The Unwilling CEO's Love Game novel Chapter 42

"The steak's just meh; I can't finish it." Jocelyn pushed the steak towards Melvin again, "You've burned a ton of calories today. You better load up."

Melvin gave her a loaded glance as she flipped her hair and touched her neck, revealing a very noticeable love bite on her fair skin.

To Melvin, this little ploy was neither here nor there. She was probably just a tad jealous of his interactions with Willow.

"Is this your way of beefing me up?" Melvin played along, glancing at the plate she pushed over. The steak had barely been touched.

Jocelyn flashed him a smile, "Yeah. It's gonna be a long night, and I'm worried you won't last if you don't eat up."

She felt a bit sheepish saying that kind of thing in front of others.

But seeing Willow's face turn sour was a pretty nice bonus.

Willow was all bark and no bite when it came to facing her.

Melvin lifted an eyebrow, taking in Jocelyn's slightly staged demeanor. He cut up her steak and finished it off.

Their little exchange had Willow on pins and needles.

"So? Are you gonna invite them?" Willow switched the topic abruptly.

"Sure," Melvin said.

With a smile, Willow whipped out her phone, "I'll drop a message in the group chat."

Melvin didn't respond.

[Hey, you guys free tonight? I'm meeting up with Melvin for drinks. You in?] Willow sent a voice message.

She didn't mention Jocelyn.

Sipping her water, Jocelyn kept a watchful eye on Melvin from the corner of her eye as he polished off both steaks.

"They've sent a location in the group," Willow reminded Melvin.

Jocelyn caught the subtext in Willow's words. They had a small group chat, just the four of them.

Melvin checked his phone and then called the waiter over to pay the bill.

"You've had a drink, so ride with me," Willow said. "My assistant's driving."

Melvin glanced at Jocelyn, who was also looking at him.

"Let's book a ride."

"Huh?"

"You said no driving after drinking, right? I've had a drink, and so have you. We're not gonna push the car home, are we?" Melvin said, joking deadpan.

Jocelyn saw Willow's expression darken, quite pleased with Melvin's performance, and she reached out, "Hand me your phone."

Melvin stared at her but eventually pulled out his phone and handed it to her.

Jocelyn needed Melvin's face to unlock the phone, so she held it up to him, unlocked it, and booked a ride. Then she slipped the phone straight into his pocket.

It was a gesture full of intimacy and suggestive undertones.

They weren't holding hands or hugging, but the air between them was thick with flirtation.

To onlookers, it might seem Willow and Melvin were the ones most engaged, but only she knew she was the odd one out.

When they got to the parking garage, the ride was two minutes out.

Willow pointed to her car, "I'll head off first then."

"Alright."

Once Willow drove off, Jocelyn turned to Melvin with a smirk.

Melvin quirked an eyebrow, "Feeling smug?"

"Just a tad," Jocelyn replied, pinching her fingers together, "She did that on purpose."

Melvin huffed, "Don't make it too awkward for her."

"Are you worried about hurting her feelings?"

"We've still got to get along," Melvin said, spotting the ride approaching. He pulled open the back door, "In the adult world, it's not all about lovey-dovey stuff. More often, it's about interests and connections."

Jocelyn agreed with that.

Human nature is complex and hypocritical. You have to pretend to get along even when you don't like someone.

"As long as she doesn't put me on the spot, I won't," Jocelyn buckled up and looked at him, "I don't expect you to side with me, but I hope you won't side with her either."