Page 6 of Casita Casanova
“Not the point.”
“I didn’t even sleep with the chick, for fuck’s sake.”
Bethtsks.
Sure, I let her suck me off in VIP. And sure, I allowed the paps to get it on film.
But so what?
Like I’m the first fucker to get a blow job in the VIP section. I snort, but Beth’s eyes narrow. With a deep breath, I try a different approach. “Okay,” I concede, “maybe I should have rethought the finger gun for the paparazzi photo op.” Especially when the chick’s head was bobbing in my lap and her hair was wrapped around my other fist—which I don’t add for fear of Beth figuring out a way to leap through the phone and throttle me.
Butcome on. I’m only human. And who doesn’t love a good finger gun?
“I’ll behave,” I lie.
“You’re in the paper every goddamn day.”
I bite back a cocky grin. What can I say? The people love me.
“I’m constantly cleaning up after you.”
“And Ipayyou to do so. You’re supposed to squash the rumors. Don’t forget who signs your paycheck.”
Her eyes widen angrily. Her nostrils flair.
Uh oh.
“They aren’trumors, Ridge. And paycheck or no, you don’tpayme enough to deal with this.” She closes her laptop, then shakes her head again as she holds my gaze. “You’re going to California. Period. I need you far away from here while I work to clean this up.”
I scowl. “No way.” I shake my head. “I’m fine where I am.”
“No, you’re not. The board—”
“Works for me,” I grind out through clenched teeth. This conversation is really starting to piss me off.
She gives me a tight-lipped smile that reeks of…sympathy?
Tilting my head, I take a deep breath. Something’s up. “What is it, Beth? What aren’t you telling me?”
She chews on that overfilled bottom lip for a second, then closes her eyes on a long blink.
Then she lets me have it.
“You’re dangerously close to losing the company.”
I suck in a breath. What the fuck did she just say?
Beth actually smiles. It’s smug, and I hate it. “Now you’re paying attention.” She chews on the cap of her pen for a second and I scowl. Disgusting habit. “Your father left you Westcott & Son Investments because you’re thesonin that equation, Ridge, but the deal was that you had to hold up your end of the bargain.”
“And Ihave.” Exasperated, I run my hand through my dirty-blond hair. “Again, Harding & Harding is my baby. I’ve made that acquisition happen for Westcott & Son. Me.” I emphasize this by shoving my pointer finger against my chest.
“You haven’tyet, though, Ridge; that’s the problem. It’s in the works, yes, but it’s not finalized. And you’ve been busy acquiring other things.”
“Like?”
“Phone numbers? Conquests? Sexually transmitted diseases?”
My jaw tightens. I’m fuckingclean, even though it’s none of her damn business. And we don’t call them diseases anymore because they aren’t. But Beth wouldn’t know that. Probably hasn’t been laid in decades… which would explain the massive stick up her ass.
