Page 48 of Arran's Obsession

“I didn’t lie at all. What happened to the doorman?”

He made no reply, his hands on my body but still.

“What did you offer your client?” I tried instead. Maybe he’d give me to Mr Hang once he was through.

“To run the game again sooner than I’d planned. He’ll get a second chance for free.”

“What did he mean by the final stage to us being fully bonded? I thought the restrictions between us only lifted.”

He rose from the seat, standing me with him, then moved several deliberate feet away. “We won’t be doing it so you don’t need to know.”

“Can you tell me anyway?”

“No.” He folded his arms.

I glowered, not at all put off. “Fine. I’ll find out another way.”

“Don’t bother, you won’t like it. But if you’re so keen to get involved in my business, you can help with the next call.”

He wanted my help. A small flame of hope kindled inside me. “Who are we talking to?”

“Natasha Reid, the woman you impersonated.” There was a challenge in his eyes.

I wrinkled my nose but summoned my strength. “This one should be mine anyway. I owe her an apology.”

“You’re astonishing, Genevieve.”

An answer stuck in my throat. He didn’t mean it in a good way, but I wished he did.

Retaking our seats, he clicked into a contact list, and the video call blipped with a dial tone. A woman answered, her fair hair and heart-shaped face so like mine I stared.

Likewise, she blinked at me. “You’re the woman who took my place.”

I shrugged. “In the flesh. I can see now how the mistake was made.”

Her gaze travelled over the screen like she was taking me in. “That’s what the other man said when I called. He told me you were mistakenly shown into the claiming ground in my place.”

“True. I had no idea what was going on.”

Her eyes crinkled at the edges. “I’d like to believe you, but I wonder if you have another agenda.”

For a moment, I lost my train of thought. Nobody had asked me if I was okay. Arran assumed I’d been there on purpose. I’d upset Cassie and Summer, so neither had been forthcoming. Now this woman automatically assumed there was a further purpose.

“I don’t, but thank you for hearing my explanation. I apologise for taking your place.”

Her expression didn’t change, but her focus shifted to Arran at my back. “Your colleague said that you’d made a claim. I’m devastated at missing out. You and I would have been good together. If I’d known you were in there, I would’ve fought tooth and claw for you. I’d never have dared be fashionably late.”

My jaw dropped, and outrage swept through me. “Watch your mouth. You’re talking to a taken man. He claimed me, and that makes him mine.”

If she wanted teeth and claws, I had them in spades.

Natasha’s cheeks pinkened. “I deserved that. I accept the offer of being in the next game. Got to go.”

She disconnected, and I exhaled annoyance. The cheek of her.

Then I became aware of Arran’s hands at my waist. They eased around the front of my jean shorts and popped the button.

“Hang reminded me of another obligation we haven’t discussed. Do you know your bank account details?”