Page 27 of Never Tell Lies

I have a problem.

Within moments I had a reply.

Lunch?

Damn, I loved that girl.

Twelve

"So, what's the drama? Come on, lay it on me." Keira gestured, her perfectly manicured fingers waving delicately. Her chestnut hair was tied back in a ponytail and there was a smudge of glitter on her cheek.

I launched into my story, keeping my voice low at the raunchier parts so the other patrons of the pub wouldn't hear me.

"Wow," she whispered when I showed her the card with the x-rated message. "Okay, I kind of love this guy."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Want me to hook you up?" I was joking, but the thought of her with Alfie turned my stomach all the same.

"I don't want your cast-offs!" She laughed and waved the card at me. "So, what're you gonna do?"

"That's why I called the emergency meeting, remember? You're supposed to tell me what to do."

"Meet him. Actually, no you shouldn't. You can't have dinner with him after all this. He's clearly a nut, or he's just so full of himself he can't possibly believe you'll say no. Either way he's not good enough for you. Then again, he's loaded and he's gorgeous, so maybe just sleep with him and get it out of yoursystem." She grinned, as if she hadn't just given me the most confusing advice in history.

"Well thanks Keira, that was super helpful." I took a miserable bite of my panini.

"Do youwantto see him again?"

Did I?My first instinct was to deny any and all attachment, but if I was really honest with myself…

"Yes, but I don't want him to bully me into it."

"You don't want to let him win, you mean." Keira had known me since we were two, so I should have known she'd be able to explain me to myself better than I ever could.

"Right."

"Well, having dinner with him isn't sleeping with him and he did say he wouldn't lay a finger on you. Keep it public, keep it professional, but change the date. Like, he asked you to do it tonight, so text him and say you have plans and pick another night."

"Why?" I asked. A peal of male laughter burst from a nearby table and I looked over, finding four guys blatantly checking out my friend. Keira took a slow sip of her Diet Coke and smiled at them before turning back to me.

"It puts the control and decision-making firmly back in your court."

Wow. My friend was actually something of a genius.

"Okay, yeah, I can do that."

"Good," she said and clapped her hands together, still ignoring the men openly ogling her. "Now that we've got that sorted we can get down to the important stuff." She leaned in as if we were having some kind of secret meeting. "What kind of car does he drive?"

“I don’t know. A shiny one?" Keira cringed at my answer and shook her head. "What?" I asked indignantly, but she just sighed.

"A billionaire is so wasted on you."

On my way back to the office, I texted Mr Tell as Keira had instructed.

Mr Tell, I've thought over your request/demand and I've decided that I will have dinner with you (dinner and nothing else) but not tonight. I have plans. I'm free tomorrow.

His reply was instant.

No. Cancel your plans. Elliot will pick you up from work today at 5.30. You don't need to fight me yet, O'Connell. It's just dinner. I'll behave, I promise.

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