Page 24 of Rival to the Billionaire

My skin was hot. Every part of me felt like it was tingling, wanting to get closer to her.

Fuck…

I knew what those signs were, and yet I had ignored them then.

I’d wanted Jenny on that dance floor.

But that was the problem, wasn't it? My attraction to Jenny was always tied to my absolute annoyance with her. And I was in no mood to let her get under my skin again.

I'm not in the mood now.

But damn, it's been so long since I'd felt anything close to what I'd felt dancing with her.

I toss back the rest of my drink and order another.

The bartender, a pretty girl with bright blonde hair, catches my eye. I ask her what's on tap and she lists some root beers and lagers. I'm ready to order one—any one—when the feel of a soft body beside me makes me look up.

Chastity Sanders is there. An executive for ReadCo, one of our app's competitors, she’s smart. Ruthless. And fun in bed.

She'd also been absolute bat-shit crazy when I ended our relationship after she'd falsely accused me of cheating…

If I hadn't broken things off with her, I might have ended up in jail after that.

She'd gotten off easy, though. Her ‘revenge' had been to try and out me by running a few of my dirty secrets she'd dug up on the Internet to the blogs. If bullying was an art, then Chastity was Picasso.

Now, clad in a tight, strapless red dress that barely reaches her thighs, she smirks when her green eyes make contact with mine.

"Ryder…" she coos softly.

I sit up straighter on my stool, finally giving the bartender my order. “Um, excuse me, love, I think I'm going to need another." I tap my empty glass.

Chastity chuckles. "Another Black Manhattan?"

"Lemme guess," I say. "You've been watching me order drinks."

"I've been watching you for quite some time, actually. But I didn't have to watch you order a drink. I know what you like to drink…I know what you like. Same old Ryder Anderson. Always needing things exactly your way."

I lean back in my seat, gripping the countertop. If I'm going to be lectured on my promiscuity, this night is going to be every bit as long as I thought.

The bartender comes over and takes my empty glass.

"What do you want, Chas?"

She shrugs. "Nothing. Just making conversation."

I laugh. "You don't make conversation, Chas. I know you. You make threats. What's it going to be this time? Are you going to try to bribe my doorman again to let you into my apartment? Or tell everyone I'm secretly gay? Or stab me with your stiletto when I don't do what you want? Oh wait…all that happened already."

She finally takes the seat beside me, her dark hair falling over her shoulder.

"That was over a year ago, Ry. I'm no longer the person I was when you knew me."

"I'm sure."

"I mean it. Seriously. I've changed. Have you?"

I shrug. I've changed… More than I care to admit.

Chastity sighs as the bartender hands me my new drink. "I'm here because I want to set things right."

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