Page 45 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I
“Herc, if you want to keep our sectors secure in today’s environment, we need it. If I’d waited for you to see the light, our infrastructure would be a free-for-all. GIT can’t even hack into their own software without causing major destruction on their end. Their Killer Firewall has reduced global and domestic security breaches by—”
“All right,” I bark. “You can stop trying to sell me on it. I know the statistics.”
It hurts my head even worse to hear the truth. Personally, I have no problem with the Groves being number one in software development, probably because they have someone as talented as Paisley Grove developing their products.I wonder what she’s doing these days.I haven’t heard anything from or about Paisley since high school, and she never responded to the text I sent her on graduation day. I figured she didn’t want to have anything to do with me.
I squeeze my eyes tighter to get PG out of my head. “All right, let’s fill her up.”
“Yeah?” He sounds doubtful.
“Yes. Killer Firewall everywhere.”
“Done. And I’m hanging up before you change your mind.”
Our call goes dead. I slap my cellphone down on the seat. “Damn it!”
“That bad, huh?” James asks, taking careful glances at me through the rearview mirror.
“Yeah, brother, that bad.”
“But did you check out that girl standing next to you in front of the hotel?”
“Barely,” I whisper, grimacing. She’s the last thing on my mind right now. All I can think about is how crazy it’s going to get when my mother finds out we have GIT software installed throughout our system. She's the main force holding the Grove grudge in place.
My father bowed out of VTI business months after his heart attack nine years ago. He resigned as chairman and CEO, handing over those positions to Achilles. My father said he wasn't going to let a job he never wanted send him to an early grave or disrupt his quality of life. Truth be told, my mother has always been the one pulling his strings. My parents are still married, but they live apart. I know why they can't call it quits officially. If they divorce, then we’ll be forced to pay a substantial fee to the trust as penalty for breaking one of the numerous morality clauses, and that’s money we can’t afford to lose.
“She kept trying to get your attention,” James says. “Did you see her?”
I frown, trying to remember.
James gives a belly laugh. “Another one gets away from you. I can’t believe you. A good-looking and rich dude like you just can’t seal deals.”
I snort a chuckle as I recall her looks. She was definitely beautiful.
“Next time, lock it down, boss, or else I will.” He flashes a grin.
“Don’t you ever give the ladies a break?” I joke.
“They don’t give me a break!”
I laugh, welcoming the pause from my anger and frustration. James is right, though. Every guy on the planet gets more play than I do. After dodging the Contessa bullet, I’m more cautious about choosing a partner. That feeling of freedom has felt too sweet. But it’s probably time to get in the game. Orion refers to me as “the monk in training.” It’s been a long time since I slid into some wet deliciousness and even longer since I enjoyed it.
I remember the girl. I ran into her at the track a day before I saw her at a restaurant. I was drunk as hell, but I recollect her body, eating her clam, and thrusting my cock into her wetness.Damn… I’m hard.
The scent of that woman just now… was she…? Nah.
But getting to know Lilith better might be fun.I won’t wait—I’ll ask her out today. Why the hell not?
Chapter Nineteen
The CEO
Hercules Valentine
Seventeen Minutes Later
Islow my pace. Greg, the host, just said, “They’re waiting.” I’ve gotten to know him from our many client lunch and dinners held at the restaurant. He looks back at me. “Is everything okay, Mr. Valentine?”
My mouth tense, I reply, “Yes.” I’m angry, and it shows. If I were a betting man, I’d put everything I own on Orion being our meeting crasher.
