Chapter 65: Crazy In Love **Bryan’s POV** Is she a mind reader? How the hell did she know that I met with another woman? My chest tightened, the air in the room suddenly too thin. I could feel every flicker of muscle in my face trying to betray me with all the little giveaways guilt loves to leave behind. I fought them off one by one, locking my expression down. But the harder I tried to look innocent, the more I could feel the guilt bleeding through. Damn it. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t fvcking do anything. A whore. Jesus Christ. The word echoed in my skull like a slap. I took a slow step toward her, keeping my eyes on hers, as if holding her gaze would somehow anchor me. “Christiana… it’s not what you think.” The second it left my mouth, I knew I had screwed up. That was exactly the thing every cheating bastard in the history of cheating bastards had said. She gave a small, shaky laugh, the kind that said she didn’t believe a single syllable that was about to leave my li
Chapter 64: Who was it? I froze, my fingers tightening on the strap of my bag and then I composed myself and turned back to him. “Yes, Mr. Adams?” Bryan was leaning in the doorway to his office, one shoulder pressed to the frame, his gaze locked on me like he could peel my thoughts apart with just a look. One brow arched, not in curiosity but in challenge. “Inside,” he said. I thought about saying no. About keeping my chin high and my pace steady, ignoring him like he wasn’t worth my time, after all it’s past my closing time. I thought about walking out that door and never letting him have the satisfaction of seeing me flinch. But my feet were traitors, they moved anyway. I stepped past him, catching the faintest trace of that perfume again, it was sweet, mocking, clinging to the wool of his jacket and my stomach twisted all over again. The door shut behind me with a soft click that somehow sounded final. The quiet inside his office felt heavier than the hallway outside
Chapter 63: Jealous**Tony’s POV** I waited until Bryan was halfway across the parking lot befor standing . I figured Matilda should have either storm out or slink back into her booth. Instead, she practically rushed towards me like she had been waiting for Bryan to leave so she could get to me. “Well, well, well… look at the pervert” she purred, planting herself right in front of my table. “Do you remember me?” I stared at her for a second, letting my brain replay the memory in question, the wrong bathroom, the wrong stall, the wrong girl walking out with a bag full of sanitary pads and four random packs of panties. Of course, I remembered, how could I forget? “That’s impossible to forget,” I said dryly. “You’re… the stall-stealer.” Her grin widened, delighted. “My name is Matilda. I knew you wouldn’t forget me. I’m not easily forgotten, I leave my prints on the sand of time and that was such a… memorable day.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice like it was some private jok
Chapter 62 **Bryan’s POV** She had been at it since the moment I sat down, trying to seduce me? Sorry, mama my heart already belongs to someone else. She is beautiful no doubt, but not any where close to being as pretty as Christiana. Christiana is down to earth. Exceptional facial looks, amazing curves, beautiful smile, dominating lover, and extremely intelligent what more can I ask for? She went back to her side of the table after trying to give me a hug and I turned it down, now I am wondering if she had no shame. “Matilda,” she had said, offering her hand like she was gifting me something priceless. “But you can call me whatever you want.” Her voice had that deliberately husky edge, the kind you hear in brands commercials. I shook her hand briefly, intending to let go, but she didn’t release me right away. Her fingers lingered, sliding just enough to make it obvious. “You’re… much more handsome than I expected,” she said, her gaze sweeping over me like she was appraising a c
Chapter 61: Present Day: Restaurant with Bryan and Matilda **Third Person’s POV** Tony had been threading his way toward the back of the restaurant when recognition slammed into him like a sucker punch to the ribs. Matilda. She was everything she’d been three years ago, only sharper and hotter like someone had taken the same dangerous recipe and turned the heat up a notch. Perched across from Bryan Adams at a corner table, Matilda had one elbow propped on the white linen, her body angled toward him like a cat zeroing in on prey. Her manicured fingers traced idly along the stem of a martini glass. Ice cubes chimed softly each time she gave it a slow swirl, her gaze fixed on Bryan as if she was already imagining him on a platter. Bryan, however, looked anything but flattered. His jaw was tight, the muscle in his cheek flickering every so often. There was a faint furrow between his brows, the kind that came with the thought, ‘I really don’t have time for this.’ Every few seconds, h
Chapter 6O: Three Years Ago cont’d**Tony’s POV**I waited outside, leaning casually against the wall like I belonged there, just a totally normal guy hanging out by the women’s restroom. Ten seconds passed. Then a minute. Then five minutes, I checked my phone and there was nothing from Christiana. By minute sevem, I was starting to get concerned. Was she okay? Did she faint? Did she… The door swung open and out walked… not Christiana. She was beautiful, mid-twenties maybe, with dark hair in a high ponytail and a fresh layer of lipstick like she had just touched up. Her eyes locked onto mine instantly … wide, curious. When I looked down at her hand, I noticed she was with the bag, the bag of panties that I had given Christiana, the one with the pads… and the four packs of assorted panties. What was it doing with her? We stared at each other for a solid three seconds. She blinked. I blinked. Then she tilted her head and, in the most awkwardly polite voice imaginable, said, “U