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I excuse myself, my hands already balled into fists as I walk up behind Presley. Peter looks at me, that slimy look in his eyes. He stops dancing, bringing Presley’s hand up to his lips and planting a kiss.
“Cyrus.” He smiles and it’s soulless. “I had the absolute pleasure of meeting your new publicist.” He winks at her as I reach my arm out and pull her back toward me. “Watch yourself with him,” he says to her.
“Excuse us,” I say to her as I step off the dance floor with Peter. I keep my smile in place until we’re well out of her earshot before turning to face him. “What the fuck do you want?”
He laughs. “Just had to see for myself is all.”
“See what?”
His eyes drift over toward Presley who’s still looking at us. “A little birdie told me that you hired your newest plaything as your publicist. I thought, he can’t be that stupid but—guess I was wrong.”
“Don’t ever fucking refer to her like that again. She is my publicist. End of story.”
“Better keep it that way, or you might be the first man to lose a billion-dollar deal over pussy.” He’s smiling so wide I feel like I can see all his teeth.
I step closer, looking down on him. I’ve got at least half a foot on this dick weasel. “Are you threatening me?”
He shrugs. “You might want to make sure your own house is in order, Cyrus, or rumor has it, Meridian will be looking for a new buyer.”
He walks away, and my gaze drifts back to the dance floor where Forrest has his arms wrapped around Presley, moving her to the music as a smile spreads across her face.
I head to the bar. “Double whiskey.” He barely hands it to me before I take it down in one gulp. “Another.”
By the time I’ve finished both glasses and mingled a little more, my head is starting to swim and pound. I send a text to Wes to bring the car around before finding Presley.
“Time to go,” I say, grabbing her arm and leading her toward the coat check.
“Excuse me.” She attempts to pull away, but I hold her tightly.
“We’re leaving. Wes is waiting,” I say as I grab our coats and lead us out into the night.
We slide into the back of the limo, her on one side, me on the other. I lean back, closing my eyes for a moment as I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
I don’t respond. I reach into the small liquor cabinet and pour myself another drink. After a few minutes, I ask, “What did Peter say to you?”
“Nothing really.” She shrugs one shoulder. “Introduced himself and asked me how long I’d been working for Lisa.”
“You mean me, how long you’ve been working for me?”
She rolls her eyes. “No. Working for Lisa.”
I laugh, taking a sip of my liquor. “Yeah, but you answer to me. If I wanted you gone tomorrow, you would be.”
“That’s a messed-up thing to say. Are you threatening my job? Is that how this plays out now? If I don’t behave exactly like you want, you fire me?”
“No, I’m not threatening your job. I’m threatening to remind you who’s in charge here.”
She scoffs. “Let me guess, another empty threat.”
“Excuse me?” I pause, the glass halfway to my lips.
“You’re constantly threatening me, to remind me what happens if I don’t obey you, if I touch you, if I say the wrong thing or question you. I’m starting to think you don’t even know what those threats are.” She leans forward. “You’re just so used to intimidating people to get your way, threatening them into submission, that you can’t stand that it doesn’t work on me.”
“Are you dating Forrest?”
“And then you deflect.” She sits back.
