Page 62 of Bloodlust

"Camilla Bianco," she says, standing up and holding out her hand. Her two friends follow suit. "It's nice to finally meet you in person."

I study her gestures warily. Odd. And odd is never good. I tilt my head. "And you are?"

"Hazel Qian," she says, still holding her hand in the air between our hesitant bodies. "I'm Wei Zhao's fiancée." She holds up her left hand, wiggling her fingers. The giant rock glistens under the lights. "He wanted to talk about Alba's proposition."

"Oh," I hum, fighting against my body to maintain a neutral expression. Alba told The Dragons about the offer? Fucking hell. "I see."

"Please—" Hazel sits down, sliding down the booth to make room for me, "—take a seat." She mumbles something to her friends in Mandarin, and they quickly get up and leave. "Please sit."

I remain standing.

"If he wanted to talk," I say, crossing my arms, "then where is he?" I look around. "Taking a shit?"

Hazel blinks. "No, he thought it would be better if we talked." She pauses, giving me a fake ass smile. "Woman to woman."

Typical.

I snort. "You are a nobody, Hazel. I don't speak to nobodies."

"I am his fiancée," she scoffs, combative. "Not a nobody."

"If The Dragons have something they'd like to discuss with me, I expect a formal sit down with the boss," I say, cocking my head. "I don't talk business with pawns."

Hazel's jaw tightens. "I heard you were a real bitch."

"Baby girl..." I chuckle, running a hand through my hair as I peer down at her. "That was me being kind." I lean closer to her and cup her chin in my hand.

She gasps. "What are you doing?"

"You seem new to this life, Hazel, so I'm going to give you some sage advice, okay?" She swallows, nodding. I stroke her soft cheek. She can't be older than twenty. They keep getting younger. "The diamond on your hand isn't worth more than your future. Get out while you still can." She frowns. "Trust me, baby, in a few years when you start to smell your soul rot, no amount of jewels are going to bring you back to life." I let go of her face, patting her cheek. "Tell Wei to call me if he wants to talk, got it?" Hazel doesn't say a word as she stares up at me. "Got it?"

"Mhmm," she hums. "Got it."

"Good," I say with a smile, pointing to the menu. "Try the apple martini. It's delish." Turning on my heel, I calmly walk back to my office, a storm brewing in my gut.

Malik-fucking-Alba! I reach for my phone that's in the back pocket of my jeans and type out a text message. It's late. I doubt he'll answer.

Camilla

You went to Wei Zhao without consulting me first? I still have ten days to decide. Call when you get your head out of whatever bitch’s ass!

"Everything good, princess?" Frankie asks as I march past him.

"Fucking fantastic," I say, frustration oozing from my pores as I walk into my office. Leo glowers at me, holding the crumbled pros and cons list in his hand as Zoey attempts to yank it from his hands. "Give me a fucking break!"

"When were you going to tell me about this, Camilla?" he barks, stalking toward me. "What is this all about?"

"Mind your own fucking business, Leo!" I snatch the paper from his hands and rip it in half. "I'm handling it!"

"Handling it?" he scoffs. "You're making a fucking pros and cons list! For what?" He points at the shredded paper on the floor. "Marriage or Dragons? Seriously, Camilla? What is going on?" He takes a steadying breath and lowers his voice. "Let me help you."

"I don't need your fucking help!" I shout, shoving him out of my way as my phone rings.Oh, maybe Alba decided to take a breather for a change.I answer the call in a huff. "You fucking little shit!"

"Uh oh," a voice slurs on the other side. I freeze. It's not Alba. "It seems as though someone is a little—" a hiccup, "—angry."

"Hold on," I say, covering the microphone as I glare at Leo. "Get out now!" I look at Zoey. "You too."

"Who is that?" Zoey whispers suspiciously as Leo storms out of my office. I don't reply. "Hayden?" I shoo her away, not explaining myself and locking the door behind her.