“Bitch,” I mutter.
Reign tightens his grip on my hand. “Enough.”
I huff but keep my mouth closed as we stop. Everyone greets everyone else, and then we’re all set. I’m stuck with Reign, some other young man, and Slutena. I mean fuck, why do we all have to get put together? This isn’t a coincidence. I give everyone skeptical looks as I climb onto the golf buggy, crossing my legs. When the young man gets in beside me and I see Reign and Slutena get in the front, I want to beat somebody.
“So, I hear you’re quite good at your job?” the younger man says to me. “Everyone says great things about you.”
“My job?” I snort. “Yes, I am very good at it. In fact, I think Reign would call me superb. I work wonders with his need to . . .”
“Tia,” Reign growls from the front. “Enough.”
Gritting my teeth, I stare out at the open course, wanting to beat someone. When the refreshments come around, I dive right into the beer. Slutena gets a wine; of course she does. She stands there, sipping it like she crushed the goddamned grapes herself.
“It’s your turn, Selena,” Reign says, turning to her.
“I’m a little blank,” she says innocently. “I’m afraid I’ve forgotten how to hold it. Would you show me, Reign?”
“Seriously?” I snort to myself, though I see Reign’s jaw tick and Selena’s eyes narrow.
Then he walks out, wrapping his arms around her as he teaches her how to swing. I roll my eyes and sit back in the cart, sipping my beer. As we go around the course, I watch them flirt and carry on. I won’t lie, it pisses me off. When Reign finally decides to give me a turn, I’m angry. I know it’s probably childish, but I don’t care. He deserves it.
“It’s your turn,” Reign says, approaching me.
I stare at him. “Are you going to show me how to hold it?” I say innocently, batting my eyelashes.
He steps forward, leaning down close. He growls into my ear, “You’re being bratty. Quit it.”
“Or what?” I snap, taking the long stick thing out of his hand.
I walk out, whack the ball and spin around, handing it back to him.
“What the fuck was that?”
“I was hitting the ball.”
“No, you were acting like a brat.”
“Quit calling me a brat,” I mutter.
I am handed another beer, and I take it gratefully.
Reign takes my arm. “I brought you here because you’re supposed to act professionally and give me a good name. Not act like a spoiled child because you don’t like what I’m doing.”
“What you’re doing,” I snap. “Is falling at that woman’s feet. You’re not even trying to see the real side to her.”
“Since fucking when did my business become yours? I never asked you to delve your nose into my shit when I hired you. Why the fuck do you keep bringin’ it up?”
“No, and you certainly didn’t say you were going to fuck me either.”
He growls, low and deep. “Last chance, pull your shit together, or leave. I don’t need you here acting like a damned child.”
I swallow, hurt. It’s asshole Reign again. The one that always comes out when that bitch is around.
“You know what,” I say, stepping forward with a scornful expression, “I think I’ll go.”
Then I do something I know I’ll regret later. I tilt my beer and pour it down his shirt. That’ll teach him for being a prick.
I turn and walk off, but not before I hear him hiss my name in warning. Yep, I’ll probably lose my job, but I don’t care. In fact, I’m done caring. If he wants Slutena, and insists on turning into this jerk when she’s around, then he can have her and everything she entails. I’m done.
~*~*~*~
I don’t go back to my room. Instead I spend the afternoon walking around the grounds, exploring. I end up sitting at the beach, toes curling in the soft sand. It’s calmed me, and I realize that maybe I was being a bitch to Slutena. It can’t be helped, though, the woman is pathetic. I wish I understood what he saw in her, I truly do.
My phone rings in my pocket. It’s been ringing for hours. Sighing and knowing I can’t escape Reign forever, I pick it up and answer. I don’t get a word in before he barks at me. “What the fuck kind of game do you think you’re playing at? If you can’t handle being here, then go the fuck home. You’re making a fool of me when all I needed you to do was act your age and do the right thing. You wonder why the fuck I keep goin’ back to her? You wonder why I don’t come to you? This is why. You’re childish. At least she knows how to act correctly and with manners. Grow up, before you have no job to come back to.”
I end the call before he can finish, because I have stopped breathing. A sob rises up in my throat over his words. My fingers tremble as I shove my phone back into my pocket. My heart throbs; it literally pounds in my chest as I push to my feet. I’ve no doubt I deserved that, but I never expected it to hurt the way it did. With shaky legs, I make my way back to my room, not sure what to do next.
Just as I reach my door, the elevator pings open and Reign and Slutena appear. He’s got his hand around her waist and she’s holding onto his arm, laughing. When both of them see me, they stop. Her nose rises slightly, and I’m sure he’s told her just what a pathetic waste of time I am. I meet his eyes for a second, and his angry glare seems to soften just slightly at my tear-streaked face.