A Game Of Temptation

“As in you work in a lingerie company?” She asked, a small, confused and very fake smile on her face.

I returned her smile with one equally as plastic. “As in I own it.” When I spoke again, it was to Alex. “I design and model them. Most of them anyway.”

Alex smiled and something that looked a lot like pride entered his eyes. “That’s amazing. Do you-”

“You mean you model them?” Claire spat out the word like it was offensive, her expression one of horror.

“Yep,” I said breezily, already knowing where she was going with it. It wasn’t the first time people reacted that way upon hearing that I modelled my designs. Even my mother had reacted the same way when she first found out.

Her face twisted in disapproval. Good thing I hadn’t been looking for her approval anyway. “Is that morally right?” She hesitated. “I mean, you’re obviously in a relationship. That can’t be good for it, right? Why don’t you hire people to model instead?”

The tension at the table thickened. Even her fianceé sucked in a breath.

I speared an already cut steak from my now-very-cold plate and shoved it into my mouth. “You mean the same people who also have separate lives from work and who are probably in relationships too?”

Her face scrunched up. I’d guessed that talking while chewing would rile her up and I was spot on.

Wiping my mouth with the towel, I dropped it on my plate and rose. “Excuse me. I need to use the restroom.”

Alex sat up quickly, tension radiating off of him. I didn’t look at him but I knew that he was trying to catch my eyes and I would rather he didn’t look at me right now. I was angry. So bloody angry that he’d let her intrude on our date that had been going so well.

“I’ll come with you,” Claire said suddenly, standing up. “I need to use the restroom too.”

I froze, my steps faltering for a second before I continued waking. Heels clacking behind me told me that she was really following me. Time to find out what her endgame was.

The stall where we’d had sex was occupied so I took the next one. After doing my business, I came out to wash my hands at the sink. When I was done, I fetched my lipstick from my bag and reapplied it.

A toilet flushed, then in the next second, Claire was coming to stand at the sink next to mine, retouching her lipstick and make-up. She watched me through the mirror-the same way I watched her.

She faced me when she wad done. “I’m sorry about what I said back there. It was wrong and insensitive. I apologise.”

I shoved my lipstick back into my purse. “Apology accepted.”

Her apology was far from accepted, but the other option was to ignore her and right now, I was actively trying not to be a bitch-even though she’d acted like one the entire evening.

“So…” She hesitated. Intentionally. “How long have you and Alex been in a relationship?”

It was on the tip of my tongue to correct her that it wasn’t a relationship but I stopped the words quickly from making their way out of my mouth. What was her angle?

“Drop the act, Claire,” I couldn’t pretend anymore. “I see you. I see what you’ve been trying to do all dinner and it makes no sense. What is your endgame?”

She had the audacity to look shocked. “What? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I rolled my eyes and pushed away from the sink, a decision solidifying in my mind. “Save the act for someone who’s actually going to buy it. You pretty much forgot all about your fianceé who you came to dinner with, while vying for attention from Alex.” Her cheeks flushed and she opened her mouth to say something but I didn’t let her. “Whatever it is you think you’re doing, its not working, so please stop. It has gone all the way from embarrassing to pathetic and I’m only telling you this because women are supposed to look out for each other.” I paused. “Even though you’ve been nothing but a total bitch to me.”

A snicker came from the occupied stall. Claire’s face was completely red now.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

She took a step forward. “Listen here you-”

The stall’s door swung open and a stunning brunette who looked to be in her early thirties stepped out, a wry smile on her lips. “Ladies,” she began, cutting Claire off. “You know better than to have a catfight over a man. Come on.”

“I’m not. I’m out of here.” With those words, I turned and walked out of the restroom.

That was the decision I’d made. I was not going to sit through dinner with this woman, pretending like nothing was wrong. I was positive that I was not going to be able to make it if I spent two more minutes in her presence.

I was leaving.

Pulling out my phone, I made to text Alex that I was leaving. Thankfully, he had his back to me so he wouldn’t see me. I wouldn’t have gone through the front but the only other way out of the restaurant was through the kitchen and non-staff weren’t allowed in there.

But Alex must have been watching, waiting for me because the second I stepped out of the hallway leading to the restroom, his eyes latched onto me, intense and piercing.

Keeping my gaze straight ahead, I walked out of the restaurant, grabbing my coat from the doorman as I did. I was already booking a ride on my phone when Alex caught up to me.

“Laura.” He sounded out of breath, like he’d been running. “What’s wrong? Why are you leaving?”

I shook my head, refusing to meet his eyes. “I just… I need to leave, Alex. I can’t stay anymore.”

“Okay.” He said, surprising me with his easy acceptance. “We’ll leave together.”

My eyes flew up to his, shock sailing through me. “What?” I squeaked. “You can’t just leave. What about Claire and her fianceé?” It killed me to say it but I had to.

His expression didn’t change. “They’ll be fine.”

He was already walking and my feet were already following him without my permission. I was pretty much stammering at this point. “What about the bill and-”

“Paid.” He pushed a button on his key fob. “I already knew you wouldn’t want to stay the moment you said you wanted to use the restroom.” I stared at him slack-jawed as he pulled the passenger door open and motioned for me to get in.

My feet remained locked, shock, confusion and a lot of other emotions swirling through me. I was so…lost.

What was happening? What was he doing?

When it became obvious that my brain had pretty much bailed on me, Alex came over, picked me up and deposited me on the plush leather seat. He was about to close the door when he hesitated, opened it again, pressed a quick kiss to my lips before closing it and rounding the car, leaving me staring at nothing, dazed and reeling.