Page 38 of Face Off
“I pushed him when he was trying to leave quietly. Whatever happens next is between Ryan and me.”
Briggs studied my face before reluctantly stepping back. “He told me he’d be in the bar.”
“I know.”
His forehead creased. “You heard him?”
“I speak Spanish.”
The room went quiet.
Aura recovered first. “Since when?”
“Since I started learning.”
“You continued after Ryan left?”
“At first, yes. Then I continued because I like it.”
Briggs’s mouth slowly curved. “You understood everything we said?”
“Today? Yes. Over the last few years, probably enough to know you’ve been abusing the assumption that I couldn’t.”
“That feels dangerous.”
“It should.”
Easton lifted his whiskey toward Briggs. “I told you to stop discussing people in front of them.”
“You discuss everyone in English.”
“I’m considerate.”
“You’re lazy.”
Cade remained focused on me. “What are you planning to do?”
“I’m going to the bar.”
Aura’s eyes narrowed. “Alone?”
“Yes.”
“That man just walked out because looking at you damaged his ability to function inside a room.”
“He walked out because I challenged him when he was trying to leave quietly. I’m going downstairs because we’re all supposed to meet for cocktails in less than an hour, and I would rather break the ice before everyone arrives to supervise our facial expressions.”
Briggs folded his arms. “He might not want company.”
“Then he can tell me.”
“And if he does?”
“I’ll finish my drink somewhere else.”
Nobody seemed satisfied, which was their problem.
I collected my portfolio from the table and placed it beside Bliss’s dress. “Give us ten minutes before you come down.”
