Page 70 of Enemies to French Kisses
“No,” I interrupt their conspiracy theory with a well-timed finger in their faces. “What’s classic is that he yet again made a fool of me, turned me into a laughing stock, and this was when I was at my weakest, having involuntarily created a scene.”
“Youwere the weak one?” Jess crosses her arms. “He’s the one who fell down the steps head first.”
“And I’m the one who almost got arrested for it.”
“Except that he stepped in to prevent that.”
“Quit the logic!” I shout at Jess. “I just had a near-death snail experience, and I would appreciate the opportunity to vent about the worst man on the planet for a minute, please!”
Their conciliatory smiles are all I need.
“I have to work with this man. And work with him a lot. We got through to the next round with the Dutch.”
“You did!” Gina jumps and Chrissy high-fives me.
“You see?” Natalie hooks her arm through mine. “You’re an Innov’ Biotech superstar and you’re gonna knock those Dutch folk out of the park.”
“You don’t get it.” I stop and unhook my arm. “This is terrible.”
They exchange a glance like I’m the one who hit my head. “I’m going to have to work withhimfor another two weeks at least. A lot, and intensively. It’s the worst possible thing.”
“Hear me out,” Annelise begins and I cover my ears. “Very mature. I know you can hear me—”
“Lalalalala, I can’t hear you…” Someone sniggers and I slowly let my hands fall back to my sides. “Okay, fine.”
“It’s not like this past week was so bad. Admit it.”
I hate it when Annelise speaks truth at me. It’s incredibly hard to wiggle out of. “That was when I thought he was a compromised man.”
“And so it turns out, he wasn’t compromised at all.”
I glance at Natalie. “She says that like it’s not a problem.”
“My point,” Annelise insists, “is that you liked the man you saw, and that’s the man he is. He wasn’t compromised.” She pauses, waiting for me to say something, but I just stare at her. “You like him.”
I open my mouth to object, but she smacks a finger against my lips.
“Think about it.”
* * *
I’m tucked tightlyinto my bed, and never before has it felt quite this good, not even since we pulled that all-nighter and got the RFP submitted.
I’ll be darned, that’s another time Marc was sweet and kind.
Ugh.
He lied to me. Flat-out lied. Took advantage of my good nature and treated me like I was an idiot. That’s not something a person can just get away with and not have some consequence. I was made into a fool when I’m supposed to be this hot-shot up-and-coming professional in the world of biotechnology. If word gets around that I fell for a dork with a fake head injury…
Okay, the head injury part was real. Real also were all the witnesses who saw me drive off as Marc flew down the steps, the Sacre Coeur rising like a disappointed mother behind me.
And now Annelise would have me believe the manis in love with me?
I may be relatively young at this love stuff, but last I checked, faking that you think you’re married to someone doesn’t fall on the Valentine’s list.
“You still up?” Gina’s voice whispers across the dark.
“Can’t sleep.”
