Page 44 of Crush

Max

The bar was rammed but there were several members of serving staff so it didn’t take long to place my order. As the drinks were being made up, I turned and rested my back against the surface. The woman next to me reeked of perfume, high end but it still made you gag.

The gardens were now packed with peopleeverywhere; drinking, laughing, and smoking. My envious eyes watched as reddish cigarette tips glowed back at me as people inhaled. I needed a smoke. I scanned the clusters of people scattered around the large patio area and then down towards the marquee. Maybe I could get in on someone else’s action; passive smoking wasn’t the same but it was better than nothing.

As I lazily people-watched, my eyes fell upon the guest of honour. Lord Swift. Jonathan seemed to be in good form, as people swarmed in and out of the group he was chatting with. At the side of the marquee close to where he was standing was a large table full of presents, it made me smile. Like he needed gifts when he could buy anything he wanted,literally. I had my secretary send him a bottle of his favourite scotch. What do you buy the man who has it all?

Keeping my eyes on the crowd, I noticed Amber was talking to a man. He was leering down at her and I was surprised she allowed that. The guy was stocky and kept touching her arm as he spoke. She didn’t appear to notice or be bothered that he was totally in her face. Amber appeared genuinely amused and it rattled me. My eyes took in the smoothness of her throat as she threw her head back and laughed; nowtherewas a noise you didn’t hear every day. Who knew that such a sinfully melodic sound could come from lips that were usually drawn into a thin line of contempt? It was like sweet poison. She also had sucha nice smile and I suddenly wanted to be on the other end of it. As she touched his chest playfully, the thought of planting my fist in the guy's face swam into my thoughts.

The drinks arrived at the bar behind me and I twisted back, checking my order.

Lifting the tray, my eyes scanned the glassware, I’d gone for whisky again, Luca had chosen a bottle of Bud, Mia champagne and Amber, that cheap fricking fizz. What wasthatabout?

As I approached the seating area that we had fortunately bagsied, the table was low with a glass surface and I placed the tray there. Luca was sitting on a wicker sofa with his arm resting along the back, behind Mia’s shoulders. Smooth,verysmooth. They were sitting extremely close for two people who had quite literallyjustmet.

As I lowered my fight-bruised body onto one of the wicker chairs, Amber returned, looking flustered. I wondered what the little fucker had said to give her so much colour.

“Sorry about that. I’ll stay for one round and then I’ll have to go and check with the chefs,” she explained, smoothing down her dress as she took the empty chair opposite me. Amber sat up straight in a lofty position, the society princess surrounded by a barbed-wire blockade.

“You worry too much. You need to let your hair down now and allow the people you paid to do their jobs, Amber,” Mia said as she lifted her champagne flute to her lips. “You know you can’t stand half of these freeloaders.”

I chuckled at how plain-speaking Amber’s friend was which drew Mia’s attention towards me.

“Present company excluded of course,” she said with a grin.

“I’ll be fine once everyone is seated for dinner,” Amber replied, moving the conversation on. Even though she was on her best behaviour, that strained atmosphere between us was still present.

Leaning across the table, I lifted her glass and passed it over and she took it with a brief smile.

For fucks sake, she chatted to that fucking hobbit for five minutes, all sweetness and light, I get her a drink andthat’sall I get. As I said, countless times, the woman was hard work.

I lifted my tumbler of whisky and cradled it against my chest, tuning into the conversation which circled the table. It had started with the TV show, Breaking Bad before the subject moved on to Luca.

“You know, you lookexactlylike the guy on the brand of condoms I buy,” Mia said with a laugh. She was very touchy-feely with him, her painted fingertips pressing against his jacket sleeve, to articulate her words.

His grin was meaty as he explained, “It is me. I got contracted to Trojan to advertise their latest brand.” Fuck me, how high was his voice? He’d be offering her his autograph next. It was funny, the guy had worked for Gucci, Calvin Klein and Prada and yet he seemed to be most proud of his lame-ass condom contract. It was like his party piece.

There was no shame at all that the banter had moved onto contraception.

Both Luca and Mia continued to take charge of the conversation. My gaze met Amber’s a couple of times but I couldn’t read her expression. We didn’t have her full attention. It wasn’t possible due to the amount of people who kept interrupting to say their hellos and compliment her on the party. I understood she’d be on edge and would want her Daddy’s big night to go well but she could have at least tried to look interested.

Mia had a great rude sense of humour and I immediately liked her. She was so much more relaxed than her friend.

After around ten minutes of chit-chat about various things, Luca drew the chat back to bloody condoms, no shock there then. He loved to talk about himself the vain fuck. “So, how’s my brand working out for you?” he said playfully.

“They’re notyourbrand dickhead. It’s just your mug on the packet,” I pointed out with a God give me strength expression. He could be such a fucknut.

Luca lifted one Italian leather-encased foot and placed it across his knee before shrugging. “How many condom packets areyourface on?”

I smiled and rubbed the back of my neck, “None, thankfully.”

“So, what size do you buy?” Luca said, turning his attention back to Mia with a squeeze of her leg. The guy was all over her. I felt like saying, yes, she’s got agreat arseand youalreadyhave your head half the way up it.

Shooting him an incredulous look, I didn’t capture her reply as Amber took that moment to speak to me. Dragging my face away from Luca and his smug expression, I couldn’t stop my eyes from drifting to Amber’s bare thigh through the slit of her dress. Oh, to have those wrapped around my waist. Shit, down boy.

“So, what do you think?” she asked.

“Sorry?” I replied, prising my eyes up from her legs. My actions made her smile, a genuine one. A pleasant feeling settled in my stomach.

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