Reject My Alpha President (Iris and Arthur) novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Iris

I consider turning around and leaving the bar, but Arthur spots me before I have a chance, and

waves me over. Partially driven by curiosity and maybe slightly driven by the mate bond tugging

on me insistently, I sigh and make my way over to him.

“Iris,” he says, standing as 1 approach. He pulls my chair out for me, as if we’re in a fancy

restaurant. “You came.”

I take my seat, trying my best to ignore the sensation of goosebumps raising on my exposed

skin as his eyes skim across my outfit. I’m not sure why I assumed that Arthur would invite me,

his sordid human mistress, to a nice enough place for a dress like this.

Wishful thinking, I guess. The sort of thinking I thought I squashed like a bug over the past five

years, but it still occasionally rears its ugly head.

“Your Beta said you wanted to talk,” I say.

Arthur nods, then waves over the waiter. He orders a cocktail for himself, then gestures to me.

“Water, please,” I say, to which Arthur responds with a raised eyebrow.

“Just water?”

“Yes. Just water.”

“I’ll pay for more.”

“I don’t want more.”

Arthur seems to give up and sighs, signalling the waiter to leave. Once we’re alone, there’s a

brief, uncomfortable silence. I try not to fidget too much in my chair.

Finally, I glance around the smokey, dim–lit bar and say, “Why did you choose this place?”

+20 Bonus

Arthur shrugs. “It’s an ideal spot for not being recognized. It’s packed, dark, and the patrons here aren’t likely to look too

closely.”

“Right,” I say slowly, suddenly regretting agreeing to this at all. It’s obvious to me that my brief moment of hope that he might actually try to make things right was completely misguided. “So this is the ideal sort of place to bring your mistress.”

I shoot him a withering glare. “I thought I made it perfectly clear that I have no interest in being your human mistress. Honestly, I shouldn’t have even come here.”

Arthur hesitates for a moment, his mouth working as if he’s struggling with what to say. I make no effort to hide my impatience

as I wait. Finally, he says, “You signed a contract at Marsiel today, didn’t you?”