Page 87 of Two Chambered Heart

Wilkinson laughed. “How are my favourite boys?”

Jason grit his teeth at his condescension. He had no ill will towards the billionaire and his business. Zantek was half the reason Alpha Moneta was functioning so well, but he had always hated how patronizing the man was.

“We’re good, Avery,” Kayden said civilly, adjusting the Rolex on his wrist. “Any piece catch your interest tonight?”

“Oh, very much so. I could drop some big bucks tonight.” Jason didn’t like the way Wilkinson’s eyes lingered on Corey as he said it.

In fact, he didn’t like the way everyone’s eyes seemed to glance towards the gorgeous woman with them, like she was a shiny, new toy. They may have had a reputation as playboys, but they had never brought just one woman to a formal event before. This was a statement, which Jason had known it would be. The coveted spot on their arms filled by a woman no one knew would be gossip throughout the industry. Without being able to hear them wondering, he felt too vulnerable.

The server came back with their drinks, and Corey took the champagne flute from the tray, thanking the man politely.

Avery held up his glass. “Cheers.”

“Cheers,” Kayden echoed, clinking his glass against Avery’s before sipping. Corey forced a smile, but her eyes were burning.

Wilkinson tossed his drink back and placed the glass on the table, snapping his fingers. Another server appeared, taking another drink order for him. “Well, I’m going to go make my rounds. I’ll see you in there.”

“You want to look at some of the art?” Kayden asked Corey.

“Are you going to bid?”

Kayden shrugged. “Depends. All the funds are a direct donation, so maybe.”

“Okay, then.” Corey nodded at him.

Jason put a hand on her back to guide her forward, her skin warm under his palm, but she stepped away and cut him a look.

“Are you angry with me, sweetheart?” he asked, smirking.

“Inconsequential?” she spat, barely disguised hurt in her eyes.

“This may look like a pretty little gala, but it’s also a shark tank.” Kayden snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her into him. “It’s safer this way.”

Corey just lifted her chin, sipping from her champagne.

Jason downed his drink and left the empty glass. He wanted another one, but he wouldn’t snap his fingers like an entitled douchebag. A serverwould come to him eventually. One of the few good things about events like these was that they were open bar.

They trailed around the art, Corey and Kayden discussing each one as if they were art critics, while Jason couldn’t stop himself from scanning the crowds. As nice as the internal silence was when they are at the grocery store, he didn’t like it here. He felt off-kilter. There were too many important people with too many motives congregating in one space, and their only cloak of protection was missing. But he didn’t want to leave Corey’s side either, didn’t want to burst the image of the three of them united.

At some point, he’d gotten another drink in his hands, and he finished it quickly. He was on his third double before Kayden had even finished his first.

“Which one did you like best?” Corey asked.

Jason waited for Kayden to respond before he realized she had actually been asking him. None of the art mounted throughout the atrium had caught his attention for even a second. He shrugged, focused on Wilkinson across the room, deep in discussion with the CEO of another prominent manufacturing company. He wanted to hear their conversation. Mergers weren’t uncommon, and a merger like that could definitely affect Alpha Moneta’s business. He was just about to step towards them when he felt a poke to his side and turned to see Corey staring at him.

“You’re just going to ignore your hot date all night? Are you into men?”

Jason sputtered. “What?”

“You’ve been staring at that guy over there all night. I mean, I get it, he’s hot in a silver fox kind of way. But you’re being a little obvious.”

“You think he’s hot?” Kayden asked her with knitted brows.

She laughed, the sound deep in her throat. “Jealous?”

“Of him? No, Little Fox. I happen to know that his wife finds him unsatisfying. She’s fucking the pool boy.”

She laughed again. “You’re making that up.”

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