Page 55 of The Boss Situation

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

Kissing him was never supposed to feel likethat.

When I return to the party, I’m frazzled. My heart pounds in my chest, and I desperately crave more ofthat—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. Ineedto.”

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 wasnotmy doing and not the media blitz I wanted. Ineverexpected Banks to crossthatline. I thought some things were off-limits.”

“Asher has no boundaries. He’s fearless ineverythinghe 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 abrief moment, he showed me a glimpse of therealhim. 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.

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