What We Do in the Night (Day to Night #1) - Stylo Fantome Page 0,97

It just wasn't possible, no matter how much he liked her or cared about her.

Job wise – their dinner date and night at Caché had done the trick, ADM had come courting his firm. Which meant a lot of praise and accolades from his father and the partners, but it also meant spending more time with Evans Daniels as contract terms were discussed and hashed out. They spent several meetings together, looking at each other from across a conference table. Ari with his smirk in place, Evans with that infuriating smile.

“I'm so glad you two had such a great time at that dinner the other week,” Don Sharapov said one day when they were wrapping things up. “And there's only more to be had, I assure you.”

“I hope so,” Evans commented. “I really enjoyed Ari and his girlfriend. She's quite the special lady.”

Ari stiffened in his seat. He didn't care for the other man's tone of voice, not at all. That wasn't just a casual compliment. Evans was fishing for information, which meant he knew more about the situation than Ari had realized.

“Oh! You and Harper are back together!” his father exclaimed. “Damned good to hear it – I've been on his case for weeks about getting her back.”

“Is that so?” Evans asked, his smile getting even better.

I fucking hate this guy.

“Yes. Harper and Ari are the dream team. I hope to see them married before too long.”

“I wouldn't get your hopes up, Dad,” Ari responded.

“Sounds magical. I hope I get an invite to the wedding,” Evans teased.

“I'll make damn sure of it,” Don Sharapov chuckled.

They wound down the chit chat and started collecting all their paperwork. Ari left the room first, making a beeline for his office, but he'd barely made it halfway there when he felt a hand clapping down on his shoulder. He turned to find Evans striding next to him.

“Harper Kittering, huh,” he said, matching Ari step for step. Impressive, considering Ari was quite a bit taller. “I could be wrong, but if memory serves, isn't she a tall girl, with light blonde hair? Blue eyes? Pretty?”

“Yes, Harper is very attractive,” Ari replied through clenched teeth, leading the way into his office. Evans' hand finally dropped away as he sat down in front of the desk.

“She is,” he agreed while Ari took his seat behind the desk. “Very pretty. But not quite sexy, is she? That's not a word I'd use to describe her. No, you know what I think is sexy? Warm brown eyes. And brunettes, I've always been partial to brunettes. Particularly ones with sexy smiles and amazing asses.”

“Mention her ass again, and we'll have a serious problem,” Ari growled.

“Oh, I would never dream of talking about another man's girlfriend's body,” Evans gasped, melodramatically pressing a hand to his chest. “No, no, no, Harper is all yours, my friend, and congrats to you both. But I have to tell you about this incredible woman I met at dinner a week and a half ago. I think she must work at a club downtown, we went to it later that the night. Maybe you met her there, too?”

Clever bastard.

Ari glared at him. He desperately wanted to rush the top of his desk and punch Evans in the goddamn throat. For talking about Valentine's body, for even looking at it. For thinking he could possibly have a chance with her.

But he took a deep breath and counted to ten in his mind. This was a big deal, doing all the corporate law for a place like ADM. He couldn't fuck that up over some pussy.

He just had to keep reminding himself of that fact.

“Harper Kittering and I are not back together, as you very well know,” he finally said, deciding to handle the situation like the businessmen they were. “And where I met Valentine is irrelevant.”

“Not to me. I think I'd like a proper introduction,” Evans said.

“I don't care – you won't be getting one.”

“Oh, I see. So she's not just someone you hired to show us a good time.”

“No.”

“So if I went back to Caché, I won't find her there, showing other people a 'good time'.”

“You won't find her willing to show you a good time, if that's what you're asking,” Ari said. “Valentine and I have an understanding.”

“An understanding?” Evans laughed. “How quaint. How much do you pay her? Maybe I could outbid you.”

It was one thing for Ari to equate Valentine with a prostitute in his mind. If Evans ever did it out