Page 65 of Bought and Broken

Tate glances at me, smirking.

“Perhaps the afternoon.”

My cheeks heat as the man chuckles. “Of course, sir. I’ll be around all day tomorrow, so whenever you’re ready, just call down. Louise here will finish getting you checked in.”

“Thank you, Mr. Rue.”

“It’s my pleasure, Mr. Winters. Enjoy your stay.”

The man smiles at me and says something quietly to Louise before heading to the back. Louise gets busy on her computer, doing whatever she needs to do. I nudge Tate with my elbow.

“Mr. Big Shot, huh?” I say quietly.

The corner of his lips twitch with a smile.

“Here are your room keys, Mr. Winters. You’ll be in the suite on the top floor. Beautiful view, especially on a day like today when it’s clear skies. As Mr. Rue said, if there is anything you need, please call. I’ll be here until eleven tonight, and I’ll be sure to let the person coming on shift know you’re here.”

“I appreciate that, Louise. You have a great night.” He takes the key cards and our bags.

“You too, Mr. Winters.”

We make our way to the elevator, and Tate presses the button for the top floor—thirty-five. Words flash across the screen above the numbers.

TAP KEY CARD FOR ENTRY.

Tate taps the key card against the reader and the elevator moves up.

“I never understood why some of these places skip the thirteenth floor. Don’t they realize that numbering the floor fourteen doesn’t make it the fourteenth floor? It’s still the thirteenth.”

Tate chuckles, causing me to smile.

“What?” I say, looking over at him.

“Just expected you to make a smart remark about the way I was treated down there.”

“Do you forget who my father is? I’m used to it.”

He nods. “That is a good point.”

“Let me guess… all your other girls would get all goo-goo eyed over it?”

His response is to smile, but he says nothing. I know I’m right. I’ve seen it happen with my brother a million times. More than half the girls he hooks up with or goes on dates with only want him because of who he is. Not only because we have money, but because he’s in the fashion industry and all the girls want a chance at their shot on the runway.

Thankfully my brother doesn’t fall for their crap and never takes any of them seriously. And he certainly doesn’t risk his job for them. He fucks them and leaves them. No, it isn’t nice of him, but at least he isn’t destroying the family business.

“Though, you did forget to mention this was a work trip,” I add.

“Only came because it was alone time with you.”

“Really?” I ask.

“Yeah, I have no interest in buying this place.”

“Buying it?” I blurt. “That’s what all that was about?”

He nods. “Yep.”

The elevator doors open up to a spacious foyer that leads to a kitchen and then a living room. There’s a staircase that leads up to a loft area to the left. The floor to ceiling windows go from this floor to the next.

---