Undeniable (Undeniable, #1)(43)

“You’ve been engaged to Kami since you guys were in diapers!”

His upper lip curled in disgust. “I know,” he sneered. “And I would have told my father to go f*ck himself when he ordered me to marry that vile woman if I didn’t have my eye on her closest, most beloved friend.”

“Are you serious?” I whispered.

“Quite,” he said. “You see, when it came to who I was to marry, I knew it would never be about anything other than politics and family ties; meaning I would be free to f*ck whomever I wished. I realized my mistake too late. You aren’t the sort of woman to have an affair with a married man, nor will you cheat on your husband.”

I knew true rage then. Chase backed me into a corner; he made sure to cover every angle, leaving me no choice to make but the choice he wanted.

For the first time in my life, I wanted to kill someone.

“You’re wrong, Chase,” I hissed. “On both counts. I have cheated on Frankie; in fact, I’ve been f*cking a married man for twelve years now.”

His eyebrows popped up.

“So you see,” I continued, “your perception of me is seriously misconstrued. It’s only you I do not want to f*ck.”

His jaw clenched. “What’s it going to be, Eva?” he bit out. “Will you be lowering yourself to f*ck me, or will Frankie be left to his own devices?”

I raised my ridiculously overpriced glass of whiskey. “Fuck you, Chase.”

While I drank, Chase pulled his cell phone from his suit pocket.

“It’s Henderson,” he said. “Get Deluva out of solitary now…yes, I am aware of how violent he is…I’m also aware of how much I’m paying you…then make sure he’s out cold and restrained before removing him…I’m not interested in how many men it will take to sedate him. I’m only interested in it getting done and it getting done now…good. Make sure he is taken directly to the med center, and you are to call me when he’s awake and somewhat in control of himself. I will send both a physician and a team of psychologists to complete a full psychological profile. You and your staff are to concur with their findings, sign and date where it is required, and await my next instructions.”

I finished my whiskey and set the glass down hard.

“Very good,” Chase continued, eyeing me. “Am I to assume said guard has been taken care of?”

I took a deep breath that did nothing to calm me. Although my belly had warmed from the whiskey and my body had loosened, my heart was firmly lodged in my throat. I might need the entire bottle. All $75,000 of it.

As if he read my mind, Chase pushed his half-empty glass across the desk.

“Wonderful,” he said into the phone. “I will be in touch.”

He hung up, and then pressed a button on his desk phone.

“Yes, Mr. Henderson?” came through the speaker.

“Cancel the rest of my day.”

“Pardon? You have two meetings, one with Judge—”

“Cancel the rest of my day.”

“But—”

“If you want to keep your job, cancel the rest of my day.”

“Yes, sir.”

The intercom clicked off, and Chase looked up at me. Shuddering, I turned away and chugged the rest of his whiskey.

“Eva,” Chase said. “I don’t need to tell you that this will not be a one-time occurrence, correct?”

“Isn’t that what you just did?” I asked sarcastically.

He glared at me. “It’s not going to work if you’re going to view this as a chore.”

“Oh,” I sneered. “What should I view it as? A workout? A date?”

“We could go somewhere,” he said quietly. “Have lunch first. I have standing reservations at everywhere worth anything in the city.”

I snorted. “We’re not dating, Chase. I just agreed to spread my legs for you. You don’t need to woo me.”

Chase’s already dead eyes went cold. Chase was a beautiful man, but someone—probably his parents—had repeatedly broken him until there was nothing left to fix.

“Fine,” he said callously. “Strip.”

We glared at each other.

“Strip,” he bit out. “Now, Eva.”

Gritting my teeth, I yanked my T-shirt over my head and tossed it aside. I kicked off my green Chucks, and then stood to unbutton my oversized jeans. They fell to my feet, and I kicked them away. Hooking my thumbs in my underwear, I shoved them down and stepped out of them.

Chase looked his fill, his face tightening and his eyes darkening with hunger.

“Where do you want me?” I said sarcastically.

“Where do you want it?” he asked just as sarcastically.

I leaned over his desk, causing my breasts to swing forward. Chase’s eyes followed their movements. I was so angry, furious, and crazy with hate for this man—a man I had considered somewhat of a friend.

And, to my astonishment, I was furious with Frankie.

Something happened to me while I glared at Chase—something both terrifying and profound. I wasn’t just furious with Frankie; I hated Frankie. He had f*cked me up so badly that I didn’t know who the f*ck I was.

All I’d ever known was Frankie. What Frankie wanted.