Page 92 of Vicious Little Snakes

Grey crosses his arms. “I take it that the interview didn’t go well?”

I scowl, pushing off the door that I’m leaning against. “Well, let’s recap, shall we? Your summer fling was there. So that was fun.”

“My what?” he answers, furrowing his brow.

I stalk past him toward the kitchen, hearing him follow as I rant.

“Arden. She was there—as my guest fucking interviewer. Imagine that? A girl I all but flambéed shows up to ask me questions for one of the most important moments of my life.”

I throw the door open to the walk-in freezer, beelining for the vodka and jerking it from its spot. I don’t even bother to walk out or get a glass, opting for pulling the cork and tipping it back.

The bottle drops to my side, and I lick my lips, staring back at Grey.

“So yeah. It didn’t go well.”

Taking another swig, the burn tightens my throat—Grey steps inside, gripping the bottle. We play a game of tug-of-war, me losing.

He holds out his hand for the cork, and I scowl as I drop it into his palm, as his shoulders shake.

“I don’t want to have to carry you upstairs. And I bet it wasn’t as bad as you’re making it out to be, Caroline. There’s no way she got one over on you.”

My eyes roll as he continues, even though it’s a compliment.

“But I bet what’s pissing you off is that you know she’s seen Liam. And that imagination of yours is running wild.”

I sneer, biting down a few times, making a clacking with my teeth, before confessing.

“Maybe.” My eyes narrow. “Kai told you he told me, didn’t he?”

Grey nods. I throw my arms up, walking past him out of the freezer.

“Do you know how hard it was to be nice to that twat?” I spin around. “Knowing she’s gallivanting around with Liam. Eech, I hate everyone.”

Grey follows me, now leaning his hip against the butcher block countertop. I hate how amused he seems.

“Today was important, Grey. Stop grinning. It isn’t funny.”

I was going to be everything I never feel.

Grey’s grin grows into a full-fledged smile, making me cross my arms.

“Then tell me, Caroline, what’s the appropriate response for hell freezing over?”

I let out a tiny growl, punctuating my words, “What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means that for the first time in your life, you put someone above your own self-interest. And that, my twisted sister, is why hell is fucking chilly today.”

My body shivers involuntarily, and he tips his head back, laughing loudly.

“Shut up. It won’t happen again. Trust me.” I let out a long exhale, letting my lips flap. “The whole time I was in that room, I wanted to excuse the chairwoman and threaten the hell out of Arden. So that she’d know that if she helped Liam self-destruct, I’d personally make sure she’d never be welcomed back into this city again. I will wipe her existence off the fucking social map because—”

Grey cuts me off, “Because you can’t actually murder her?”

A chuckle shoots out, but I stamp it down, stomping my foot.

“Yes! It was all I could think, Grey. This is what I’ve come to. It’s pathetic.”

It’s almost as if Grey can read my thoughts because he lowers his gaze to meet mine.