Page 27 of A Man of Wealth

I throw my hands up in the air. “You are so irritating!”

“I’m not irritating!” he growls.

“Oh, fine, you are a control freak!” I exclaim.

He glares down at me. “Fine, then go on your dinner date. But so help me if he lays one finger on you.”

I roll my eyes as he hands me the phone. “Fine. I will,” I say like a petulant child, but I don’t care. This man is seriously giving me mood whiplash. One minute he’s all lovey-dovey and sweet and then the next he’s like some out-of-control ogre.

“I need to head home,” I mutter as I find my shoes and put them on before making my way to the door. Conner follows me out to his driveway.

“Call me after you meet with him,” he mutters as he opens my car door for me.

I stare into his eyes confounded by how much of a walking oxymoron he is…or maybe he’s just a moron.

“Better yet, call me when you leave and again when you get home,” he states.

“Has anyone ever told you how much of a control freak you are?” I ask as I bat my eyelashes at him in my best fake sweet-girl face that I can make.

He runs a hand down his face. “Has anyone ever told you that you are a pain in the ass?”

I grin as I sit down and buckle myself in, grabbing the door from him, but before closing it, I look up at him. “Just you, but I suppose understanding me does require a certain IQ prerequisite.” I shut the door as he growls some response that I don’t catch. I turn on my car and pull away from him, watching him glare at me in my rearview mirror.

Vivienne, one. Conner, zero.

Chapter13

Conner

After Bryce’sguys sweep my house again and double-check that the intercom and security system hasn’t been hacked, I call over Sebastian and Aiden. The security team was here the entire day. They found one tracking device on my McLaren, which explains our fun cops and robbers car game. I now have new security protocols at my penthouse, home, and office. I have a security detail assigned to me and I’ve urged Sebastian and Aiden to get their own. Sebastian is contemplating it. Aiden flat-out refused. He’s a stubborn fuck, that’s for sure.

I’ve barely eaten today. Even Felicia noted that I’m on edge.

I push around lettuce on a plate of salad that she made for me before she left for the day. I’ve tried texting Lena twice, and I’m still getting the cold shoulder. My father is busy. My father has a meeting. My father is in business negotiations. I sigh as I set my phone down on the counter.

My side door beeps, and I look up to see Sebastian walking into my kitchen. Felicia, Janet, Sebastian, and Aiden are the only ones that have direct security access to my home.

“What’s up?” he asks as he pours himself a drink and takes up his normal spot to my left at the breakfast bar.

“My father is conveniently busy,” I mutter as I rattle the ice in my glass.

“Typical. I can relate to that,” Sebastian states as he checks his phone.

“Lucy? I’m home!” Aiden calls out as he walks into the room.

“What’s got you in such a good mood?” Sebastian asks.

“Did someone get pussy?” I tease.

He flicks us off and gets himself a drink. “Someone got a promotion.”

“No shit!” Sebastian says as he raises his glass. We clink our glasses together.

“Congrats,” I add.

“I get my own lab now. It’s great. I was worried when Harry left that they wouldn’t promote me, but I guess being who I am has its perks. I’m the youngest doctor to ever run the program.”

We all know that being who he is means being Dr. Derek Thomas’s son. Prestige is their family game. And they are very good at it.

---