Page 35 of The Bargain

I walked into the hall, Phil right behind me, just as William, mine, and previously my fathers’ Vice-President, walked in.

“Will, happy you could make it.” I smiled, shaking his hand.

He laughed. “Always happy to join.”

The front door opened to reveal Jeremy Hunt.

I frowned.

“I invited him,” Lea piped as she walked towards us.

“Why?” I asked her. Jealousy reared its ugly head when Opal, now dressed snuggly in a pencil skirt and red blouse, walked over to him with a bright smile on her face.

“Because you said I could bring a plus one.”

Keeping my eyes on Opal, I scowled as Jeremy beamed at her.

“I meant your wife, Lea.”

She snorted. “Susan can’t stand you.”

I shrugged. She’d met Susan in med school. She was a witch doctor too and she saw me as a destructive man - if only I cared. “Why Hunt though?”

She threw me a side-look. “Because we’re close friends. Because I thought you liked him and because he is our nephew’s doctor. I wanted to discuss that with him.”

I smirked down at her. “Don’t pretend to be arealdoctor, Lea.”

“I’m a psychiatrist!” she hissed, elbowing me in the stomach.

“Yes,exactly.” I walked over to Jeremy and Opal. Why did he have his hand on her back? That was really uncalled for.

“Jeremy, nice of you to join us. Lea didn’t tell me she’d invited you.” I smiled. “What a nice surprise!”

Jeremy smiled back. He knew I didn't mean it, but he clearly did not care. “I’m glad to be here.” He turned to Opal. “It’s nice to see you outside of the hospital.”

She looked down with a faint blush. Why the actual fuck was she blushing? She was a sex worker, not a sweet innocent teenager. Maybe she needed a reminder. “Ah, you probably could have found her on the corner of 22nd Street and Erie Avenue.”

Opal looked away as my sister glared at me. Jeremy shook his head.

“Let’s go. I'm famished,” Jeremy joked, trying to ease the atmosphere.

She smiled coyly at him and I had to do my best not to roll my eyes. He couldn’t be stupid enough to fall for that but seeing as his smile brightened, maybe he was.

I caught her arm just as she was about to pass me, probably holding a bit tighter than necessary as was clear by her wince.

“Remember your contract,” I hissed coldly, just loud enough for her to hear.

“How could I forget?” she replied, pulling her arm out of my grip.

I walked into the dining room just in time to see Lea switching some of the name tags to seat Opal between her and Jeremy.

I ground my teeth. I wasn’t sure what my little sister thought she was doing but there would be hell to pay.

Every time I had an opening during dinner, I went for the throat and took my frustration out on Opal, but she kept dismissing everything I said as if it didn't touch her.

At least, I’d thought so until desert when Lea asked her if she had read any children psychology books to help her design the nursery.

“Don’t embarrass her, Lea. Miss Collins doesn’t read that doesn’t help her lucrative career as a hooker, isn’t that correct? Kamasutra maybe?”

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