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“It’s easy for you to say. That jerk has probably waited all his life for a chance like this,” I replied, frowning.
“But it’ll be simple. He’s a man, so he'll respond on a primal level,” Valerie said grinning evilly.
“I’ll pretend I don’t know what that means,” I laughed calling for the bill.
We paid the bill, stood up together, picked up our bags, and headed out the door. Outside, we hugged, wished each other well, and headed for our cars, Sophie and Valerie left together as they'd had arrived together earlier.
I walked towards my car, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin. It was a beautiful day, with clear blue skies and a light breeze that carried the scent of flowers. The palm trees rustled gently in the wind, and I could smell a hint of salt spray. I took a deep breath, enjoying the balmy air.
As I pulled out of the parking lot, I glanced at the buildings and streets around me. The city was alive with activity, the people bustling about their business. I was slightly worried about the bet. Christian could be really difficult when he put his mind to it, and he’d made it perfectly clear just what it was that he thought of me. It would be a challenge, but I would get it done.
Just as I pulled into my driveway, my phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from Valerie.
"Hey, Alex, don't forget about the bet!" it read.
I chuckled to myself. She’d never let me forget about it. That was for sure.
Chapter Three
Alex's POV
I knew Christian still harbored resentment towards me for hurting Tristan, but I had no choice but to come to him now.
As I waited for him to answer his door, my mind raced with all the things I needed to discuss with him. The wedding planning was getting more complicated by the day, and I needed his help to sort out some of the details—or at least that was my excuse and what he'd promised Nathan he'd do.
Christian opened the door, and my breath caught in my throat. He looked even more handsome than I remembered, his dark hair perfectly mussed and his sharp blue eyes piercing my green ones.
"Hey, Alex," he said, his tone polite but cool.
"Hi, Christian," I replied, trying to sound upbeat. "Thanks for agreeing to meet with me."
Christian gestured me inside, and I followed him into the living room.
I looked around, taking in the sleek, contemporary decor and the expensive furniture. The room was tastefully decorated, with a large leather sofa and matching armchairs. A bookshelf filled with volumes of literature stood against the wall, and a large painting of a seascape hung above the fireplace.
"Thanks for having me over. Your house is amazing." If I kept that up, he’d smell my nerves like a shark could smell blood.
Christian raised an eyebrow. "Is that why you're here? To scope out my living situation?"
I felt my cheeks heating up. "No, of course not. I'm here to talk to you about something important." I should’ve known he wouldn’t respond to compliments, especially not mine.
Christian gestured for me to sit down, and I perched on the edge of the couch, trying to keep the situation under my control.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" he asked, his tone skeptical. I was sure it was all he could do to keep himself from sneering at me. It wasn’t like me to feel nervous, especially not with a man. I'd spent the whole day prepping for this moment and it damned well better have been worth it.
It had started with my hair, which I washed and blow-dried, finger-combing the soft, smooth strands, admiring the way they fell in loose waves around my shoulders. I had decided to leave it down, framing my face and highlighting my best features.
My makeup was flawless, and I knew it. I'd spend lots of time practicing, trying to get the perfect balance between polished and natural. First, I'd applied a light layer of foundation, followed by a dusting of mineral powder to set it in place.
A subtle brush of pink blush to my cheeks and a touch of highlighter made my cheekbones pop. Finally, I had lined my green eyes with a thin layer of black and finished with a swipe of mascara to make my lashes look even longer and fuller.
Satisfied with my makeup, I had moved on to my outfit. I'd already picked out my dress, a simple but elegant black number that hugged my curves in all the right places. A pair of nude heels made my legs look extra long. Finally, I'd grabbed a small clutch to hold my essentials.
You wanted to look your best when dealing with a man like Christian. Any chink in my armor could be the end of me. Plus, knowing I looked good gave me a confidence boost like nothing else could.
Christian was leaning back in his chair, waiting for me to answer.
I took a deep breath. "It's about the wedding. I was hoping you could help me out with some of the planning. I know you have a lot of experience with this sort of thing."
