Chapter 59

The weight of his stare was suffocating. I played dumb. “A love song? My Englysian isn’t great, and I didn’t catch that. But wow, you sounded flawless. No surprise, though, Mr. Ivy League.”

Jared let out a quiet scoff. “You’re getting worse at lying. The only reason I sang with Tracy was to save face for her. Half the board was there, and she’s VP now. If I humiliated her, she’d lose credibility with them.”

“VP?” I blinked. “Since when? I thought she was your assistant.”

“Board promoted her last week,” he said matter–of–factly. “She earned it.”

A sharp twist of jealousy hit me. Tracy’s rise had Jared’s fingerprints all over it. Suddenly, I didn’t want to talk anymore. I just muttered, “Oh,” and turned away.

Jared caught my shift instantly. “Now you care?” he taunted. “Bit late for that.”

“I don’t,” I forced myself to reply flatly. “Tracy’s competent. Everyone knows that. She got the job on merit, unlike me, who got Harmonia Hotel’s manager title just because of you.”

my

dear.” I shut my eyes,

arms locked around me from behind,

still not feeling well.” My voice was stiff as I shoved at his

words were soft,

back, pinning me beneath him. His mouth crashed into mine, hot and insistent. I twisted away, but he caught my wrists and wrenched them above my

sick- No, you’ll catch-” His

wasn’t gentle. He wasn’t even present–just furious, relentless, like he was exorcising something. I stopped fighting. What was the point? Maybe this was his frustration over holding back with Tracy tonight. Maybe I was just the convenient stand- in, the

When my arms buckled, he hauled me back against him, fingers digging into my hips. He never looked at me. Just moved, methodical and detached. It explained everything. I was just Tracy’s

was satisfied, but his expression was

you tonight?” Jared’s voice cut through

me, and I yanked the blanket up to cover myself. His accusatory tone only stoked my anger. Did he really see me as nothing more than Tracy’s replacement?

mean? I’ve been really

not what I’m talking about,” Jared muttered, his voice low and

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