Page 34 of Reckless Vow

“I should finalize the venue today. I’m about to meet with Cormac Quinn.” I drop the phone on the counter in the kitchen and hit the speaker icon, so I can make my coffee.

Thank God Mom has a top end espresso machine, because my taste in coffee couldn’t be satisfied on this side of the pond. I make a mental note to have my premier coffee beans shipped from Italy.

“I asked two questions.” Chloe has always been very efficient. One of the things I like about her. Not right now, though.

“As we discussed already, I’ll be working from here for the time being.”

“We didn’t discuss. You announced.”

“I’m your boss.”

“So, for years you resolutely declined all ideas of moving the business across the Atlantic, and now you not only decide to expand there, but you’re moving there? I thought you were going to scout the location and come back.”

I almost want to tell her I got married, just to enjoy her reaction.

“You were the one pestering me about expanding to the US. You bailed out of taking this trip last minute, forcing me to come. You’re the reason I’m here. You should be happy.”

We’ve had this conversation several times since I announced my decision to stay and oversee the project here, and she still hopes to fish something more out of me.

“I’m happy, but it’s just sudden and weird, and I think you’re not telling me something.”

Her heels echo through the line, and I can almost see her pacing her office in her smart business suit and stilettos.

Chloe mostly works from our office in Paris where she designed her space to her liking, including the extravagant marble floors. Completely unsuitable for an office, but Chloe loves to surround herself with luxury.

She started working for me as a waitress and worked her way up fair and square. We may have mixed work and pleasure on an occasion years ago, but we quickly realized our working relationship is too valuable to fuck up with sex.

“Chloe,” I warn.

“It’s just weird. There are people to schmooze and officials to wine and dine, and I can’t get it all done by myself. Find an American manager and come back.”

“If I remember correctly, I’m your boss, not the other way around. I got to go now, unless there is a relevant reason you called.”

She sighs and gives me an update on a few things she’s achieved, a few problems at some of our clubs and the top line business projections.

“You see, you’re doing great without me.”

“At least you’re still an asshole.”

I chuckle. “Have a lovely day, Chloe.”

I disconnect the call, glad she didn’t push further. Because I’m not going to explain myself to her.

I don’t understand how I got in this situation myself, so how do I tell someone who knows me well that I got married? On a whim?

Fucking idea of opening the club in New York. My entertainment enterprise has been thriving without me setting foot in America.

My mood is worse than it was when I woke up after tossing and turning for most of the night. The asshole in me whined that I turned Brook down. The noble me just didn’t want to argue the point anymore.

Before I leave the house, I call my concierge to start a search for an office in SoHo.

* * *

“So, what do you say?” Cormac Quinn leans against a dark counter in the cavernous space he’s trying to sell me on.

“I don’t know, Corm, you were talking about a premium waterfront property when we spoke last year. What happened to that?”

I walk around, looking for any signs of problems with the structure, already calculating how fast we can have this place up and running.

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