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He purses his lips and makes a face. “Aiden is a moron. Although…maybe he’s not,” he says, tapping his chin. “He has you to take care of his every need. Are you a girlfriend or a glorified ho?”
“Don’t you dare say another word,” I bite through my teeth. “You had the audacity to comment on my ass, which was mistake number one. But you and I both know if I were to tell Aiden everything that’s been said here tonight, your ass would be laid out across the floor before you even had a chance to offer an explanation.”
He chuckles, low and threatening. “You overestimate Aiden’s level of care for you. You’re dispensable.” He glances around the room. “These women would take him away in a heartbeat if he gave them one chance.” Hate blazes in his eyes. “Aiden isn’t the god he thinks he is.”
“Let me tell you something right now, dickhead. I don’t need Aiden to fight my battles. You touch me…you come near me…you say one fucking word I don’t like, and I’ll end your career so fast.” I hold his stare. “You understand.”
“You’re just easy pussy. One that he’ll tire of.”
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. Everything Billy has said plays on my insecurities masterfully, and he doesn’t even realize it. Except I’m not that fragile little girl who Aiden left in that run-down trailer.
I’m strong.
I’m fierce.
I take a step toward him, getting as close as I can without causing a scene.
“You will apologize in a manner that I deem worthy, or tomorrow, you won’t have a fucking job. I’ll have your name plastered all over the papers. Sexual harassment. Misogyny. You name it, and I’ll ensure every newspaper and media outlet in this fucking city smears your name so gloriously, you’ll never work again.”
Billy’s face turns a shade of red I can’t name.
“Everything all right, Cassidy?” Aiden says, swooping in and handing me another glass, but this time, it’s a martini.
I’m typically not a martini girl, but tonight, I need it.
I look back at Billy and offer a menacing smile. “Yes. Everything is good. Billy was just telling me how sorry he was for bumping into me. Weren’t you, Billy?”
He clears his throat, looking at Aiden. “Yeah.”
“Let’s get out of here.” I place my glass down and then walk away with Aiden right behind me. All the while, I think of what was said and how close to home he actually was.
I head out to the curb to look for his car. Since I didn’t come with him, I’m not sure where he parked.
If I were smart, I’d slow down and wait for him to catch up to me, but the truth is I need air and space after my run-in with Billy.
My adrenaline courses through my body. It feels like my heart might explode from my chest.
Despite my labored breathing, I walk faster, not watching or thinking where I’m going, just needing to get far away from the party. I take a step, and before I know what's happening, I'm falling forward.
My hands reach out to brace myself as I start to crash face-first into the sidewalk.
“Cass,” Aiden's voice breaks through my haze as I see him running toward me.
Getting my bearings, I find that I’m lying on the concrete. But I’m okay. Luckily, my hands stopped my fall from being worse.
“Are you okay?” he asks as he moves to crouch so our gazes can meet.
“I think so.” I feel like a huge idiot, but as I take stock of myself, I’m pretty sure I didn’t do any real damage.
His brow furrows. “What happened?”
“Misstep.”
“You need to pay better attention,” he grumbles. He looks mad at me, which makes zero sense. Men are so confusing sometimes. “Let me help you up.”
His arms reach out, and then he's lifting me until I'm on my feet. The moment I am, my ankle gives under the weight.
In a split second, I'm cocooned in warmth. I blink. What the heck?
