This was how it would always be, I realized. No one in Rhys’s previous or current circle would ever believe he would date someone like me, and no one in mine would believe I’d date someone like him.

“Well, it was nice to see you.” Adriana flicked a look at me. “And meet you.” She turned to Fairchild. “We’ll talk later about the Hamilton deal.”

Fairchild nodded and watched her walk away. She was something to watch. He turned to us. “What a woman.” He winked at Rhys. “You’ve got an ‘in’ there.”

My jaw dropped.

It might have even made a sound hitting the floor.

Rhys’s hold on me tightened. “Not meaning any disrespect, sir, but I’m not sure that’s the kind of thing I like you saying in front of my girl.”

Fairchild blinked and then stared at me as if he were seeing me for the first time. “Oh. Of course. I meant no harm by it. My apologies.” My boss gave me the first genuine smile I’d ever received from him. “Very rude of me.”

“It’s quite alright,” I lied because I’d been raised to accept an apology when it was given. And also because I was still trying to impress this man even if that made me feel like a sell-out.

“Yes, yes, Jackson has been very impressed by you, Parker. And if you managed to make this man settle down,” he said, slapping Rhys on the shoulder, “then that’s truly impressive.”

Thankfully, he told us he’d be right back and disappeared so I could turn to Rhys and growl my frustration.

A real, honest-to-goodness growl.

My fake date snorted.

“It’s not funny,” I hissed, turning toward the water. “He’s despicable. I’m suddenly worthy of his attention because I’m not just some girl you’re taking ‘for a ride’ but someone you are serious about. He is everything that is male and white and privileged and wrong about this country.”

Rhys leaned on the railing, his arm brushing mine. “Then why are you trying to impress the guy? You got money to tide you over while you find another job.”

I looked at him, startled to find his face so close. His proximity afforded me the opportunity to study his eyes. There was a ring of light golden brown around the inner iris that I’d never noticed before. The vivid pale green of the outer iris swam into the golden brown, so startling you could never call them hazel.

Mossy green, I thought.

A beautiful mossy green.

And naturally soulful too. A woman could fall into those eyes if she wasn’t careful.