Page 104 of Shared By the Highest Bidder

“Doesn’t matter.” I shrug and hate the sharp pang in my chest. “She’s moving back to California.”

“If she gets her designs,” he says low and sinisterly.

“You know where they are?” I lean forward, only just now realizing how invested I am in that part of this saga.

“Not yet. I’ll wear her shitty ex down. I’m waiting until I have a few stacked motions that I know will be ruled against him. Then I’ll make him tell me. Threaten to walk, which will keep his ass in Rikers for months because he’ll have to start over with new counsel.”

“Then what?” I swallow, not liking the sound of this at all.

“When I have her designs, I’m going to hold them until she agrees to be ours. I’ll convince herthisis where she belongs. With us.” Ford goes on since my mouth is hanging open at his brazenness. “And she should work for Holden Couture. The smile when she came home from being with Victoria killed me. I never felt like this about a woman.” Ford fucking blushes.

I know his heart is in the right place, but that determination to win usually gets the better of him.

“Who the hell are you to pull all these strings and control people’s lives?”

“I catch on quick.” The man sounds cocky, but he does have a very high IQ. “Bernadette’s collections will stand out as an individual brand within Holden Couture. Not just melt into another designer’s plus-size line. I’ll work up some numbers that will prove she should work for Victoria.Andbe ours, you and me.”

Putting aside this devious plot, I consider how Charmaine treated Bernadette. Victoria needs to broaden her line and bring in all kinds of customers. The wrong person could have overheard Charmaine and tried to get Victoria canceled.

“You’re right that having a talent like Bernie benefitsVictoria,but—”

“Bernadette’s parents are dead,” Ford interrupts, sounding all business again. “She has no one in California. Here, she has us. She has it all. Once she sees that, I’ll give her those designs.”

“That’s shitty, Ford. Even for you.”

“I don’t play fair. Did you just meet me? But you know that as hard as I play, I love harder.” He lowers his eyes. “Sometimes people don’t see the gold ring that’s in front of them.”

Another dig...

“You have no problem lying to a sweet, innocent girl?”

“Woman.”

“God, you’re so arrogant to play with her life.”

“That’s what I do. She came to me for help.” He sips his drink.

“Fucking alpha.”

“Youknow me best.” He reaches out for me.

I pull away. “I know you too well. That’s the problem.”

“Why are you so bitter?” Ford slams the table. “You left me. For someone else!”

“You were talking nonsense about living openly as two bisexual lovers with a woman. I can’t. I can never.” I dump my face in my hands. “Pratt wanted a dick in his ass. That was it.”

Ford’s jaw jumps when I admit I fucked Pratt and wasn’t his toy the way Ford played with me. Even though I loved it. Loved being his. Lovedhim.

“I wondered who did who.” The gut-wrenching tone of his voice reminds me how badly I hurt him.

“For the record, I didn’t think you’d care.” My voice gets low.

“Why not?” His tone is only less shocking than his darkened eyes. “It was a secret because of you.”

Before I can attempt an answer, our food comes, and I realize I’m starving.

“Gnocchi?” I choke a laugh, looking down at my plate.

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