Page 20 of Hacker Christmas

“Every woman wants a big diamond,” the man countered.

Aaron leaned back in a white chair and gazed at the diamonds. I knew one thing about my partner, and that was he didn’t like when someone didn’t listen to Daisy or me. “I believe you misunderstood us. We want to see a smaller pink diamond, or we can go somewhere else.”

The middle-aged man looked flustered. He pulled at his necktie before getting up and leaving to find us what we were looking for.

“You know, I think we should also get her a diamond collar,” Aaron said.

Aaron and I had talked for hours about who would marry Daisy. We decided I would marry her and he would have a collaring ceremony with her. We planned to do the ceremony when we got back to Ft. Lauderdale. Deep down, I wanted to wear Aaron’s collar too, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it. We had met with a lawyer earlier to bind Aaron and me together financially, so if anything happened to either of us, the kids and Daisy would be okay. All that was left was for us to make her our wife.

“Here,” the shopkeeper said as he returned. “I hope this is more to your liking.”

It was a perfect pink teardrop diamond on a white-gold ring. The pink diamond had two white diamonds on the sides. I knew she would love it.

“We’ll take it,” I said. “We also need two matching wedding rings for men.”

Aaron and I looked at rings and picked out one we both liked, and then we found a beautiful diamond choker for Daisy. Aaron whipped out his black card when it was time to pay. I protested because the ring was supposed to be from Aaron and me.

“It’s our money,” he said. “Can you grab us a drink while I finish paying?”

I left the store excited for our next chapter. That night, we were going to the premiere of Aaron’s movie, and in two days, we would be in Denver celebrating with our friends. I couldn’t wait.

10

Aaron

Iloosened my tie as we walked into the after-party for my latest movie, hosted by the director of the film. Neal, Daisy, and I went to show face then leave. I couldn’t wait to peel Daisy out of her red dress, and Neal looked hot as hell in his black tux. I had a hard time concentrating on the questions the press asked earlier—all I could think about was getting them home and naked.

Daisy was excited and nervous as we pulled up to Ryan Hemsworth’s house. She couldn’t wait to see some of her old friends. She hadn’t stopped talking about her spa treatment with Annabella and how they planned to meet up in Ft. Lauderdale. I knew Daisy attended the party for me, and she had been on edge the whole time. She tried to hide it, but I could see how tense her shoulders were.

The premiere went off without a hitch, and everyone seemed to love the movie. On the red carpet, the press wanted to talk more about my relationship than the amazing movie, thanks to my ex-agent for broadcasting our relationship to the world. The paparazzi had taken it to a whole new level.

I brushed Daisy’s blond curls from her shoulder. Her vanilla scent consumed me and made my dick hard. “Have I told you how stunning you look? I can’t wait to get you out of this dress.”

Her breath hitched, and a blush came over her cheeks.

When I stepped back, Neal had started a conversation with a new and upcoming app developer in Hollywood. It sounded as though he wanted to hire Neal to figure out extra security for his company. I never understood half the things Neal talked about, but when he talked about computers, his eyes lit up, and I enjoyed seeing him happy.

I couldn’t help but stiffen when I saw the head of the studio heading in our direction. Hollywood wasn’t taking me leaving well. Everyone felt like I owed them. I owed no one—I came out and made it on my own. These men milked the money I brought in. They needed to find their next big actor because it wasn’t going to be me.

James Archer had to be in his late fifties, and even with all the money, he hadn’t aged well. His stomach hung over his expensive Armani suit, and the buttons on the front looked close to popping. James’s hairline had receded since the last time we spoke.

He reached out his hand. His handshake was limp and cold. “What is this I hear about you leaving the business?”

Daisy stopped talking to the couple beside us and tensed when she heard James talk. I was about to ask her something when she said she had to use the bathroom.

I turned to go with her when James put his arm on me. “I think your lady can go to the bathroom by herself, though she is a fine piece of ass. Someone might hit on her.”

It took everything in me to not punch the fucker in his wrinkly face. “So help me God, I will work to ruin your life if you ever speak about my woman that way again.”

He puffed his chest out. “Be happyyou’re out ofHollywood, because after that threat, I would make sure of it. From what people have told me, she wasn’t that goodanyway. I can’t believe the great Aaron Ross picked up someone’s used slave and a kid from the hood as his gay partner.”

I reared back to hit him in the face. When someone caught my arm. I looked at who would dared stop me from killing the fucker.

“Aaron, he isn’t worth hurting your hand over. I’ll take care of it when we get back to Ft. Lauderdale.” Neal winked before he let go of my arm. It looked as though the head of the studio would lose his job next week. If the man had ever done anything wrong, Neal would find out and make sure he got what was coming to him.

The party had stopped to watch what was happening. Ryan, the owner of the house and a top director at every studio, walked over. “I think it’s time you leave, James. This is Aaron’s party, and if you can’t respect my guest, you’re not welcome.”

“You can’t tell me to leave. I will ruin you.”

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