I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 159

Chapter 159

Emery’s POV

“Yeah, baby.. just like that.” Snap.

Romano circled the bed like a shark who’d smelled blood, except his blood was apparently good lighting.

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“You’re fantastic. Now give me attitude,” he said, flicking his fingers dramatically. Snap. “Show them confidence. Make the world jealous.”

I bit down on a smile and shifted on the bed, the sheets cool under my thighs. The shimmering robe pooled around me like liquid glitter, and the white lingerie underneath was the kind of pretty that made you stand taller without even trying.

Romano was our hype man and our photographer, two jobs he took equally seriously.

“Ooooh, I love it,” he said, voice loud enough to wake the dead. He leaned closer, squinting at the screen, then nodded like he’d just solved a murder mystery. “Yes. This is money.”

We were shooting for Anastasia, and I had to give it to them, they made lingerie that was actually comfortable and still sexy as hell. The kind that made men come in their pants.

Romano shuffled sideways, taking shots from different angles, his mustache practically moving with the energy. If there was anything he loved more than that inustache, it was photography

And he was good.

The first time he shot us in Paris, the brand team had looked at the photos and basically said, Yep. That’s our guy.

“Okay, okay… good… good,” Romano muttered, moving around the bed. Then he stopped and pointed at me like I was on stage. “Goddess. One more.”

I lifted a brow. “One more is never one more with you.”

He gasped like I’d insulted his bloodline. “How dare you. I am a professional.”

“Sure,” I said, deadpan. “A professional menace.”

Romano ignored me, because he always did when he was in his zone. “Kneel on the bed,” he instructed. “And open the robe a little. I want a better view of the lingerie.”

I rolled my eyes but did it anyway, shifting onto my knees, posture tall, shoulders back. I loosened the robe just enough, letting it fall open like I wasn’t trying at all.

Romano’s camera clicked like crazy.

Snap. Snap, Snap.

“Yes,” he murmured, voice deep like he was watching a masterpiece being painted. “Perfecto.”

I laughed softly and was just about to climb off the bed, ditch the beautiful, sexy robe, and change into something comfortable like my T-shirt and sweatpants. Now I would kill to magically appear in them. But right on cue, Gia walked in wearing the sexiest red lingerie I’d ever seen. I swear, that girl had some kind of special-effect halo every time she stepped into a room, and judging by the way the crew stared like they’d been hypnotized, they saw it too.

Romano glanced up and grinned. “Ahhh. The she devil arrives.”

Gia smiled sweetly. “I’m offended.”

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16.16 Wed, Mar

Chapter 159

“You should be,” I muttered, but I couldn’t stop the grin.

Gia’s eyes flicked over me, and she made an approving sound. “Okayyy, Em. I see you.”

I felt my cheeks warm, but I kept my chin up like I was unbothered. “Don’t start.”

“I’m not starting,” she said, still smirking. “I’m appreciating-Wai don’t move.”

I blinked. “What is it?”

“Just a minute,” she said, already pulling her phone out like she was on a mission.

I groaned, holding the pose like my knees weren’t screaming. “Really, Gia?”

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She gave me that innocent smile that was never actually innocent. “Don’t argue. You look sexy in this position. I have to.”

“You have to.” I repeated, deadpan.

“Yes,” she said, stepping closer, squinting at her screen. “It’s my job as your friend to document your hotness.”

Romano made an offended sound like she’d threatened his career. “Excuse me? I am the professional here.”

Gia didn’t even look at him. “Relax, mustache man. I’m just doing behind-the-scenes.”

Romano gasped. Literally gasped. “Mustache man?!” He clutched his chest dramatically. “Mademoiselle, you wound me.”

I stayed still while Gia clicked away, my face neutral even though I could feel myself slipping into a smile.

“Okay,” I muttered, trying not to laugh. “Are we done?”

“Almost,” Gia said, circling like she was directing a movie. “Chin up. Yes. That’s the angle. Hold it… hold it…”

I stared at the ceiling like I was praying for patience.

Finally, she lowered her phone and grinned. “Perfecto. Just like Romano said.”

Romano sniffed, leaning in like he couldn’t let her have a win. “Not exactly, mademoiselle. The r should be more pronounced. It’s perrrrfecto.”

Gia rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. “Of course, Romano.”

I let out a laugh, finally dropping my shoulders. “You two are exhausting.”

Romano pointed at Gia with his camera like he was accusing her in court. “She started it.”

Gia pointed right back. “He breathes drama. It’s his brand.”

Honestly, watching them was like watching two cats trapped in the same room, constantly hissing, but somehow still inseparable.

Romano and Gia were the definition of love-hate.

They argued like it was cardio… but if either of them disappeared for five minutes, the other would be the first to ask where they went.

****

Back in the dressing room, my phone beeps, and it’s a message from Atlas, nothing serious, just a picture of apple pie. He’s currently in Canada for a game.

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16:16 Wed, Mar 4 2.

Chapter 159

Atlas Lawson: blah… what did you do to me, Collins? I can’t even have a nice pie again.

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