Page 40 of Fiancé for Hire

She was not looking forward to when they’d have to “break up.”

* * *

Watching Antika chat with Janita made Drevon’s respect for her grow higher. She knew how important this meeting was to him and had gone beyond the call of duty to befriend Graham’s wife. He had already thought she was incredible, but seeing how well versed she was on almost every subject made him proud to be in her presence.

They were also a good team. He had told her enough about his project to the point that she was able to speak on it. He’d been even more impressed when Janita asked Antika what she thought about the project. She’d been able to articulate her thoughts, her concerns, and when she told the couple that she supported him one hundred percent, Drevon had been about ready to marry her on the spot.

She’s your fake fiancée. This is not real, that irritating voice in the back of his mind screamed.

Still, even knowing that their relationship wasn’t real didn’t stop him from imagining what it would be like to have her by his side forever.

At the end of dinner, instead of leaving with Graham and Janita, Drevon and Antika hung out at the bar for a nightcap. They shared their thoughts about how they thought the meeting went, and if there was anything he should include in future pitches to potential investors.

They had just finished their drinks when Drevon glanced toward the entrance.

Kendall and two other women stood near the hostess stand.

“Ahh, hell,” he grumbled.

Kendall lived in Manhattan, but of all the restaurants in the city, why’d she have to choose that one? He already knew that she hadn’t tracked him there since she had no way of doing that. His location setting on his phone was turned off, and only a handful of people knew he was in the city.

Antika’s gaze whipped to him. “What’s wrong?”

He leaned close to her ear as he stood. “Kendall is here.”

There were quite a few people near the entrance, and she was deep in conversation with the women she walked in with.

“She hasn’t seen us,” Drevon said. “Maybe we can ease out of here before she does.”

“Good idea.”

Antika stook and Drevon folded her hand within his and led her toward the exit, but not before Kendall glanced their way.

Shit. Here we go.

At least they were close to the door and outside of earshot of those eating dinner.

“I know you’re not trying to leave without saying hello,” Kendall said when she approached, a sickishly sweet smile spread across her dark red lips. She lifted her face up to kiss him, but Drevon leaned back, causing her to kiss air.

“Don’t even think about it. You lost that privilege a long time ago,” he said, unable to keep the rage out of his tone.

Hurt flashed in her eyes but disappeared just as quickly.

“So, are you going to introduce me to your date?” she asked, looking at Antika as if she was shit on the bottom of her overpriced shoes.

“I hadn’t planned to introduce you to myfiancée. As a matter of fact, we were just leaving.” He steered Antika toward the door where others were entering, but Kendall blocked their path.

“Oh, I see how it is. You’re embarrassed by her, and don’t want anyone to know you’re slumming. I guess you have to settle for less when you’ve already had the best.”

“Dre,” Antika said in mock exasperation as she stared up at him with her hands on his chest. He recognized the mischief in her eyes and wondered what she’d say. “I don’t need to meet any more of your groupies tonight. Can we go?”

Kendall gasped. “Excuse you. Do youknowwho I am?” she said indignantly, and Drevon couldn’t help but laugh.

When he glanced at Antika, he didn’t miss the smile flirting around her pretty lips. She was probably remembering what he was recalling—the day they first met. He’d said the same thing to her when she told his aunt that he wasn’t what she requested.

That seemed like a lifetime ago but was only a few weeks, he thought as he grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it.

“Heffa, don’t act like you don’t know me,” Kendall said, moving a little closer, but Drevon blocked her, making sure he stayed between her and Antika. “Don’t worry, I ain’t gon’ do nothing to your chubby girlfriend.”