The wave of possessiveness hits me out of nowhere. I should be surprised, but I’m not shocked. I’ve always been territorial over everything. Toys. Money. Business ventures. And now…a woman. Although the idea is new, the feeling is not.
Lance turns his attention on me.
“Mr. Kane. I’m sorry to interrupt. I didn’t realize you and Zahra were in the middle of a business meeting tonight.”
“We’re not,” I offer in a dry voice.
Zahra shivers as I trace her arm with my finger. Lance’s eyes track the movement before ending at my hand pressed against her waist in an intimate gesture.
“Well, I’m sorry to intrude on this…outing.”
“Why did you then?” I counter, keeping my voice flat.
His mouth opens and closes again. I don’t bother waiting for his limited brain cells to make up some pathetic excuse.
I wave over the hostess. She comes over and places herself between Lance and me.
“Mr. Kane. Can I help you with something?” She keeps her tone light and professional.
“I’d like to send this man’s table a bottle of Dom Perignon on my tab.”
She beams. “Of course. What occasion are we celebrating?”
“His job promotion.”
The hostess disappears with a massive grin on her face.
Zahra’s body goes rigid beside me. I caress her hip, toying with the strap of lace through the fabric of her dress. Her body melts into mine despite Lance staring at us openly.
“Job promotion?” he squawks.
“It’s come to my attention that you have been a dedicated Dreamland employee for years.”
He nods with a grin. His eyes move from me to Zahra, and I’m tempted to shield her from his gaze. The way he looks at her makes me think he believes she talked him up to me.
He’s such a waste of good oxygen.
I’m absolutely disgusted by him. “You’re officially being transferred to Dreamland Shanghai to work with the Creators there. Effective immediately.”
All the blood drains from his face. “Shanghai? China?”
“It appears you have two reasons to celebrate tonight. Congratulations.”
He sputters some more. His discomfort makes me want to smile, but I hold back. There’s only one person who deserves my limited supply and it’s definitely not this degenerate.
I look down at Zahra, only to find her already staring up at me. The smallest smile graces her lips, but her eyes tell me everything. She rises on the tips of her toes and places a soft kiss on my cheek.
Her lips make their way toward my ear. “You’re so getting laid tonight.” Her hot breath makes the back of my neck heat, and suddenly I’m very interested in getting the hell out of here.
Screw dates at restaurants. They’re grossly overrated and highly restricting. I’m not sure what I was thinking bringing Zahra to one when she’s the kind of person who likes to sit on floors and binge takeout food together.
I give Zahra’s hip a squeeze in acknowledgment.
“Congratulations on Shanghai. You should be so proud of your accomplishments, Lance.” She gives Lance one last wave over her shoulder before she returns to her chair.
A small part of me rejoices in the fact that she doesn’t offer him a smile. Those are all mine, fuck him very much.
Lance stares at her with his mouth agape. The way he ogles at her makes me want to deck him right in his crooked nose.
I clap a hand on Lance’s tense shoulder and lean in, the gesture seeming friendly to anyone else. “There’s a reason men like you hurt women like Zahra. It has nothing to do with her and everything to do with what you’re severely lacking.” I take a moment to look down at him, not bothering to hide the disgust in my eyes.