“What can I do for you?” I asked, my voice low and rough.
She hummed, watching her hand as it trailed down my shirt. “So many ways to answer that question. But let’s start with the flowers.”
I kissed her nose. “If we must.”
“Sadly, we must. But if you’re up for a late night—” She froze, her eyes flicking behind me.
I heard her laughter and knew exactly who was there. Turning confirmed that Natasha Felix stood behind me, tall and blonde and beautiful in that contrived way only achieved by makeup artists and plastic surgeons.
Judging by the way the man at her side looked at Lila and the proprietary way Natasha hooked his arm, I could only assume this was Brock.
He was handsome, I’d give him that. Strong jaw, cool eyes, easy smile. Rich and confident, the kind of guy who walked into a room and drew the attention of everyone in it.
Stupid fuckbag. He had no idea what he’d had in her—and bully for me.
I turned fully, straightening my spine and drawing back my shoulders to flex the extent of my height and breadth on him. I wasn’t even ashamed to posture so blatantly.
I wanted him to know who the bigger man was. The better man.
But Natasha laughed again, a disdainful sound, drawing herself a little closer to Brock the Cock.
“Wait, you’re not telling me you’re fucking the gardener, are you?” Cruel was her laugh as she glanced up at Brock.
He eyed me with challenge and an air of disbelief as he took stock of my appearance. Size aside, I was dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, not willing to mess up my good clothes, which were in a garment bag in the van, to haul up centerpieces.
Brock didn’t seem impressed.
But Lila, ever the professional, smiled and stepped around me. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes. The bar is over here, already set up and ready. Shall we?”
She swept her hand in the direction of said bar, behind which was waiting a bored bartender on his phone. The minute he saw her glaring in his direction, he straightened up, tugging his coat to straighten it.
But neither Brock nor Natasha moved. Their gazes fixed on me.
“Kash Bennet,” I said shortly, extending my hand to Brock in a gesture of good will, for Lila’s sake.
They looked down in unison. He hesitated, and I didn’t know if it was because he thought me beneath him or because he was just so fucking amused at the circumstance that he figured me for a joke.
I wondered if he’d think a black eye was funny. I sure as hell would.
Brock shrugged Natasha off and took my hand in an exaggerated clap and a squeeze that was too hard. I returned the gesture forcefully enough to feel his bones gather.
“Not every day I get to meet the guy fucking my ex,” he said with a false smile and hard eyes.
Lila stiffened next to me, insult on her lips—I could feel it. But for the sake of her job, she kept her mouth shut. Fortunately, I wasn’t bound by the same laws.
“Not every day I get to meet the guy who fucked her over.” His face flashed with offense, but before he could speak, I said, “If you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do.”
“Dick,” Natasha shot, slithering up next to Brock again.
“Nice to meet you too, Miss Felix.” When I turned, I caught Lila’s gaze.
Fuck them. Don’t let them get to you, I told her without speaking. I’m here.
The tension in her eased, a ghost of a smile on her lips.
And with every ounce of my power, I left her there with those sharks, knowing she could hold her own and hating that she had to do it alone all the same.
My mind whirred with fury and spite as I worked on the table. The only way I survived was a continuous reminder that I wasn’t going to make this table look spectacular for Natasha Felix. But for Lila, I’d do anything. Even make that eel’s birthday look good.
I watched her move around the room, never still for longer than necessary. She greeted the Felix Femmes as they arrived with entourages in tow, directed her interns, fielded interruptions from the caterer, the DJ, hotel employees. And she did it all with that cool confidence, the control and command she ruled her environment with.
When the banquet table was set up and the garlands hung, I made my way around