please exist in his vocabulary or what?

King Jerkface: Abby...!

I hear his voice growl my name as if he’s standing next to me. Goosebumps dot my skin. A bead of sweat slides down between my breasts. It’s as if the effort of standing up to him is sending my metabolism into overdrive.

King Jerkface: Abby. Leave. Now.

I slide off the barstool, grab my bag and drop my phone into it. I turn to leave, then stop and stare at them over my shoulder. "I can explain."

"You’d better," Penny says slowly.

"You okay? You want us to come with you?" Mira’s voice has a worried note to it.

"No, I’m good. It’s fine. I need to leave." I draw in a breath. "You’ll be reading about it in the papers shortly, but suffice to say, it’s not what it seems."

"Is he in love with you?" Mira asks.

"Of course, not. Me, on the other hand—" I shake my head.

Penny frowns. Mira’s lips turn down. "Oh honey, maybe we should come with you." She begins to slide off the barstool, but I shake my head.

"No really, I’ll be fine. I’ve called a—"

My phone buzzes again. I glance down to find another message.

King Jerkface: There’s a car waiting for you outside.

"There’s a car waiting for me." I shake my head, then glance up at them. "Told you I’ll be okay. I’ll use the ride over to clear my head.”

"Here." Mira grabs the bottle of water then walks around the table and hands it to me. "You take care and if you need anything, call. We’re here."

"Thanks."

"Call us, anyway," Penny calls out as I head toward the exit.

How did he know where I was? And how did he know when to send a car?

I walk out of the bar, and sure enough, there’s a Mercedes with dark glass idling by the curb. The driver gets out of the car, walks around, and opens the door for me. "Ms. Warren?"

I nod.

"Mr. Kingston is waiting for you."