Black Ties and White Lies(34)

“Tell me not to kiss you again and I won’t. But don’t make that moment less than what it was. I’ve thought about it all god damn day. It wasn’t a fucking show, and you know damn well it wasn’t.”

He leaves me all alone in his office, but he doesn’t go far. Flicking on the lights of a conference room, he sits down and spends the next hour on a phone call.

Maybe him ignoring me as I take in this office space is him punishing me. Or maybe he knows that I could stare out the window of his office all day if I could, the sight having to be one of the best in the city.

Either way, neither of us speak for the duration of our time out and about. In fact, we don’t even speak when we make it back to the penthouse.





I probably could’ve handled our conversation at the office better. The issue was, I’d been offended she’d dismissed the kiss so easily. That she thought so low of me. How could she think I’d kiss her in private for the sake of anyone else? Sure, if people thought we were engaged and we were at an event or something I’d give her a chaste kiss to make this arrangement more believable.

But this morning, in that dressing room, the only person I kissed her for was myself. I’d thought about kissing her in bed into the early morning the night before and I’d thought about it the entire morning while shopping before it happened.

I’d kissed her because the thought of not kissing her made me feel empty inside.

I should’ve known better. She wasn’t ready. She’d said as much when she’d laid out her terms when agreeing to becoming my assistant and then fiancée. I’d just been too blinded by my primal want for her, and by the way she basically dared me to kiss her, there was no stopping myself.

By the time I actually cared to apologize to her for how I’d acted, it was too late. I could tell she was upset with me. I’m smart enough to know when a woman wants nothing to do with me, and those were the vibes I got the entire ride home.

She’d smiled and fawned over Ezra as he helped her bring bags and boxes of clothing up, but any time I attempted to help it resulted in a dirty look.

Ezra ate it up like candy, clearly aware that something was going on between Margo and me.

It was four hours ago when we piled Margo’s new items in her room, and she all but slammed the door in my face.

I’d spent two of those hours in the private gym and sauna, trying to work out some of the pent up frustration. I’m still in disbelief that she tried to diminish our kiss into nothing. I’m even more enraged that her trust issues stem from the man whose picture appears on my phone.

Angrily grabbing my phone from the kitchen counter, I swipe to answer. “What do you want?” My tone isn’t friendly, although it never is when it comes to him.

He laughs, but there’s no actual humor to it. “Sup, big bro?” Blaring music muffles his voice. Wherever he is, whatever he’s doing, it isn’t quiet.

“Why are you calling me?” I clip, grimacing at his use of the words sup and bro.

“I got a fun tidbit of information today,” he taunts. I know he wants me to ask what, but I don’t. I’m not going to fall into whatever trap he’s attempting to lay.

“And I give a shit why?”

The oven timer beeps behind me. I walk to it, opening it up and taking a peek at the teriyaki salmon I have in there.

Carter chuckles on the other line. “Because, Beckham, it has to do with you and a certain ex-girlfriend of mine.”

Fuck.

I knew he’d learn of Margo working for me, and eventually becoming my fiancée, but I must admit, I didn’t think it’d be so soon.

“I repeat. I give a shit why?”

“I think it’s me who should give a shit. Why are you out with Margo? You know I’m still in love with her.”

I scoff, grabbing a spatula and turning the green beans that are cooking in the pan. “Didn’t you cheat on her throughout the entirety of your relationship?”

“I was immature,” he counters, slightly slurring his words. The realization doesn’t shock me. Carter has always been someone who likes to hit the bottle a little too hard. “I was stupid for what I did to her, but I want her back.”

Like fuck, I want to say out loud but I bite my tongue. Carter can’t know about the little agreement Margo and I have. Not now, not ever. Even if Margo didn’t hate him, there’s still no way I’d ever allow my brother to hurt her again. He’s stupid and pathetic, too busy thinking with his cock all the time to realize he’s got a good thing when he has it.

I won’t let him make that same mistake again. Not if I have any say in the matter.

“She’s working for me as an assistant.” I change the subject, divulging only a little.

“She’ll be mine again, Beckham. Just wanted to remind you of that.”

I stop, holding the phone to my ear as I think his words over. The last thing I need to do is get in a pissing match over Margo with my brother. I have to choose my words carefully, not wanting him to know how much the thought of Margo ever getting back with his sorry ass makes my blood boil. Even seeing her with him at our family home in The Hamptons, knowing he was unfaithful to her, upset me more than it ever should. Now I’m even more invested in her, more than I’m willing to let him or anyone else know, and it’ll be over my dead body that my brother ever gets her back.