Need Me - M. Malone Page 0,18

thing working out in the long term are pretty low.

It was one thing to consider dating the hot guy with the intense eyes.

But it’s a completely different thing to consider dating someone who is famous and rich and has the ability to wreck my best friend’s career if things go south.

“Do you think you’ll ever come by and bring Andre with you guys? I would love that so much. He is just everything.”

I look up sharply. Oh geez, is the waitress still talking?

“Once you come back with the check, I’ll find out if that might be possible. Okay?”

She beams. “Awesome! I’ll go get that.”

As soon as she turns around, I get up and grab Edward from the other side of the booth. Normally I’d feel guilty sticking a guy with the check but considering this guy is the spare heir to a billion dollar dynasty, I think it’s okay.

I pause, then hurriedly take a pen out of my purse. I grab a napkin from the dispenser and write I’m sorry.

The thing is, I really am sorry things turned out this way. But that’s what I get for thinking my luck had changed. It just took longer than usual for the universe to deliver its final kick in the teeth.

Outside, I walk a few blocks over before calling for an Uber. I’m sure when Vin sees that note he’ll come running outside looking for me. But I can only hope we never run into each other again.

There’s way too much at stake and I won’t gamble on something this important. My best friend will win her client and life will go back to normal.

“Jesus, lady!”

A man walking by on the street jumps back with his hands held in the air. He glances at me and then back down to Edward before walking away quickly.

Well, I guess normal is relative. But I’ll take it.

8

Over the course of the next month, I have little time for regrets. I didn’t earn my position through nepotism. Helming the international division of our company is more than a full-time job. I have to be up on what’s trending in multiple countries all while convincing retailers worldwide that we’re still the best of the best in menswear.

It’s a demanding role and leaves little time for wondering what the hell I did that scared my fiery little devil away. But in the random moments between department meetings and overseas calls, the thought of her sneaks in a time or two.

Or five.

“Is it just me or are these meetings getting longer?” Jason Gautier, the COO of the company, sits in front of my desk.

We just finished the most boring meeting of my life that consisted of charts, graphs and a scary amount of percentages.

Numbers aren’t really my thing.

“I know. I’m glad I’m not an accountant.”

“The math isn’t the problem. I love numbers. Especially when they come with dollar signs in front of them. But when they’re read in a monotone voice it’s like taking an Ambien.” Jason shakes his head like he’s trying to get rid of all the information that was just rammed into our brains.

“Are we going out tonight?”

“Out? Out where?”

He tosses his pencil on my desk. “To a club. To a bar. Somewhere.”

Nothing sounds less appealing to me right then. Being around a bunch of people who expect me to talk, laugh and drink the night away is not happening. For years, we’ve partied our way across the globe but there’s a certain point where that gets old. My liver can’t handle drinking all night and I’m beyond the point where I want to play Pussy Bingo at every club in the city.

“Maybe after I finish up here. If not, you guys go on without me.”

He narrows his eyes. “What is up with you lately? You haven’t been out with us in weeks.”

“Work. Things are busy here.”

“Yeah, I know. I work here too, asshole.”

I’m not sure how he wants me to respond to that. Maybe if I ignore him long enough he’ll get the hell out of my office. I turn back to my computer and start reading emails.

“Fine. Be like that. Go home and climb in bed with a cup of tea. Or whatever.”

I ignore him until I hear the sound of my office door close behind him. I haven’t been going home to a cup of tea, for fuck’s sake.

I’ve been out.

Okay, maybe I’ve been spending more time than usual hanging out in the bar at the Fitz but that’s only because I like