Page 46 of Breaking His Law

And I’ve been more of an unreasonable ass and arrogant lately. Preparing Easton Forbes, stunt-gone-wrong case, has been more demanding than I first envisaged. Hollywood is watching and the spotlight is on me. I’m being judged and I’m not sure I like it.

Arianna knows the pressure I’m under. She understands and I think that’s why she urged me to go home early last night, which I didn’t when I should have taken her advice.

She cares.

Fuck it, she’ll say no at first to my invitation to the ball because she likes to challenge me and fuck with me, then she’ll say yes.

I’m confident about that.

I see how she melted into me in the restroom weeks ago.

I know the effect I have on her.

But again, I told her I don’t date staff. Which I don’t. I made a big deal about it. Told her she and I were off limits.

I’ll tell her she’s going as my secretary. My plus one. Not a date. My work colleague, that’s all it is.

Which sucks.

Will she see through my lie?

Because hell, she’s been living rent free in my brain daily. I’m a complete mess and I have been doing my best to hide my struggle to focus on anything. I’m even surprised I managed to pull off the Walker case yesterday and win it.

Because I crave her. I know how our bodies work together. As if they were meant to be. Destined to be, or some other radical universal shit which is confusing the hell out of me.

Like caramel and salt; her sweet and me salty, perfectly balancing each other out.

Don’t think I haven’t noticed her watching me like I watch her.

She buys me donuts. I eye the half-eaten colorful cake sitting on my desk.

She wouldn’t do that if she didn’t feel something for me.

And she’s not just another admirer who wants me for my position of power and money. She’s different, full of fire, and someone who’s immune to my arrogant attitude and calls me out when I overstep.

And was she jealous when she overheard Eli saying I’d slept with Vivienne Cavendish?

I shudder, recalling my mistake. Hell knows what I was thinking back then.

I clearly wasn’t.

Fuck it, I’m going to ask Arianna to attend the ball with me, lie and tell her it’s to make up the numbers at our table.

She’ll say yes to that.

I know she will.

I head out of my office in search of Arianna.

There’s no time like the present.

16

ARI

“Vivienne Cavendish,” I mutter under my breath, feeling completely ruffled as I storm out of the elevator.

I already can’t stand Vivienne, and I’ve never even met her. Unlucky for me, tomorrow I will, because I’m sitting in on her initial consultation with Nathan.

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