Page 39 of A Man of Wealth

“Of course. But no more work talk tonight. Tell me, how’s your grandfather?”

We launch into more small talk. I dodge his unwanted touches throughout the meal. This is going to be a long night. If I can only figure out how to bow out of this without making it look like I’m a tease. I don’t want to burn my bridge with Jared. I may need him later for more intel.

Chapter17

Conner

I can just barely seeher from the bar where I sit nursing my drink. I’m not sure why I’m here. It was hard for me to deduce where they would go. Jared would of course go to the newest, priciest, and hardest-to-get-a-reservation-at restaurant in all of D.C.

I can see him continually trying to bring his hand over to her leg under the table. I’ll give it to her, Vivienne is dodging his advances like a pro. While I’m pissed as hell at her, I wasn’t about to let her come here alone.

Part of me wanted to leave her to her own devices tonight. Part of me wants to drag her to the bathroom, spank her for the outburst at my apartment, and then fuck some sense into her.

I look at my drink. I needed this. I went to see my father this morning.

He was conveniently not there. So, naturally, I’ve spent the entire day stewing over him and Vivienne. Pricilla kicked me out of the office an hour ago, saying I was “being an intolerable ass and needed to go have a drink or a fuck.” She’s not wrong. I was being an intolerable ass. And I did need a distraction. Yet, here I am. Not distracted at all. In fact, I’m laser-focused on the woman across the restaurant. Does she normally do this? Prostituting herself out for information.

I throw back my drink and motion for the bartender to pour another. I can feel my security guy staring at me, whose name I finally figured out is Silas. Silas has been my shadow all day, while the other guy, Riker, stayed back at the house. Apparently, there are two others assigned to me that handle the night shifts. Four fucking security guards. I hate it. Did I have security growing up? Yep. Did I have a guy following me everywhere? Nope. Dad only guarded his precious home, making it very clear that his things are priceless, but not his people. People are expendable to my father. He once said to me after my mother died that loving people is a weakness, that if you love someone, it can be used against you, but if you love no one, then you are invincible.

I used to think the man was delusional for saying that, but right now, as I watch Vivienne with Jared, his words haunt me. I shouldn’t be here. I should cut this off now. Screw her information. Screw whatever fucked-up alliance we formed. Screw that I felt myself on the edge of caring deeply for this woman.

Then I see Jared grab her arm and rub his thumb over her skin. She attempts to pull back, but he leans and whispers something to her. She laughs, but I know it’s not a real laugh. She’s trying to play it cool.

Fuck no. I get up, toss money down on the bar that more than covers the cost of my drinks, and stride across the restaurant. Jared looks up as I approach the table. His hand quickly releases Vivienne’s arm.

“Conner, nice to see you,” he says. He’s fighting a smirk and I want to smack it right off his face. I look over at Vivienne whose face is white. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m interrupting her date or because Jared is manhandling her. It doesn’t matter.

“Jared,” I acknowledge.

I can see Vivienne give the smallest headshake, begging me to leave. I don’t want to. I want to punch Jared’s smug face, grab Vivienne, toss her on this table, and fuck her right in front of the entire restaurant so everyone knows she’s mine, but that would be…uncivilized of me. I can’t say no to this woman. Fuck.

“Nice to see you,” Vivienne says, composing herself.

My eyes meet hers. “Nice to see you, too,” I reply, my words have so much more meaning than a simple hello.

“Well,” I start as I pull myself together, “enjoy your dinner.”

I step away but only because of Vivienne’s pleading look. I find myself heading to the bathrooms. I look at myself in the mirror and splash water on my face. What the fuck am I doing? This woman has me losing my godforsaken mind.

My memories of the final moments with my mother bubble to the surface. Her laughter, her dark hair glistens in the moonlight as she waved at me from the pier before turning and walking onto our boat. The wind blows her white nightgown. I don’t know why she went down there. She just had kissed me goodnight and said she was taking a walk.

Vivienne’s article guessed it was a rival of my father’s, an enemy, that blew up the boat. The police had ruled it an accidental death and claimed it was faulty electrical wiring on the vessel. My father said nothing about the police report orTheTribunearticle. My gut tells me my father played fire with the brotherhood, and the brotherhood bit back. The elite have a way of putting members in their place. That’s why I’m one hundred percent sure that former President Westerly had his granddaughter’s articles altered.

I go to open the bathroom door and see Vivienne entering the ladies’ room. I look both ways as she shuts the door, and I push it open. She stumbles back, surprised at my intrusion as I step inside and shut the door behind us, locking it. I step toward her, and she steps back until she’s flush against the wall with nowhere to go.

“What do you think you are doing?” I growl as I place a hand above her head and lean in until our noses are only inches apart.

Her face flushes. “I’m having my meeting with Jared…as planned,” she says with a defiant raise of her chin. She glares at me. “I’d assume you understand all about meetings.”

I raise an eyebrow. What the hell is she playing at?

“He’s touching you,” I state in a low voice because lowering my voice right now is the only thing I can control. Internally, I’m ready to punch a wall.

“He likes me,” she hisses.

“Is that how you plan on getting your ‘intel’?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. “You plan to fuck the answers out of him?”

She shoves my chest, but I’m not going anywhere. I lean my face down, running my nose along hers. I can see her chest rise on a breath. She’s still affected by me. She can pretend all she wants that she doesn’t like me, doesn’t feel for me, but I can see, smell, and feel her body’s reaction to my proximity.

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