Page 50 of Sweetest Revenge

I had a plan. I had left them together because I wanted to get back at him. Annoy him a bit. But the more I watched her obviously flirting with Warren, the more frustrated I became.

“Yeah,” I said, letting my voice trail off as I turned back to him. “It’s a… complicated situation.”

That’s putting it mildly.

What could I say? I didn’t want to lie, but there was no other way to do it without giving away what was truly happening.

Ezra leaned closer.

“I know what he said about your dad… and what happened after,” he whispered. He clearly wasn’t joking anymore. “Is he tying you to him with a debt of some sort? Taking advantage of what he’s done? If you need anything, I can help. Like I said, my company isn’t the best of the best, but maybe I can figure out a way to… make you safe. To get him to back off.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. His sincerity took me off guard and started to break down my carefully built walls.

“I appreciate the offer,” I said and let my hand fall to his arm. “But I’m fine. I don’t need help. We have an… arrangement. He’s not taking advantage of me.”

At least not in the way you think.

“If you’re sure,” he replied, though his tone told me he didn’t quite believe me. His hand came to rest on mine. “I’ll give you my number. If anything comes up—and I mean anything—you call?—”

“Hello everyone, welcome to the first charity event of the year!” Dominic’s voice filtered through the speakers on every corner of the house. Our gazes snapped toward him as he walked down the grand staircase. Two assistants were at his side, both of them holding a painting that was no bigger than their torso.

They stopped at the last step while Dominic continued on as people gathered around him.

“I guess we better go,” Ezra said and motioned me forward, our conversation forgotten while I tried not to let the relief show on my face.

I nodded and led him to the middle, watching as Dominic patiently waited for the crowd to gather with a smile.

A familiar scent wafted over me. It was warm, musky, and had goose bumps rising all over my skin. I tried not to give in to the urge to look up at Warren, but I failed almost immediately.

His eyes were locked on Dominic, giving me a rare chance to stare at him without his intense gaze on me. My eyes followed the column of his throat, his Adam’s apple, then his strong jaw.

And that fucking suit. It hugged him nicely, showing off his light muscle tone and broad chest.

I didn’t care if he was an asshole. I wanted to bite him. Leave my mark on every surface I could.

Just that one thought had my body humming to life.

For once, I let my revenge plans and anger fall to the side and truly looked at him. If the young version of me had known what he would become, I don’t know what she’d think.

Seeing Warren become one of the richest men in the world probably would have had her giddy, but then to know what came after? The betrayal? The hate?

My desire for him might still be there, but I was a completely different person from my younger self. One who was willing to risk what little I had left to take down the man who ruined my life.

His hand brushed across my back, like he wanted me to know I was there, and despite my brain telling my body to stop, my breath still caught.

“As the regulars know, I save the most exciting pieces for last, giving everyone a chance to bid on them. This time, I have selected two, and all of the proceeds will go to the New Beginnings Orphanage.”

Warren’s jaw ticked and had me turning to Dominic. His eyes were searching the crowd, taking in their murmured praises.

“How thoughtful.”

“Those poor children.”

“I heard they’re under new management after… that.”

Am I the only one who doesn’t know about the orphanage?

“We will start the bid at twenty thousand. How does that sound?”

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