After assuring Maja that everything was okay, she gives me a chocolate babka as we leave. Emanuel thinks we’re going to share it, but I’m actually going to eat it under my desk while I avoid an inbox full of emails.

“I didn’t get a chance to tell you this morning,” Emanuel starts as we exit the elevator and walk towards the conference room, “but you look wrecked.”

“Thanks, Manny. I feel wrecked.”

“Late night?”

“I went out with Joey and her friends. Too much free champagne.”

“That’ll do it.”

It didn’t help that I got no sleep. I tossed and turned until I heard Joey get up for her morning spin class. I almost invited myself along.

Almost.

I couldn’t get the taste of Levi out of my mouth. Mostly, I couldn’t get Asher off my mind. He never returned my calls. I didn’t expect him to, but a small part of me hoped, which just led to disappointment and anger.

We were never real.

That’s what I keep telling myself.

I cut Emanuel loose before we get to the conference room. It doesn’t take two people to unpack a few paper bags. And I’m a nice person, and I’m grateful that he’s been helping out with my workload while I’ve been helping Billie organize the gala.

But as soon as I turn into the room, I realize that being nice got me nowhere.

Asher has his back to the door, but Levi’s eyes catch mine immediately. His lips curve devilishly. I almost vomit on my babka.

“Livi.”

Asher’s neck cranes enough for our eyes to meet for a moment. He looks exhausted. Like he tossed and turned all night.

Good.

I hope he has puffy eyes for days.

Because I will not be there to buy him a stupidly expensive jade facial roller.

“I can’t stop thinking about that little black dress you wore last night,” Levi says. “I had high hopes I’d see it again today. I had higher hopes that I’d see it on my bedroom floor.”

It’s easy to ignore him when I see Asher’s face fall out of the corner of my eyes. For someone who looked like he wanted to watch me fall down an elevator shaft mere seconds ago, he suddenly looks awfully concerned that I’d spent the night in the same vicinity as Levi Booker.

“What’s with the look, Ash?” Levi says. “There’s plenty of her to go around.”

When he grabs my ass, my entire body goes cold. I don’t say anything. I can’t speak. I can’t think. I can’t move. I’m just there. Existing as an object for Levi to touch and grope at his pleasure.

“Get your hands off of her.” Asher’s voice fills the room.