“Autumn, you’re such a bad liar.”

She gives me an innocent expression. “Seriously, I just feel like a break. Work is slow, and I’m seriously ready for a holiday, maybe the Bahamas.”

I watch her, narrowing my eyes.

I have a strong, horrible feeling she’s lying to me.

And I don’t like what that could mean for her.

CHAPTER NINE

“Wear the purple one,” Reign says, flicking through my closet.

“No, the purple one shows my ass cheeks.”

He gives me a look out of the corner of his eye. “And?”

I push past him, pulling out my favorite black dress. “Black is better for a business lunch.”

He shakes his head. “No, black is sexy, but not professional.”

“And my ass cheek hanging out of my purple dress is?”

“You need to look sexy, understand?”

I throw my hands on my hips. “Excuse me, Sex God, but not all of us look like you.”

He sighs and turns to me. “Stop talking and find a damned dress.”

“I don’t have anything you expect me to wear, Reign.”

He pulls out a red dress. “Perfect.”

I stare at it. “Red? Seriously?”

“It means we’re fucking.”

I sneer. “It does not!”

He shoves it at me. “It does. Now get dressed. We’re late.”

He leaves the room and I stare down at the simple but sexy red halter-neck dress. Not wanting to argue, because quite frankly I couldn’t be bothered, I put it on. I slide the soft material down over my body and smooth it out with my hands. Then I let my hair down, running a brush through it before sliding a pin into one side, holding it up just slightly.

Ready.

I walk out to find Reign waiting at the door. He gives me a once-over and then nods. “Good, let’s go.”

“You make me feel so beautiful, Reign.”

He hooks his arm through mine and pulls me out of the apartment. “I’m sure you don’t need me telling you how good you look, Tia. Pretty sure you already know that.”

Well then.

Smooth.

We arrive at a local Italian restaurant downtown, and I see a group of businessmen standing in a circle, most of them with women on their arms. Slutena is here. I thought she was out of town.

I turn to Reign. “You told me she was out of town for a week.”

“I lied,” he says, his voice deadpan.

I gape at him. “Why?”

A shrug. “Because you wouldn’t come otherwise.”

I cross my arms. “How would you know?”

“Because you hate her, and it makes you uncomfortable when we’re together.”

Shit.

“Whatever.”

He helps me out of the car and we slowly approach the ground. Slutena’s eyes move over Reign and her lips purse. That’s right, bitch, you think he’s taken. I run my hand up his arm and tuck myself closer, which earns me a narrow-eyed stare from him. What? He pays me to make her jealous; that’s what I’ll do.

“Tiani,” she purrs. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Reign decided to bring me at the last minute,” I say with a smile.

“Of course,” she says, her voice stiff. “Reign, it’s good to see you again.”

God he’s fucking her with his eyes. Why do I hate that? Like a pathetic little child, I press myself closer to him. He puts his arm around me, squeezing my hip in warning. Oh, no. If he wanted to bring me here to throw forward some pathetic little plan, then he will deal with it, and with me.

“Shall we go inside?” a tall, balding man says.

“Lead the way,” Reign says.

We wait until everyone goes inside, and then he leans down to me. “Stop it, Tia.”

“Stop ogling her ass like a goddamned pervert. And you invited me here to make it look like we’re fucking. If you don’t want to make her jealous what do you want to do?”

He gives me a withering glare. “Don’t be a bitch.”

“Bite me, Reign. If you don’t want me to do my job, I’ll leave. I didn’t want to come in the first place. If you think you can just get her back, why bring me?”

“Point made,” he growls. “Now act like a lady.”

I snort as he pulls me inside. We take a seat at the table and Slutena plants her perfect ass right beside him. He’s squashed in the middle of us. Well, this isn’t weird.

“Tiani,” another old man says, “what is it you do?”

“I work for Reign,” I reply, forcing a saccharine-sweet smile.

“And you’re his girlfriend also? That must be strange.”

No, old man, it isn’t. “Reign treats me with respect and we get along so well, so it’s not a problem.”

“Yet,” Slutena mutters.

“I’m able to keep it in my pants when it comes to his personal assistants,” I say to her, still smiling. “So there won’t be a problem. Perhaps you should try it.”

Reign squeezes my leg so hard I jump. Ouch. Bastard.

“Ignore her,” he says. “She’s having a bad day.”

She’s glaring at me, and I give it right back. One of the older men clears his throat. “Uh, well, shall we order before we go over the business plans?”

“Fine by me,” I grate out.

Reign turns to me, his eyes blazing. “Can we talk, outside, for a second?”