Chapter 5

Nathan spread his arms. With his black tie tugged loose, he exuded the commanding confidence of someone born to rule, laced with an intoxicating mix of arrogance and allure. Reyna had been his since she was 18. As far as he was concerned, all he had to do was crook a finger and she would come crawling back. She would never leave him. Reyna almost laughed out loud. Suddenly, her gaze flicked over his shoulder, a sly glint of mischief dancing in her eyes. "Are you sure you want me to kiss you?" Nathan hadn't been satisfied since the night before, and the sight of her now—all coy and irresistible—pushed him right to the edge. He lunged for her, hungry and ready to claim her lips. This time, Reyna didn't dodge. She let him pull her into his arms and allowed his hand to press down on her back. Just as his lips descended, she whispered lightly, "Ms. Scott." Nathan froze. "Nathan? W-What are you doing?" As Kylie's face visibly drained of color, Nathan shoved Reyna away almost instantly. He straightened his collar with a look of stern composure, as if he were the one being assaulted. "Do you think you can pull these cheap tricks on me? Kylie, I can explain, this was—" Reyna wasn't about to let him spin the narrative. "Mr. Griffin had a bit too much to drink. Ms. Scott, maybe you should keep a closer eye on him. We wouldn't want any misunderstandings." As she spoke, her gaze flicked to the hallway outside, where a man stood partially in view. Only half an arm was visible, but the custom watch on his wrist was unmistakable. Smiling, she sauntered past Kylie. "If my boyfriend saw that, I'd be spending a long time trying to pacify him." She reached the door, glancing up, as if she had just noticed the man. Her eyes lit up with a sultry gleam as she slipped her arm through Maxwell's. "Honey, were you waiting for me? It's your fault I got so thirsty and had to drown myself in juice." Her flirty voice drifted straight into Nathan's ears, making his fists clench at his sides. But with Kylie still eyeing him suspiciously, he had no choice but to swallow his rage. Pretending to be tipsy, he held her close and stole kisses to distract her. Yet, all he could smell was the lingering scent Reyna had left on him. It tugged at something deep in his gut. Back in the hallway, Reyna finally let go of Maxwell's arm. She gave him a light wave as she bid him farewell. "Thank you for playing along tonight, Mr. Hamilton. I owe you dinner sometime. See you around." Having thoroughly gotten under Nathan's skin, Reyna had no intention of going back inside. Who knew what kind of sickly-sweet display Nathan and Kylie might put on next? She honestly couldn't stomach the sight of it. Before Maxwell could respond, she turned and walked off, heading out the side door toward the parking lot. But that subtle, cool cologne of his still clung to the air behind her. She came to a stop, then turned, spotting Maxwell just a few steps away. "Mr. Hamilton, what are you doing? The banquet's not over. Why are you following me?" Maxwell looked down at her from his towering height. His dark eyes locked onto her delicate face with a heat that felt almost physical. "You said to pick up where we left off. Are you playing me again?" Reyna froze. Her pretty eyes flashed with disbelief. "Mr. Hamilton, we're both adults. I was just using you to piss off Nathan. Couldn't you tell?" She thought he knew, and maybe he would be annoyed or uncooperative. To her surprise, Maxwell nodded. "I could tell. So? Didn't I play along?" Reyna let out a slow breath. "And I thanked you, didn't I? The rest was just a joke." "But I took it seriously. Don't you think going through with it for real would make the revenge much more satisfying?" Maxwell replied with deadpan seriousness without a trace of amusement in his eyes. Reyna's heart skipped a beat, then she laughed exasperatedly. She stepped in, wrapping a finger around his tie and giving it a playful tug. With the help of her heels, she didn't have to crane her neck too much. Her red lips barely reached Maxwell's chin, but not an ounce of her presence was diminished. "Aren't you and Nathan best friends? And here you are, trying to sleep with his lover? Is that your thing, Mr. Hamilton?" Maxwell suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. He leaned in slightly, the tip of his nose brushing against her red lips as their eyes locked. "Don't you think that just makes it even more fun?"