A Woman Scorned

Part 6

The moment Billy spotted you and Roger sitting at the corner table, his mood soured. The two of you were engaged in deep conversation, his chair next to yours so you could study his Ipad as he showed you something on it. You nodded at times, your focus entirely on the screen, and every once in a while Roger would smirk at you like he was imagining you naked. It pissed Billy off so much he had to fight the urge to go over and sucker punch the fucker.

For someone so brilliant, he wondered how you could be so gullible when it came to Roger. How could you not notice the guy was hardcore hung up on you? Not that Billy could blame him for falling for you. But you should have exercised more caution and not socialized with the prick outside of work. After all, you had a stellar reputation within the industry to protect and the last thing you needed was for people to wonder if you moved up so quickly due to your own merit or your relationship with Roger. You worked hard and deserved all the recognition you received and it wasn't fair to you that people would question your brilliance. Except you didn't seem worried about that at all which infuriated Billy.

"Which one are you spying on?"

Hearing Dinah's question, Billy dragged his attention away from you and back to the brunette sitting in front of him. Usually they hooked up every few weeks but ever since the gala, neither had reached out to the other. When she'd called this morning wanting to meet up and talk, he'd suggested meeting at Piatti.

"Him or her?" Dinah prodded.

"Both," he replied, intending to cast a quick glance in your direction only to find you smiling at Roger the prick. A beautiful, dazzling, flirtatious smile that would unmistakably give the asshole the wrong idea about you.

"Billy, are you okay?" Dinah asked, watching him with concern.

"Yeah. Fine. Why?"

"You look angry."

He shook his head, plastering on a fake smile. "You worried about me, Madani?"

"Should I be?"

"Be careful. I might start to think you're falling for me." He leaned in closer, reminding himself how easy it was to be with her. He and Dinah always had a good time, the sex was great, and there were no complications in the relationship. She didn't crawl into his head and take up permanent residence the way you had. She didn't demand things of him he wasn't prepared to give. The arrangement with Dinah was simple, casual and perfect, just the way he preferred.

"About that..." Dinah cleared her voice. "We need to stop seeing each other."

He cocked his eyebrow. "Why is that?"

"Because I've met someone."

Dinah's words barely registered in his mind as he noticed you walking away from the table and heading for the staircase that led downstairs. "Hold that thought. I'll be right back." Billy walked across the restaurant, following the same path you did. The restrooms were located on the level below, and once he reached the floor, he found it empty. Leaning against the wall next to the women's bathroom, he waited for you to come out. When you exited a few minutes later, he grabbed you by the waist and pulled you against him. Right away you started struggling, kicking him, attacking him, even starting to scream if not for his hand covering your mouth. It took a few seconds for Billy to subdue you and it was then he spotted the sheer terror on your face. When you pushed him off this time, he stepped back right away.

"What are you doing?" Your hand was on your chest, your breathing rapid as you struggled to catch your breath.

Billy felt horrible. You were rightfully jumpy since the incident yesterday. "Shit. I wasn't thinking-"