Page 61 of Arrogant Playboy

My cousin shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s different, that’s for sure, but also honestly, it’s refreshing. I’m not sure about the women you date, but most women I date are impressed with what I have. If we didn’t have it, would they be so easily impressed?” he asks.

“I can’t change that about me.”

“Have you asked her why she left? Maybe it was something else?”

“She won’t talk to me.”

“And you think all the problem is, is that you’re rich?” Matthieu asks.

“Everything was fine until that moment. It was like she started to calculate the cost of my assets and freaked out.”

“Maybe she thinks she can’t afford to hang out with you. Do you pay for everything?”

“I try.”

He nods. “Maybe her not accepting everything is her way of keeping a distance between the two of you, so she doesn’t develop feelings.”

Maybe.

“You think that’s what it could be?”

“I’ve seen the two of you together when people aren’t watching, it’s not just sex, is it?” my cousin asks.

“I like her,” I confess.

“You’ve fallen for her?” my cousin asks, seemingly surprised.

“I’m not sure, I don’t know. I like hanging out with her, she’s fun, smart, and beautiful. My life feels better with her in it in whatever capacity that may be.”

“You think you’d be okay staying as friends while she goes off and starts dating someone else?” I glare at my cousin. “That’s what I thought. You don’t want her seeing anyone else, do you?” I shake my head because the thought of watching her with another man would kill me. “But you don’t want anything serious?”

“We live busy lives. When you become serious there are certain expectations, and in the end, I always let people down because my job takes priority.”

“Instead, you live in this purgatory.” He’s right. I hate that he's been giving me good advice. “You have to work out if Rosie is worth it or not.”

We’ve been homea couple of weeks now, and I still haven’t heard from Rosie, but to be fair, I haven’t had a chance to think about it thanks to my two new house guests, Louis and Emily. They are looking for a place in London to live and I must have been drunk because I generously offered my home to them. I mean, I have the space, but then when I hear the walls shaking because of their fucking my house feels too small. But it’s the first time Louis and I have lived together and honestly, there are times that it feels great. Louis helped Emily move her things from Rosie’s place, and I wanted to ask them how she was, but I chickened out. When they didn’t divulge any extra information, I left it at that, thinking she probably didn’t want me to know anyway.

We’re going out tonight for Ava’s going away party at Alistair’s club, she got a transfer to her company’s New York office which is great for her. I heard from Matthieu that Ava and Deveraux hooked up, which he thought was hilarious, and told his brother that Ava was flirting with me all the while in France, which is a dick move. Deveraux wasn’t bothered, he said it was fun, they then went their separate ways, and he hasn’t heard from her since. She was actually the one that packed up in the morning, told him thanks, and walked out of his apartment. Louis did reach out to him to help Ava settle into New York and look out for her, for Emily, our cousin agreed reluctantly.

Anxiously, I head in with Louis and Emily, we walk into the thumping beats of the club and head up to the VIP area. I text Alistair to let him know I’m here tonight to see if he is around. He used to be here every night, but since meeting Eloise, he would rather be home with her. We arrive at the booths which are filled with a lot of younger people dancing and drinking, and then there’s Ava right in the middle of them all, dancing with Rosie and Georgia. My eyes land on Rosie shaking her ass in a silvery gold mini dress, her coppery red hair fanning out around her, she looks so carefree.

“Emily.” Ava squeals as Louis lets go of his woman and she rushes over to where her friends are dancing.

“These girls are going to be trouble, aren’t they?” Louis asks. I nod as I watch them hug and giggle with each other before Georgia thrusts a drink into Emily’s hand. Louis is on edge because the last time we all went clubbing in Paris was the start of his nightmare, and he’s only just got her back, so I can see the tension in his jaw. “We won’t be staying long, Emily doesn’t feel comfortable, but her friends are aware.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

Alistair: Was just about to leave the office, I’m coming down.

“Let’s grab a drink,” I say, heading toward the booth where we pour ourselves a glass. I sip my vodka while watching the girls sing, dance, and giggle together. They are all gorgeous. My eyes float around the room and the four of them have not gone unnoticed by the many men of the club. I don’t like it. Moments later, I see my friend striding across the dancefloor heading toward Louis and me.

“Gentlemen, it’s good to see you,” Alistair says, greeting us warmly.

“Good to see you,” I say, giving him a hug.

“You’re looking rough. Is everything okay?” he asks. I nod. “Louis, it’s been a long time,” he says, shaking my brother’s hand.

“It has,” Louis replies.

---