All Chapters of Empire State Enemies: An Enemies-to-Lovers Billionaire Roman: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

An hour deep, and I’m cranking out charm on autopilot—laughing at terrible jokes, stroking egos left and right. The alcohol’s doing its thing, loosening everyone up.Tonight, though, the mask feels suffocating. These events used to be easy. Now the banal small talk grates, my social skills corroding by the day.If the doctors are right, there might come a time when I can’t even play this game anymore.I grab another whiskey, having lost count somewhere between the mayor’s speech and the wasted socialite inviting me back for the best head of my life—her words, not mine. My drinking hand clearly missed the moderation memo tonight.Can’t really fault it, though, not with who’s up ahead.Senator Madison, in all his artificially tanned, bleached-teeth glory. The guy thinks he’s the best thing to happen to this state, a self-righteous blowhard with his head jammed firmly up his own asshole.Killian gives me a low-key nod, both of us thrilled about having to suck up to this guy. So I plaster

Vallure PR does crisis management for celebs caught pants-down in alleys, parks, and restrooms. We’re basically a PR firm for morons who never grasped zippers.There was the boyband member caught in a compromising position with an inflatable doll—that was “artistic exploration.”The family-friendly comedian snapped with a sex worker was just “discussing scripts.”The naked politician found ass-up in a fountain was “researching architecture.”Such is life.I carefully compose my features into polite interest as Vicky and Brooke volley tasks about rehabbing Gina’s rep. I jot down notes for the rest of the meeting, hoping to redeem myself after this morning’s lateness.Kayla discreetly clears her throat beside me.Vicky’s head whips around, eyes flashing. “Don’t interrupt.”Kayla’s eyes widen. “Oh, I wasn’t! Just had a little tickle in my throat.”Vicky’s face is frozen, but a muscle in her jaw ticks. “That’s nice. Any other bodily outbursts to share before we proceed?”“No,” Kayla says

Except for the girls in marketing who have been ogling me like I wandered through stark-ass nude just for them. At this rate, I should start charging for the show, considering how many flushed faces I’ve seen today.Does a single damn employee have actual revenue-generating work, or has today’s main event just become watching me react to the latest tabloid fodder?As I lock eyes with one of the accountants, her eyes widen like she’s seen the Candyman, not her boss. And there goes her giant Smartwater, spilling across the desk. Maybe HR needs to vet for steadier hands during interviews.I raise an eyebrow at her, and she dives for cover behind her screen.What a damn mess this morning’s turned into. I’ve had Killian in my ear for a solid hour ranting about “recklessness” and “reputation hemorrhaging.”Sure, the leaked audio mess is on me. The idiot behind it has been ID’d, and by the end of the day, they’re going to deeply regret ever crossing me.Stepping out onto the executive floor,

I don’t miss Willow’s grateful smile his way. My hands clench the laptop harder.“What kind of man preys on a young woman like her?” The senator is working himself into an impressive frenzy now, looking like someone should hook him up to a blood pressure cuff.Tense silence follows, everyone assuming it’s rhetorical. We stay frozen, as if sudden motions might set either of them off.The guy next to me crosses his arms, and I hear a weird squelching sound from his armpit. I hope to god everyone knows that wasn’t me.Even I have to admit, the man’s going overboard. Willow’s not exactly a kid—she’s what, twenty-four? Two years younger than me. But she just sits there, not moving a muscle.Vicky opens and closes her mouth wordlessly.“She’s too good for you, Quinn!” He jabs a sausage finger Connor’s way, trying to spear him from across the table. “Who do you think you are?” Each word is punctuated with spit flying across the table.“I don’t argue that,” Connor grits out. “Your daughter’s

TWELVEConnor“Dad, let’s give them some privacy, shall we?” Willow guides her father out, shooting me a sweet smile.“Appreciate it, Willow,” I say, my gratitude genuine.Vicky and Brooke look ready to piss themselves as I shut the door, leaving me alone with Little Miss Thief. She’s clearly not trotted out for major clients often.“Sit.”She bristles. “I’m not a dog.”“No, you’re more of a sneaky little honey badger stealing what isn’t yours.”Panic flashes in those expressive eyes before she quickly masks it. “I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.”“I think you do. Sit down.”Reluctantly, she perches on the edge of her chair, laptop balanced precariously on her lap.I position myself between her and any possible escape route, casually leaning against the table.Is this all part of some setup? The car, the leaked audio, her sudden appearance on Willow’s team . . . What the hell is really going on here? Is one of our competitors trying to screw me over in some elaborate scheme?