Page 88 of Temporary Vows

“I was just trying to be cordial. But clearly, that’s not going to work.”

I shake my head. “Nope, there’s no point even trying.”

Parker glances at Levi and scowls at him for no reason at all.

Beside me, Levi goes still, staring back at him with tense eyes. He’s not threatened by Parker in the least. He’s just being careful. We all have our ways of dealing with assholes. Where I’m cold and blatant, he’s more calculating. People mistake his lackadaisical attitude for gentleness sometimes. When they do, he strikes, and they wish they’d never been born.

Parker looks back at me. “So, this girl of yours. You got together pretty quickly. Though, I suppose it must have been easy to get her to agree to play along, given the fact that you already know her.”

“Play along? Don’t know what you mean by that.” Of course, I knew. I was aware people like him would guess exactly what my father demanded of me.

“Yeah, play dumb. It suits you.” He laughs. “That’s the only game you’ll be winning. I’m still going to take that job you want so badly.”

“You sound real confident about that.” I glare at him, forcing my rage down. How dare he come into my company and threaten me like this?

“I am confident. You know why, Dorian?” His gaze lifts heavenward for a moment before settling back on me, that knowing look in his eyes grating on every nerve. “It’s always the same with you. You’re the rebel. Something will happen. You’ll find a way to fuck it up. And when you do, I’ll just walk in and take your job.”

I bite down hard, clamping my teeth together, trying to stop myself from saying anything. If I do, it’ll turn into another fight. I can’t afford that. Not after last time. Parker is just trying togoad me into knocking his teeth down his miserable throat. I won’t give him the satisfaction.

Definitely not now when I’m finally back in my father’s good books.

“Come on, Levi. Let’s go.” I glance at Levi. He nods.

“Yeah, run away. Just like the past,” Parker taunts. “At least your little wife-to-be is pretty. Maybe I’ll sample the goods myself. I hear she looks quite fuckable.”

I could have left. Until he said that.

I walk up in his face, my coffee still in hand.

Levi grabs my arm. “It’s not worth it, Dorian. Come on, let’s go.”

I don’t listen. Instead, I smile down at Parker, outmatching his Cheshire cat grin. “You motherfucking turd. Touch her, and I will destroy you. I mean it.”

Parker responds with a wider smile. “Looks like I just pushed the right button.”

Yeah, I walked right into that trap. I don’t care, though. He needed to be told.

“Do me a favor and fuck the hell off.”

“All talk, cousin. But let’s be realistic. A girl like her is never going to want you. Just wait. It doesn’t matter how long she’s known you or what you did to get her, she’ll pack up and leave your ass the moment she gets a glimpse of who you are. That marriage is a disaster waiting to happen. Just like your mother and father.”

The jab barely leaves his lips before Levi is yanking me away from Parker. Iwasgoing to hit him.

It’s unfortunate that Parker is one of the few people who know exactly how to pull a reaction out of me. Any mention of that woman who sadly gave birth to me will do it. And the way he was trying to spin it with Elodie?

I feel like a timebomb waiting to explode.

“Take a walk, Dorian.” Levi hustles me toward the door.

“Yeah, run away,” Parker continues his taunt.

Levi pauses for a moment. “You’ll get yours one day soon, Parker. Mark my words.”

“There’s nothing you can do to me.”

“Keep believing that.”

We walk out, and I ground myself again.