Page 14 of Devoted
“Sir, we will be landing soon. Please, fasten your seat belt,” a voice, one not belonging in my fantasies, instructs from the aisle of the airplane.
My face flushes red, and I can feel the heat coming off me when I give the steward a brief nod. Cursing at myself, I yank the belt over and buckle it closed with a rough push.
Having a hard-on, pants tenting in a half-asleep state on an airplane, isn’t something a person should do, even in first class.
As the plane begins its descent, I pull a file from my briefcase and begin to flip through it. I’m sure there are laws prohibiting keeping an employee file in your possession, but it’s most likely one of the smaller laws I’ve broken since meeting Vivian.
From her file, I’ve learned her address, phone number, and date of birth, and looked over her emergency contacts. It didn’t surprise me when her mother or father weren’t listed there. Through conversations with Alek, I’ve gotten a good idea of how the Delgado parents have treated their family, and it sickens me.
Vivian’s last job listed is working for her father’s company before quitting and coming to our city to pursue her degree in fashion design. I’ve been tempted to outright buy the company, only to ruin it and run it into the ground for how they’ve treated Vivian, Alek, and Thomas.
For now, I’ll keep the option in my back pocket. My morality was tinted with gray a long time ago, and I wouldn’t bat an eye at destroying Antonio Delgado’s legacy if it meant getting justice for the people I’ve grown to care about.
My power and prestige mean nothing to me if I am unable to use them for the betterment of others. It’s why I pick charities so close to my heart, just like the one for tonight’s event, and in combination with Harriett’s efforts, we’ll be able to provide a lot of good for people who deserve it.
In a way, all these events are also a healing effort for what my mother and I have been through.
With a final announcement after a shaky landing, I tuck away my prized file and keep it close as I deboard the plane and prepare to face reality once again.
CHAPTER NINE
KNIGHT
Not my type.
Ernest, my head of security, picked me up from the airport not even an hour ago, and I’m already rushing off to the private event at The Garden of Eden.
Thankfully, it’s a small-scale affair with several of my and Harriett’s business associates in attendance, the ones who can easily afford a huge charitable donation to get into the Adlers’ good graces.
Because of the event, most of the staff at the club are left with a rare Friday night off. Including a certain costume designer I haven’t dared to see since our last encounter that fueled my sky-high fantasies earlier today.
A slow sigh of relief leaves my lips as I walk through the entrance of the club and confirm only a select few staff members are behind the bar or readying the audience area for our mixer.
Even Alek has the night off, and I’m already assuming he’ll need the whole weekend after he and Ezekiel have a serious conversation. It’s funny how both he and my cousin had come tome with similar concerns, but neither one of the men was ready to give up the deep connection they shared in such a short time. My bet is they’ll be married and living together within months.
If it weren’t for how I feel for Vivian, I would have told them both they were insane for being so infatuated with each other already. But now I understand, wholly and devastatingly.
But my infatuation is off-limits.
Peering at the stage, I see a large shadow, which I can only assume belongs to the head of entertainment for tonight, moving around backstage. Moving in his direction, I climb up the side steps to check in with him.
“Benny, is that you, or should I call animal control to get the beast backstage?” I ask, turning the corner to the barely lit wing of the stage.
“Very funny. How about ya use those muscles I know ya got under that stuffy suit to help me with this?” Benny replies, peeking over his shoulder from where he is attempting to move a large prop. Scoffing, I remove my dinner jacket before walking over and helping him lift the prop onto a rolling platform.
“The dancers are all set for tonight, then?” Looking around, I see it’s less crowded than it usually is backstage, with fewer costumes and performance materials.
“Yeah, I think we’re good,” Benny replies, running his fingers through the short buzz of his hair.
He’s not in costume yet, just in his normal gym attire, but the giant man commands attention as if he were wearing the most tantalizing costume. I recently learned that this will be the first show he’ll head as second creative director, having trained under Alek for a few months.
Every time I learn new things, whether they are happenings at the club or a tidbit of information about my employees, it opens my eyes to how much I wasn’t involved before. I’ve alwaysstrove for the next new thing, whether it was in business or in my love life.
Now—well, now I feel like I want to slow down and take enjoyment of my successes. I might be growing soft or plain lonely, but I can’t shake off the feeling of belonging I get every time I step into The Garden of Eden. I even like being here without Vivian, and she was the reason I first started spending more time at the club.
“You got a hot date for tonight?” Benny asks, distracting me from my thoughts.
“No, actually.” My reply is curt as I shrug my jacket back on, dusting off the shoulders of the velvet fabric.
