Page 101 of Forty, Flirty & F*cked

Connor stiffens, his grip on my waist shifting, fingers flexing as if he’s debating whether to remove his hand or tighten his hold. I barely suppress a shiver.

"Walk away, Will," Connor warns, his voice as controlled as his demeanor, but I feel the tension radiating from him.

Will just chuckles, the sound smug and devoid of warmth. "Or what? You’ll throw a punch in a place like this? Not exactly IPO-friendly behavior, is it?"

I turn, leveling Will with a glare that should have him shriveling. But he’s always been immune to shame, wearing arrogance like a designer suit. Jenny is clinging to his arm in a dress looks a lot less ‘namaste’ and a lot more ‘hot mess express’, watching like a spectator at a gladiator match.

"Funny," I say, keeping my voice sweet. "I don’t recall inviting you to this conversation. Then again, I don’t recall inviting you anywhere lately."

His smirk falters before it turns cruel. "Yeah? Well, I figured I’d return the favor, considering you left out a pretty important detail."

My stomach clenches. "What are you talking about?"

Will’s gaze flicks to Connor, gleaming with satisfaction before he delivers the kill shot. "Your little Vegas mishap. The marriage that wasn’t such a ‘mistake’ after all. Or, should I say, the marriage that’s still legally binding."

The music fades into white noise. The club, the people, the golden chandeliers overhead—it all blurs. My entire body goes cold.

Connor doesn’t move. Doesn’t react immediately. But I feel the moment the words register, the precise second the truth sinks its claws in deep.

"What?" His voice is quiet. Too quiet.

"Oh, she didn’t tell you?" Will tilts his head. "I thought for sure she would have mentioned that little detail. You know, considering you’re still very much a married man."

Connor slowly steps away from me, his expression unreadable, but the space between us feels cavernous, an abyss I don’t know how to bridge.

"Ari?" The way he says my name, just one syllable, stripped of the warmth and teasing affection he’s always laced it with—it’s enough to make my throat close.

"Connor, I?—"

"Wow." Will claps his hands. "I have to admit, Ari, Iunderestimated you. I knew you were good at playing the part, but this? A full-fledged deception? I’m impressed."

"That’s rich, coming from you," I snap, my pulse hammering in my ears. "I should be taking notes, right? The art of screwing people over?"

"Oh, don’t be dramatic." He flicks invisible lint from his sleeve. "Though I suppose this explains why you haven’t annulled it yet. Hard to let go of a guy like Connor Reeves, isn’t it? And I’ll bet the SEC will have a field day with this one. CEO ties his asset to a PR agent right before his company goes public? Absolute gold, wouldn’t you say?”

Connor doesn’t look at Will.

He’s looking at me. Only at me.

And it’s worse than anything Will could say. Worse than any insult, any taunt, any humiliation.

Because I see the moment he realizes I’ve been lying to him. The moment he understands just how deep the deception runs. And worst of all—I see the moment he stops looking at me like I’m something good.

My fingers tighten around my glass, the stem slick with condensation. My heart is in my throat. My vision narrows.

This goddamn bastard.

"Since you’re already drowning in champagne, might as well make it a full bath." The words leave my mouth while I’m still shaking.

I move before I fully register the action, my drink tipping in one smooth motion. The liquid cascades over his perfectly styled hair, soaking into the tailored lapels of his overpriced suit. A gasp ripples through the crowd, followed by a stunned silence.

Will sputters, blinking through dripping champagne, before his expression hardens. "You little?—"

"Oops." I smile, all teeth. "Guess I’m still a little clumsy. Good thing your ego’s waterproof."

Connor doesn’t react. He doesn’t smirk, doesn’t make a snide comment, doesn’t do anything at all.

My phone vibrates in my clutch, but I don’t need to check the screen. I already know what the message says.

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