Page 9 of Rivals Next Door

My frown deepened at the ominous note in his voice. I then roll my eyes. “You worry about me too much. I’m touched, really, but… stop. I’ll be fine and richer in a few months.” I grinned as if Jamie could see me.

After a long pause, he sighed and said, “Okay… We’ll talk later.”

After I hung up, I continued to stare out the window, but this time I wasn’t admiring the view. I became lost in thought about Jamie’s obvious worry and then I recalled my meeting with Olivia after nine years. The mild concern about my friends’ warning resurfaced, but I shoved it aside. Despite old feelings being dredged up, I was too pissed at her to be deterred.

She underestimated me as most people in her world did. Well, it was my world now too. The exclusive sphere of the one-percenters is what I used to call it. A lot of them laughed and looked down their wealthy noses at me when I launched my start-up. I ignored them because I knew I’d have the last laugh. Here I was, richer than most of them who doubted me.

However, I felt no satisfaction about that fact… not as I thought I would when I was younger and clawing my way to the top. It was because, during my climb, Olivia was the one whom I ultimately wanted to prove something to. When it came down to it, I didn’t give a shit about anyone else’s opinion.

Shit. Did I delude myself into thinking that she no longer had a hold over me?

“Son of a…” I violently pushed my chair back and stood up. I wouldn’t allow her to creep back in and burrow under my skin. Never again. I had to get out of here and distract myself with my favorite hobby. Sex. Another woman was sure to drive all thoughts of Olivia out of my head until I was ready to destroy her.

I couldn’t believe this shit. I hit my favorite strip club—no shame here—for a distraction, and what did I end up doing? I talked about Olivia fucking Brentwood. Jesus Christ!

“So, how long did you say you two dated?” asked the woman sitting across from me.

“Three years,” I sighed. I spent the last thirty minutes reliving my college romance and venting about the way it ended.

Candy, a stripper—that’s right, my favorite one, nodded and stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray on the small table beside her. We were in a booth that afforded us relative privacy. This wasn’t the typical seedy tittie bar. This one was more upscale, and there were rules.

Security was stationed close enough to the private booths in case anyone got it into their heads to want more than dancing from the ladies. You had to pay extra for more than a dance. I wasn’t into any of that. I simply came here for the drinks and to ogle the magnificent female form without touching. I never paid for pussy… ever.

Candy swept her platinum blonde hair over one shoulder. She sat back, her expression thoughtful. “Three years… for people like you and me, that’s a goddamn eternity.”

I snorted my amusement and took a sip of my drink. “People like you and me?”

She shrugged. “People who might wither at the mere mention of commitment.”

I snorted again, but I didn’t comment because she wasn’t wrong.

“However…” She held up a finger. “You dated Olivia for three years. She meant a lot to you.”

“I was eighteen… just a kid. I was young and stupid.”

My excuse didn’t fly with Candy. She arched perfectly shaped eyebrows. “The way you downplay your feelings indicates that you’re full of shit. You loved the hell out of that woman.”

My eyes narrowed on Candy’s face. This was why she was my favorite stripper… I actually had conversations with her… you know, when she wasn’t jiggling her tits in my face. We had a strange dynamic, one my friends thought was crazy yet hilarious. They were used to my eccentricities. It was just in my nature to have therapy sessions with an exotic dancer.

“Fine, I did love her… like crazy. Olivia was the first woman and only woman I’ve ever loved.”

“So, she’s the reason you frequent this club and pick up one-night stands…” Candy deduced as she idly swung the leg she had crossed over the other.

“You’ve been keeping an eye on me, Candy?”

“Uh-huh.” She lifted slender shoulders. “I like you, Alex. I may gyrate in front of you naked for tips, but you’re not like a lot of the guys who come in here. You treat us like human beings… like ladies. You’re always respectful.”

I blinked as I was hit with a blast from the past. “I like you, Alex. You’re always respectful.” I’d heard those words before. That’s what Olivia said to me the night I took her home when I ran into her outside that frat party. I guess she was surprised that I didn’t make a move on her that same night after finding out she was no longer dating that Ken doll.

“Well, Candy, of course, I’m respectful of women. Even at thirty, my mother will still box my ears if she finds out I’ve done otherwise.” And I had the utmost respect for Fiona Knight, my amazing mother…

I felt eyes on me, and I glanced at the burly security guard watching us. His gaze narrowed on me as he gave me a disapproving frown. The employees weren’t supposed to just sit around chatting with customers, I suppose.

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I yanked out a few fifties and put them on the table. I then gave the guy glowering at me a pointed glare and he looked away.

Candy smirked. “That’s a hefty tip.”

“Well, you’ve earned it, sweetheart. Thanks for listening.” God knew I couldn’t vent to any of my buddies about Olivia.

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