Page 35 of The Billionaire Babe

“Valerie! I told you that you are to be married. You are not taking any of my calls, and then I see this!” he yells, throwing photos onto his desk. I don’t move, but my eyes lower, and I see images of me getting off the back of AJ’s bike in front of my apartment. Of us kissing. It is dark, they are blurry, but there is no mistaking it is AJ and me. At first, I think it must be Victor who has taken them, and I feel the familiar sense of betrayal from a man I consider a close ally, but no, they are photos taken from the other side of the street. I can see Victor in the background of a few.

My eyes flick back to my father, whose hands are on his hips. I keep my features schooled, not wanting to give him anything. The number of calls that my father has made to me has been astronomical, and I have ignored each and every one. I did make the mistake of listening to his voicemail. He never leaves a message and his seething tone at me ignoring him was chilling as I listened, enough to almost have me run to the bathroom and empty the contents of my stomach.

“I am not playing at anything,” I answer his original question.

He stares at me, his nostrils wide. “You are on the back of a fucking motorcycle. You are kissing a nightclub bouncer on the curb.”

“He is not a nightclub bouncer,” I say, even though, yes, technically, he is, but he is so much more.

“Oh, I know everything there is to know about AJ Steele.” I start to panic a little. “And let me tell you, if you keep up this fucking charade, there will be consequences.” I remain silent, biting my tongue. Now is the time to be smart. Not emotional.

“It’s just one last fling before I get married. You told me I have a few months. After I am wed, my life changes forever.” The lies on my tongue taste bitter, but I need to play the game. The fact that he already knows who AJ is concerns me. AJ is big and tough enough to fight anyone, but I know my father. He wouldn’t play fair.

My father’s shoulders lower, and he takes a big breath. “Just stop acting like a slut in public. I will be moving up the timeline. William Schmidt is going to be back in town soon and expects a better greeting from you when he is here. I had to practically grovel to get him to come back and you will not act indifferent to him again. Until then, pull yourself together. Stop eating carbs and stop liaising with the poor people in town. You might catch something,” he says, sitting at his desk and picking up his phone, signifying the end of the conversation.

I turn and walk out the door, strutting to my office, my nails digging into my palms. I thought I disliked my father before. I thought he was being irrational and demeaning, and I didn’t like the way he treated me or others. But now, with the way he talks about AJ, my blood boils. I don’t care where AJ lives. I don’t care that he works in security and is not some Wall Street finance guy or oil baron. AJ has already treated me better than all the other men in my life and that has to count for something.

18

AJ

Her text comes through, and I throw my cue stick to Cody so he can finish the game of pool with Brady.

“Girls are here,” I tell them as I walk away and make my way to the front door. Jordie’s is packed tonight. I see some regulars, but it’s mostly full of people kick-starting their weekend with too much liquor and not enough class.

“Look at him running…” Brady comments, and I flick him a scowl, which turns into a smirk as I see the black eye he sports from where I hit him at the gym.

I nod to the bouncers and push open the door as I see her pull up. She is hard to miss in her blacked-out Mercedes G-Wagon, and I watch as she and her friends spill out of the car. Last time I saw them all together was at Chloe’s store event, where they were all in dresses, high heels, and full of glamour. Tonight, as they all walk toward me, they are still too overdressed for this place, but in jeans and jackets, they are somewhat more subdued.

“Hey, big guy,” Val says, her smile wide as she looks up at me. Fuck, she takes my breath away. Her long hair is all slicked back into a long, straight, glossy ponytail flowing down her back.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I murmur, kissing her on the forehead as my hand automatically finds her waist.

“Ohhh, look, they even have pet names for each other already!” Simone jokes as the other two grin.

“Girls.” I pull Val behind me and into the bar, the three of them following.

The music is loud, and I lead them through the crowd to where the boys are sitting by the pool table we have commandeered.

“Now the party is starting!” Cody says, smiling at the girls.

“Beer?” Brady asks, and the girls nod.

“I’ll help,” Chloe says, and the two of them walk off to the bar. I see Simone is already chatting with Jimmy, which looks interesting. Any usual Friday night, we would all be at Club Vine, and Jimmy and the boys will go there later. But I will be going straight home to bed after a few hours to prepare for the fight.

“What happened to Brady’s eye?” Val asks.

“He ran into my fist,” I tell her, and she looks shocked before she laughs.

“I don’t need to know, right?” she asks, and I shake my head.

“Nope. Not at all.” I take a swig of my drink.

“What a place,” Val says, looking around.

“Let me guess, your father wouldn’t approve of this place either?” I tease.

“Not one bit. But I love it regardless of what he thinks.” She smiles, looking up at me. She looks good when she is happy. Relaxed and at ease. She is glowing.

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