Let's Play A Dirty Ass Game, Mr. CEO

Chapter 60: STEALING A MOMENT

LAURA

It’s fucked up to feel this way about the man who broke me, I knew it more than anyone else.

But I could not help embracing the tiny flickers of hope that licked up the walls of my chest. Hope... that this passion that burned between us could be explored at the very least.

As Mr. Steele kept speaking to Tristan in a condescending manner that had me questioning the kind of relationship they had, Madison caught me staring and a nasty smile tugged on her lips. Then she whispered something in Tristan’s ear—something that made him look over at Harlan and I—before she left the circle and walked over to us .

"Laura Hayes. Harlan Voss. A pleasure to have you at my engagement party."

Harlan offered her a warm smile and raised his glass. "Congratulations, Ms. Steele. You’re great together."

"Oh. You think so too, huh?" Madison’s brows shot up incredulously at his words. Meanwhile...my insides were on fire.

"Of course." Harlan nudged me gently. "Isn’t that right?"

"What?"

"Is Ms. Steele not the perfect match for Tristan?"

I stared at him point-blank, caught between telling him off bluntly and reminding him that the people he was celebrating contributed greatly to my past dilemma.

So I gave him my best smile instead and turned it on Madison, who waited patiently, with a corny smirk all this time. "Congratulations, Madison Steele." I downed my glass of champagne and turned away to grab another before she could say anything else. But there was no waiter or waitress in sight.

Desperately needing to escape Madison who already engaged Harlan in a conversation, I left the circle and walked briskly to the fountain of champagne mounted on the right side of the hall.

Little did I know that Madison had followed. Until my hand closed around a glass and her voice rose behind me. "Why act so stuff if you’re here to celebrate our engagement?"

My fingers dropped from the stack of glasses, and I clutched my purse tighter. "Who says I’m here to celebrate you?"

She scoffed. "Why are you here, then? This is not a charity party."

"I’m well aware. I came with a friend, as you can see."

"Hmm. Well can you just admit that you can’t help yourself?"

I turned and faced her squarely, the noise falling away and only my hatred for her pounding in my ears. "I don’t know what you mean."

She studied me for a brief moment, tilting her chin like a peacock too proud for its own good. "You’re obsessed with Tristan, aren’t you? Can’t help but show up everywhere he’s at, huh?"

I stared at her for a long moment. Then I burst into a short laugh. "I think it’s beginning to make a lot of sense now. This is a business marriage, isn’t it? I mean, why else would you be trying so hard to get his attention away from everything but you? You’re not used to having much of it, am I right?"

Madison’s eyes flared so hot, she almost looked like she wanted to rip my hair out. "You know nothing about our marriage."

"I know that you’re as insecure as they come." I folded my arms across my chest and stepped closer to her. "How about you face this fiance you’re trying so hard to impress, and leave me the fuck alone?"

"Well it’s my party. If anyone should leave, it’s you."

I scoffed and reared back in disbelief. "Are you asking me to leave?"

"Don’t act so surprised."

My chest flared hot with anger and I struggled against the urge to rearrange her senses. So because it was her engagement party, she felt she could send me home whenever she wished?

No freaking way. I refused to leave without a fight.

I glanced up just then to see Tristan storming out of the hall, looking quite agitated and infuriated as he pulled at his tie.

My mind made up, I flashed Madison a tight smile. "Well, enjoy your party. And before I forget, happy engagement to you."

She glared at me as I drifted away, towards the direction where Tristan had disappeared to, grabbing a glass of champagne on my way out. Harlan seemed engrossed in a conversation with a small group as I slipped out, so I didn’t have to worry about telling him my whereabouts...or the risky, nasty plan brewing in my head.

I found Tristan on the balcony, standing by the rail, staring into the night with a deep-set expression and a tight jaw.

I approached as quietly as possible, scouting the area to make sure there wasn’t anyone else on the balcony.

Just inches away from him, Tristan turned and those blue eyes burned into me with a scalding intensity.

"I didn’t think you’d show up."

I shrugged, willing my heart to behave, as I sidled up next to him. "I wouldn’t have showed up if I knew it was your party. Harlan invited me."

"Oh."

Uncomfortable silence stretched between us. I looked everywhere but at his face, while he watched my face the entire time without flinching.

"I’m glad you came, anyway."

My eyes dropped to his long and beautiful fingers on the railing. I wasn’t sure why I expected to see a ring when they weren’t even married yet. "So, you’re really getting married soon huh?"

He took a moment before responding, and there’s no sign of enthusiasm in his voice. "Seems like it." A moment’s pause followed, then he said, "look at me, Laura."

My eyes flicked to his face with only a tiny bit of reluctance. "What?"

"It doesn’t mean anything. Trust me."

I laughed. "Trust you? It’s your marriage, Tristan. It has nothing to do with me and trusting you."

He took a step close to me without warning, blue eyes burning into me with a hunger that mirrored the one that set my insides on fire. "What I mean is, it doesn’t change the fact that I want you. I still do. I still think about you every fucking minute of the day."

I stared up at him, breathless and melting under his gaze. "So why are you telling me this? What am I supposed to do when you’re getting married to someone else?"

I hated how broken and hurt I sounded, but I guess some things could not just be helped.

Especially if they were insane feelings that sprouted from a one-night stand that happened five years ago.

Tristan closed what was left of the distance between us, his broad shoulders filling my vision, his cologne assaulting my senses.

My mind went blank as he lifted his hand to my face. My legs wobbled as his warm hand made the first contact with my skin.

"There’s so much you can do. So much we can do. Nothing can stop us, Laura."

"What about Madison?"

"She sleeps next to me almost every night, but she’s not the one who drives me crazy."

The words cut deeper than I liked, and I began to pull away. But Tristan pulled me back firmly.

"You’re the one I want in my bed all night, Laura." His gaze dropped to my lips and undeniable hunger flickered in his electric blue eyes. "Tell me you don’t want the same thing and I’ll let you go."

Weak with need, I leaned into him and tightened my fingers around the fabric of his shirt. I didn’t even realize when I grabbed onto him.

"We can’t keep breaking the rules, Tristan."

"Rules are meant to be broken." His fingers snaked under my chin and tilted my face a fraction closer to his.

Then his lips came for mine. I just let it happen because I wanted this as badly as he did. I wanted Tristan.

Maybe it was high time I stopped running from what I felt. High time I put the past behind.

But the moment his lips brushed against mine in the softest kiss, sending electricity racing through my veins, the balcony door creaked open and someone else joined us.