SIX

I stared in astonishment at her.

"Ex-fiancée," Elijah said. His jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle ticking. He definitely was not happy to see this woman.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I keep forgetting." She smiled again. She was very gorgeous. "After all, we were together for so long."

"We've been broken up for more than a year," Elijah said flatly. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. I noted the way his suit hugged his frame perfectly. He reached for his collar and undid the top button, exposing a bit of his throat and I watched like a complete pervert.

"Has it really been that long?" Victoria laughed, the sound reminding me of nails on a chalkboard. "Time really flies."

She took the empty seat directly beside me. She sat there like she owned the place, and given the way Madison immediately brightened and Eleanor relaxed, it made me feel even more out of place than I initially felt.

Suddenly, I felt something brush against my leg under the table.

I looked at Elijah. He had a slight smirk on his lips as he chatted with his grandfather like nothing was happening. He looked perfectly composed.

His leg slid higher, pressing against my inner calf slowly. Heat immediately flooded through me. I bit down on my bottom lip, trying desperately to keep my face neutral as he moved his feet higher under my dress.

He was teasing me and here of all places. Right in the midst of is family. Had he no shame??!

The bastard.

His foot moved higher still, sliding along my inner thigh. I felt a sudden sensation down and I had to hold back a quiet gasp. Every nerve in my body was suddenly hyper aware of his touch and I really hated the way my body was betraying me by responding to him.

I gripped my fork tighter, trying to focus on anything other than the sensation of his foot caressing my thigh and moving dangerously close. I’m sure I looked like a tomato by now.

This was so inappropriate. His family was right here. Victoria was right next to me.

But God, it felt good.

He looked at me and I knew he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

I felt Victoria's eyes on me suddenly as she looked between us. She gave me a deadly glare. Shit, she was definitely onto us.

I couldn't take it anymore. Using my heel, I hit his shin very hard.

He let out a muffled groan, his eyes widening slightly in surprise but that infuriating smirk never left his face.

I gave him my sweetest smile. That's what you get, asshole.

Victoria leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs slowly. She still had her eyes on me."Breanna, I'm dying to know how you managed to capture Elijah's heart so quickly."

The way she said "quickly" made it sound like an accusation. Well, actually, she wouldn't be so far from the truth.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Everyone was looking at me waiting for me to say something.

"We met on a business trip," I smiled. " I knew immediately he was different from anyone I'd ever met." Yeah right.

"A business trip," Victoria repeated. She didn't looked convinced. What exactly was her problem?? "How romantic."

"I think it's wonderful," Eleanor said quickly, obviously trying to ease the tension. "Love works in mysterious ways."

"Love," Victoria repeated softly and looked at me. "Is that what this is? Love?"

"Yes," I said, even though my heart was pounding like crazy. "I love him."

The only person I'd ever loved was Logan and he'd betrayed me.

"How sweet," Victoria said. "I'm sure you do."

"Yes, we're in love. Leave her alone Victoria and get over yourself. We're over." Elijah said. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but at this dinner. I felt the same way.

But Victoria unfortunately wasn't done. "Did you just happen to fall into his life?"

My grip tightened on my glass. "I had a life before Elijah."

"And how long did it take?" she continued. "For him to propose, I mean. Elijah usually gets bored quickly."

I forced a small smile. "I guess I'm just different."

She laughed.

"You know, when Elijah and I were together, we spent a weekend in Monaco. Just the two of us." She looked at him quickly before returning to me. "We barely left the hotel room. He kept saying he'd never felt that way with anyone before."

Her gaze was distant like she was remembering something precious.

Jesus, didn't she know she was making people uncomfortable. The fact that she thought I cared about their past almost made me laugh.

"Victoria," Elijah said in that velvety deep voice of his. "That's enough."

"What? I'm just reminiscing." She smiled innocently. "Surely Breanna doesn't mind hearing about your past. After all, she's your future now, right?"

"Um… excuse me, where's the bathroom?" I managed to say, standing abruptly.

"Down the hall, dear," Eleanor said, looking relieved. Matter of fact everyone looked relieved.

I practically fled to the bathroom. It smelled like pineapples and expensive soap. I locked the door behind me and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath.

I went to the sink and washed my hands, then stared at myself in the mirror.

You can do this, Breanna. Ignore that bitch.

I thought about the money I would receive after everything was over. It's a fresh start and that's what mattered.

But then my mind went back to Elijah and his behavior under that table.

The way he'd touched me so boldly. I didn't miss the heat in his eyes. What was he playing at exactly?

On one hand, he was cocky, smug, and so full of himself. On the other… I had the sudden, overwhelming urge to grab his face and kiss him senseless.

Which was insane. This was fake. All of it was fake.

Except it didn't feel fake when he touched me.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, I took a deep breath and opened it.

It was Victoria.

She stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, closing the door behind her. Up close, she was even more beautiful with perfect skin, perfect hair, perfect everything.

Everything I wasn't.

"We need to talk," she said. "Woman to woman."