“Miss Vaughn?” he calls out again before he notices us.
I smile. When I look over at Ronnie she’s wincing. Like she just got caught.
Hmmm… I walk over to the guy, who is looking at us like we just f**ked on the ten-thousand-dollar slab of granite in a kitchen that does not belong to us.
“Did you find the place to your liking, Mr. Shrike?” he asks with clear disdain.
People have this thing about bikers with tattoos. Like they’re better than us. Most of the time I let it slide. I know what I am. I know what I’m capable of. I know my true value. But for some reason, I hate this guy on sight. “Uh, yeah, it’s real nice.”
“And your condo is fine as well, Miss Vaughn? Or does it not meet your…” He looks over at me. “Specific needs?”
“Wait,” I say, puzzled. “What condo?”
And now the suit guy smiles like he’s got a secret.
“Oh, uh, Spencer,” Veronica interjects. “This is Mr. Mansi, the owner of this building. Actually he owns my old apartment building as well—”
“What do you mean old apartment building?”
“Please, Miss Vaughn, it’s Bobby.” He smiles at her like he’s making a claim and my insides go hot with anger. “She’s moved into my building, Mr. Shrike. She lives in one of my condos on the second floor as of today.”
Chapter Twelve
VERONICA
Oh, f**k. This is not gonna be pretty. “So, funny thing happens when I get home from the DMV today, Spencer. There’s all these construction workers…” My words keep spilling out of my mouth but all I’m thinking about is how this will go down. Spencer just f**ked me in this two-million-dollar condo that belongs to a man who is looking a little too much like a challenger for my comfort level.
How did that happen? The guy was nobody an hour ago. He barely had time to show me into my new condo before he had to leave and now he’s giving Spencer the territorial look?
Neither of them are listening to me so I just shut up.
Mr. Mansi looks over at me. “I’m sorry to… interrupt. But Charlie downstairs called and was worried about you meeting your… boss up here alone.”“Is that right?” Spencer says, puffing up his chest. “He was worried about me talking to my… employee?”
Oh God. There it is. So much for he loves me, right? I’m his employee. Why doesn’t he just f**king say girlfriend! Arrrggh! I’m so pissed off.
They do the silent, teeth-clenching bro-down for several seconds and I sigh and decide to just take over since apparently both of them have caveman tendencies. “Spencer’s not interested in the condo, Mr. Mansi, sorry to have wasted your time.” I turn to Spencer to tell him I’ll look for something else, but he cuts me off.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who says I’m not interested, Miss Vaughn?”
“I’m pretty sure it’s out of your price range,” Mansi says back. “But I have a friend with some economy units available across town. Perhaps you’d like me to put in a good word for you?”
Spencer smiles. I know that smile. I’ve seen it before. Usually it’s during a fight with my older brother Vic and it almost always ends up with a trip to the ER. For both of them.
I eye Mansi cautiously. He looks like a guy who bails himself out with money, not fists. But looks can be deceiving.
“Besides,” Mansi says with a grin. “I’ve decided to keep the penthouse for myself. It’s no longer for sale.” Then he looks straight at me and winks. “So you and I will be neighbors, Veronica. Maybe we can have dinner one night this week? Unless you have a boyfriend?”
His gaze never leaves mine, nor mine his. I wait for Spencer to interrupt and tell him I belong to him. That he and I are soul mates. That I’m his one true love. That he’s loved me since the day he met me. That he just f**ked me right here in this million-dollar kitchen that belongs to the man standing in front of him.
But he doesn’t. So I suck it up and swallow down the sadness. “Yeah, Bobby. I’d like that. I’ve got some shopping to do now, so if you two will excuse me, I’m gonna get out of here. Spencer?” I finally turn to look at him and even though I didn’t expect much, I expected something. Some expression of disbelief. A small tilt of his head to ask, What the f**k are you doing? Some twitch of his eye or a clench in his jaw to say he’s gonna kill that motherfucker Mansi.
But he’s got nothing. Pure poker face.
I wave. “I’ll find you another place to look at tomorrow.”
I walk to the elevator alone. Press the button. Take a deep breath. Enter as the doors open. Smile big as I turn to press the button for the second floor. And pretend everything is just perfect as the doors close in front of me.
And then I break down. Because that ass**le did it again! I’m so sick of the f**k-and-deny I can’t stand it.
In the few short seconds it takes for the elevator to reach my floor I’m a sobbing mess. The doors open and thankfully no one else is around as I bolt for my door. I push the key in, fling it open, and then slam it behind me.
I lean against the door for a moment, then slide down and slump to the floor.
I hate him. That’s it. I’m so f**king done.
My face falls into my hands and I cry. After a few minutes I lie down on the dark hardwood floors and curl up in a little ball. I’m tired. I’m so tired of playing this game with him. I lash out and kick the door.