I sigh deeply. He’s probably right. It’s not like I’ll never have to see Alexander again after we leave Vegas. I’m still his employee. I’ll need to stand my ground and prepare myself for when I see him at work so that he knows that I’m not someone he can shove around and bend to his will.

“Okay, but I think I’m going to need another drink,” I say.

“That’s the spirit,” Yamada praises before grabbing my hand and towing me back through the crowd. “I’ve got to take a leak. Go get that drink.”

As soon as Yamada walks off, I step up to the bar and order a shot of tequila, needing to drink myself into oblivion if I’m going to coexist in the same room with Alexander.

I sense him before I feel him, and there’s no question who has just flanked my side. Alexander’s chest pushes against my arm. His spicy cologne fills my nose and my mouth waters.

Gah! Stop it! Even his damn scent is sexy.

“I’m surprised to find you still here,” Alexander growls into my ear. “I figured you’d be holed up in your room down in our sex den.”

I turn and level my stare with his. His eyes hold so many questions—ones I’m sure he’s waiting for me to answer—but I’m not going to give him what he wants. Instead I decide to do a little teasing of my own. “Yamada’s argument for me to stay was very compelling.”

He obviously wasn’t expecting that response because he raises both of his eyebrows and he licks his lips nervously. “And what, might I ask, did he say to you?”

I shrug. “That’s between Yamada and me. We’re really bonding, you know. I’m sure it won’t be long now before he considers me a friend too and cuts my father a deal instead of you.”

Instead of getting mad like I expect, Alexander chuckles. I grip the counter a little tighter than needed be to keep myself from smacking his condescending face yet again.

“Margo, I really wish you would stop trying to outdo me in everything. You’ll eventually learn that I always win. It’s silly for you to keep expelling energy on any other outcome. I get my way in all things.”

I roll my eyes. “That’s not possible. Everyone loses at some point or another.”

Alexander smiles. “Not me.”

“Well, neither do I,” I say just as the bartender sets my shot down. I instantly pick it up and throw it back.

“Whoa. You might want to slow down there, lightweight, or you really will be throwing up later.”

I scowl at him. “Don’t tell me what to do. Besides, I can probably hold my liquor better than you can.

He smiles. “Is that so?”

I give him a curt nod. “Absolutely.”

Okay, so maybe I was exaggerating a bit here, but I refuse to let him get the best of me.

“Well, you’ll just have to prove that to me then.” Alexander holds up five fingers to the bartender and then points down to my empty glass before looking back at me. “To make it fair since I’m quite a bit bigger than you, I’ll drink two shots for every one of yours.”

The bartender sets five tequila-filled shots in front of us, and Alexander does two of them immediately and then flips the glasses upside down on the counter before pushing another shot over to me. “Now we’re even. Ready to prove me right? First one to puke, loses.”

“You’re on.” I pick up one of the shots and tip it back with ease. “Hope you’re prepared for that pride of yours to get crushed when I kick your overconfident ass.”

Alexander takes the other two shots, but his eyes stay trained on me the entire time. “And just so you know, I’m not one of those romantic bastards who will hold back your hair when you’re praying to the porcelain god.”

I wrinkle my nose at him. “I don’t plan on doing that anytime soon.”

The sound of bowling pins falling catches Alexander’s attention and his eyes light up. “Come on. Let me kick your ass at bowling too.”

After three games of bowling, I find myself genuinely having a good time hanging out with Alexander. The more we drank, the more fun I had, even though I’ll never admit that to him. He’s actually pretty entertaining when he drops the world’s biggest prick act.

“We need more drinks,” Alexander announces after he bowls the last ball, winning his second game out of the three we played. “I believe I just won our little competition. I’ll be back. Let me know if you want me to kick your ass again when I get back.”

I laugh, staring after him as he walks away to get more drinks. His ass in the dark-washed jeans he’s wearing looks amazing.

I plop down in the chair as I wait on Alexander to bring the drinks, and Yamada appears in front of me. “Looks like someone’s having fun now.”

I shake my head and attempt to scowl, but a smile keeps popping up. “No. I’m having zero fun.”

Yamada’s expression is one of disbelief as he sits down next to me. “Then what was all the laughing Yamada heard over here?”

“Oh, that.” I wave him off dismissively. “That was just Alexander wiggling his ass a little before he took every shot to distract me. It was so ridiculous that I couldn’t help laughing.”

“Shot number seven for the lady and thirteen and fourteen for me,” Alexander says as he approaches Yamada and me with three shots.

Everything around me is a little cloudy and I know all the liquor is messing with me big time, but I’m doing my best to pretend that it’s not.