I do what any sane woman does when she comes across a dilemma, and what one might consider emotional turmoil. I go shopping. River has seriously pissed me off. Not only is he tracking me, but he also took my fucking jewelry with him.

Clay and Vance walk behind me with multiple shopping bags. For the first time in a long time, I felt like casually browsing instead of booking appointments.

My eyes light up as I see one of my favorite stores. “Vance, you take the bags back to the car. Clay, you stay with me,” I instruct as I joyfully listen to my heels click against the pavement.

I stop short, my joy stripped away, when Amanza walks out of the store, blocking my view of the pretties inside.

“Anya?” she says, surprised. Why does this bitch keep popping up? Shouldn’t her brother be done with his business here so he can take her sorry ass out of the city? I mean, there are other ways I could ensure she leaves New York, but they’ll be messy and will require a body bag.

I bite the inside of my cheek. If I were to do that, it would royally piss River off. Then again, I might get punished. The kind I like.

No, stop thinking of River, I reprimand myself internally.

“Amanda, what a surprise.” I purposely say her name wrong, and I can tell it’s immediately pissed her off.

She appraises the excessive number of bags Vance walks by with before she looks back to me. I’m not sure what she wants me to say; I came here for some retail therapy, and usually no one recognizes me. Well, I should say no one has the balls to come up and talk to me. But this little blonde does for some reason.

“You’re shopping; doing normal stuff.” She laughs as she points at my bags. Again, I say nothing. “I’m kind of glad I’ve run into you, though. Look, you and River…” There it is, the real reason she wants to talk. “I get the attraction you have. Hell, I even get the appeal he has for you. You are stunning and powerful, but you two are both crazy. And two crazy people don’t mix. He needs someone calm, you know? To be his safe place when he comes home.”

“No, I do not know.” And I don’t. Not only for the fact she thinks she’s right in this scenario, but because she thinks she can tell me what to do.

I don’t take orders unless you plan to fuck me, and even that was an exception, and only for River.

“He has a life outside of this place. A mother he cares for deeply, who will not approve of someone like you.”

My eyebrows shoot up, and I’m actually shocked by how ballsy she is. Perhaps I underestimated her, or she mistakenly confused me for someone else. I raise my designer sunglasses so I can look her in the eyes as I say, “I’m sorry your pussy didn’t cut it for the man’s needs. I mean, I’m not attached to your momma’s boy, but you clearly are, and he still rejected you. It must be painful.”

I hit home as her gaze fills with fury.

“But since his indifference toward you isn’t completely clear, let’s call him, shall we, so there’s no room for misinterpretation? I’m often praised for my communication and problem-solving skills, you know,” I say, because this actually makes me want to fucking laugh.

If this woman had any idea or sense as to who I am, she would’ve run the other way.

“You don’t need—”

I cut her off. “No, I insist.” I press call on his number. It rings once and he answers. I put it on speaker, not even caring what he says.

“I knew it wouldn’t take long. Ready for that sweet cunt of yours to be filled to the brim again? What time should I come over, sweetheart?”

Amanza’s eyes go wide in shock.

“I’m here with your friend, and you’re on speaker,” I say once he finishes speaking.

“I don’t have many of those, so be more specific,” he says.

“Amanza, who was just warning me off you and insisting that we’re not a perfect match,” I tell him. “I just thought I would call and get your opinion on it. You know, since you were balls deep in me last night and all. Everything seemed to fit quiet perfectly then.”

Amanza is absolutely appalled, and I’m certain this is the last time she’ll ever approach me again.

“Is she there?” River asks.

“Oh yes, she can hear you.” I smile at her, and she looks around as people walk by, but I couldn’t care less. She’s the one who pulled me to the side like she had some claim on him. She can fucking have him for all I care. But I don’t take kindly to someone telling me what I should and should not have.

I suppose the same rings true regarding Meredith’s warnings about River Bently.

“Amanza,” he says pointedly.

“Yes. I’m here,” she replies as she pushes back a lock of her hair, and I try my hardest not to roll my eyes so hard at her in public.

“I’d suggest you don’t speak to Anya again if you wish for your brother to keep on breathing.” Her eyes go wide at his threat, and it fills me with an unfamiliar smugness.

“But—”

“But nothing. We fucked, and it was fun.”

“I’m sorry, what? It was fun?” I scoff. Amanza looks to be on the verge of tears from his words, whereas I want to strangle him.

“Take me off speaker, Anya,” he requests in the tone he uses when he orders me to bend over and do as he pleases.

“Fun,” I say, shaking my head, irked for some reason. What about this little pipsqueak could be fun? She looks like she’s about to burst into tears, and that alone should give me satisfaction. So why doesn’t it?

“Anya, we need to discuss last night,” he starts.

“No, thank you. Our agreement is over. Go and have some more fun with someone else.” I hang up.

He calls right back.

I don’t answer.

I run my hand over my hair, ensuring it’s still perfect. Amanza looks like her world has crumbled, and I don’t even need to threaten her, which is greatly disappointing. I almost feel sorry for her if she truly thinks River is as crazy as me. I step around her and walk into the store without another word.

Tip: You can use left, right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.Tap the middle of the screen to reveal Reading Options.

If you replace any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.

Report