Chapter 160 In The Flesh, Darling Reese Life’s easy when you’re certain the job’s already won. There’s something ego-inflating about it—knowing that whatever’s in front of you is going to crumble exactly how you planned. Just like the Penelope case. Or rather, the Penelope problem. Penny, my ex. Six years older than me, two shades colder, and one hell of a woman to break. Most men tremble in front of strong women like her. I don’t. I learned early that power looks intimidating until you figure out where the cracks are. You find the right buttons, and they’re suddenly the ones who unravel fastest. The ones who come undone quicker than anyone else. That’s the real thrill: watching the self-assured lose control and thanking you for it. Tonight, she was my task. My chess piece. My next success. I sat in a booth tucked into the back of the club, dim light throwing red glints on the whiskey glass in my hand as I watched her. From this angle, she couldn’t see me. But I saw everything. Every flick of her hair. Every disappointed glance at the door. Every minute she spent pretending she wasn’t waiting for someone who wasn’t coming. Her date—a married father of four—had mysteriously canceled an hour ago. And I might’ve had something to do with that. I’d caught the bastard outside earlier, cornered him right by the parking lot. Told him that if he didn’t leave, I’d make sure his wife knew every filthy thing he was planning to do tonight on his fake business trip. The man nearly tripped over his own shoes running to his car before I could finish the sentence. Pity. I was almost looking forward to watching her tear him apart when she found out. But this worked too. Penelope didn’t know he was married. She didn’t know she’d just dodged a scandal. She also didn’t know she was about to walk into a different kind of one. She had a big case tomorrow—she was on the defense team for Senator White’s golden boy, who decided drunk driving into a bus stop and killing someone was a fun hobby. The hearing was at 9 a.m., and my objective tonight was simple: make sure Penelope wasn’t at her sharpest. Preferably, make sure she was too sore—or too wrecked—to appear in court. And if she does make it to court, she’ll wish she hadn’t. I finished my drink, watching her from over the rim of the glass. She looked beautiful in that bored, elegant, unapproachable way women like her do when they think no one’s watching. Beige trench coat, glossy black heels, a faint gold shimmer at her collarbone that glinted under the lights. She’d dressed up expecting a night of flirting, maybe even sex. And instead, she got disappointment—and me. Her blind date’s absence was finally sinking in. She sat alone at the bar now, one manicured finger tracing the rim of her martini glass. The drink was half gone. Another one sat untouched beside it, condensation pooling at its base. Poor Penny. Always the picture of control—until someone pulled the rug out. She downed the first drink, then the second. Reached for her purse. And that was my cue. I stood, smoothed my jacket, and slipped through the crowd until I was right behind her. Close enough to smell her perfume—expensive, cool, and a little masculine. Just like old times. “Guess your date flaked,” I whispered against her ear. She froze. The faintest shiver ran through her. Then she turned, and my heart almost stopped.For a second, it wasn’t Penelope sitting there. It was Dahlia. For a split second, my chest constricted. The same mouth. Same jawline. Same eyes that used to look at me like she could see past my bullshit. The same eyes that used to stare at me like I was worth saving. Only this time, the woman in front of me wasn’t truly Dahlia. This was her shadow. Her bitter, angry and very much alive shadow. How the hell did Roman ever look at this woman for years and not see his dead wife staring back at him? Totally beats me. Her red-coated lips parted. “Reese.” I grinned. “In the flesh, darling.” She blinked, clearly thrown. “You’re here,” she whispered, then laughed lightly, nervously. “That’s… insane. Sorry, I’m just surprised. It’s been years.” I leaned against the bar, pretending to order a drink I had no interest in. “And yet, you haven’t aged a day. Must be all the bottled-up rage.” Her eyes narrowed. “Still charming women you have no business talking to?” “Still pretending you don’t miss me?” I fired back instantly. Her lips twitched like she wanted to smile but refused to give me the satisfaction. Instead, she glanced away, color rising in her cheeks as she scanned the club. “Did Roman send you here? Did he put you up to this? Is that why you’re here—to spy?” She scoffed, tossing her hair back. “How stupid do you both think I am?” I lifted my hands in mock surrender. “Relax. I come in peace, Penny. My brother and I barely speak. You of all people know that. He’s sworn to hate me, and honestly, it’s mutual—balance restored. So unless Roman’s paying in gold bars, I’m not his errand boy. Don’t accuse me of dancing to his tune because I’d honestly rather drink bleach.” I turned as if to leave, slow enough for her to stop me. And she did. Her hand shot out, fingers wrapping around my wrist—tight, almost desperate. “Reese, wait.” I turned slightly, not letting her see the hint of a smirk curling my mouth. “What now? Got more insults to add to the list?” “No. I’m sorry.” Her voice dropped. “I’ve just been very cautious lately.” “Cautious?”She sighed. “Roman and I had a fight. A bad one. And I can’t help but feel he’s planning something bad.” I slid into the chair beside her, resting my elbows on the bar. “That’s odd. I never thought I’d live to see the day Roman and his perfect bestie didn’t see eye to eye.” Her expression twisted. “It’s because of her. His fiancée.” She spat it out like poison. “She’s turned him into a total stranger.” I chuckled softly. “Ah, yes. The mystery girl everyone’s talking about.” “She’s changed him,” Penelope said bitterly. “He’s not the same man anymore. She’s making him lose his mind.” “Love does that,” I said, and reached for her hand. “Remember how we used to be, Penny? Wild and crazy in love.” She flinched slightly, jerking her hand back before our fingers met. “I remember all too well. And I also remember how you dumped me and started sleeping with my sister instead.” And there it was again. The sting of that absurd rumor. That disgusting, persistent lie that had followed me lately like a bad smell.