Page 66 of The Player + The Pact = I Do

“The light in this apartment makes everyone look good,” Jules says. “And the views make your friend bearable.”

I can’t believe I ever thought she was furious most of the time. I can’t remember the last time Jules wasn’t smiling or making me laugh or just generally happy. I find myself craving her company when she’s not around, wondering what she’s doing and when I’ll see her next.

“So you’re managing The Mayfair?” Fisher asks Jules.

“I am,” she replies. “Best job ever.”

“It’s a shift for that place to have someone at the helm who actually gives a shit, unlike Leo here,” Fisher says.

“Hey,” I say. “I give a shit.”

“No you don’t,” Jules says, poking me in the ribs.

I’m about to contradict her, but what’s the point? I sigh. “You’re right, I don’t. Not that I wouldn’t like for Bennett to lose.”

“Bennett to lose what?” Her gaze flits from him to me.

Of course, Fisher is the one to fill her in. “We each own a hotel and hold a yearly competition of sorts. Mainly based on percentage of net revenue increase. But we also look at gross revenue.”

“Huh,” she says. “You each have a hotel. Is that a coincidence?”

“They bought them so they could bond and compete in equal measure,” Efa says. “It’s basically a dick-measuring contest. But for billionaires. Some guys simply would buy and tradeStar Warsmemorabilia…”

“Or maybe race muscle cars?” Jules says on a laugh. I’mnot sure if she’s laughing at the idea of me in a muscle car or the sheer ridiculousness of the hotel contest. Both maybe. “I can’t believe you bought The Mayfair just so you could fit in with your gang.” She elbows me.

“That’s not it,” I say. “It’s about…” I can’t finish my sentence. Because it is ridiculous. But it’s also not. Even though I’m not truly invested in The Mayfair, I wouldn’t sell it. Doing so would give up a connection to my best friends.

“It explains why you put up with Louis for so long,” she says.

Fisher groans. “I begged him to fire that guy. I knew he was useless.”

“He was running the place into the ground,” she says, “but keeping net profit relatively stable because of underinvestment.”

Bennett laughs. “So what you’re saying is that Leo is going to take an absolute bath when it comes to net profit this financial year.”

She nods. “Got it in one.” What does it say about me that I like how no-holds-barred she is? She doesn’t sugarcoat anything. It’s refreshing. “It’s going to take a while to get us out of the hole Louis got us in.”

If anyone can do it, she can.

I turn my attention from Jules and realize my friends are all staring at me. “I get it,” I say. “Louis was crap. Should have gotten rid of him earlier.”

“How is it having a roommate?” Worth asks, changing the subject completely.

It’s like I’ve been slammed into a brick wall of thoughts about my last roommate, Nadia. It’s a stark reminder that for all the jovial banter and relative comfort between us, I really don’t know Jules that well. I thought Nadia was acertain type of person and she turned out to be another. I thought Caroline was in love with me and wanted to be with me forever; that turned out to be a lie, too. I have to be careful who I trust.

“Better than the last one,” I say. Nadia basically moved in, given the amount of time she spent here.

Jules skims her palm over my back and the muscles in my jaw lock tight. “Can I get you anything?”

I shake my head, and I see her register my shift in attitude. I’m being a dick. She’s never done anything to make me the slightest bit suspicious. Things are different with Jules. To start, I know she’s using me. We’re using each other. I want a fiancée; she wants a job. All our cards are on the table. I think.

I hope.

TWENTY-TWO

Jules

I still don’t understand the rules of football. Every couple of years, I google it, or I ask someone to explain, but then I remember I don’t give a shit and get on with my life.

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