Page 86 of Beautifully Ruined
Hiding in plain sight.
Max can be very rich or just rich. And I doubt that Thomas did more than take a cursory look at what he could see as my bank accounts.
The moment the girl moves back to the shadows, Thomas picks up his glass.
I hold up mine too. “I highly doubt someone like me could intrigue you. I have…kinks, tastes, things I like.”
He’s waiting for something. For me to slip, to try and trap me, but as I sit here, I don’t think I want to be a member. Not really.
I don’t think it’ll get me what I want.
“But that doesn’t interest you, just like your kinks and tastes don’t interest me. I’ve no interest in watching you bang.”
He doesn’t smile. “Maybe I get off on watching others.”
“You might like the power of doing that and you get off on the power, but not, I think, the act.”
My rules of play are out the window. I trust my instincts, and they’re leading me down this path.
He smiles now, widely. “I’m intrigued by what our mutual friend had to say about you, Max. And I’m curious why my club, why the sudden interest.”
I know exactly what was said to him, that I’d be an asset in more ways than one. Less is more, and it gives leeway.
He’s suspicious, which is good. He’s showing it, which is even better.
I can use that, but I also need to be careful. I need him to trust me. Because if I’m to have any chance at finding Gianna and this man is somehow involved, then I definitely need his trust.
“I’ll lay it on the line for you. I’m an asset to you. But I’ll make no bones that my interest is completely selfish. I want to enjoyyour club, sample what’s on offer, but more so, I want to work for you.”
Thomas laughs and shakes his head. “I don’t need some CEO wanting a taste of the good life by offering banal skills to me. I don’t care if you’ve made a billion.”
“I have.” I’ve made far more than that. For other people. I could do the same for myself and Enzo could too.
We charge a lot. But we don’t go to those heights. We don’t need to.
We’re rich enough, and through our skills we can get whatever we want.
Let these other fuckers fight over making another billion. I don’t care. I just want to make sure everything that’s mine is taken care of, protected, and that includes Violet. It even includes my idiot brother.
“But not the way you think. I’m no CEO. And while I have money, I want more. I want to help you protect and grow your assets and fortune.”
“And how would you do that?” Thomas shakes his head, laughing. “So, you’re poorer than you seem on paper. You wouldn’t be the first or the last. Do you really think I just throw out jobs to anyone? You’ve got a solid pair ofcojoneson you, I’ll give you that.”
“I do. Big, solid, titanium ones. I’m worth the risk.”
He doesn’t have a laptop, and it’s my best bet, but I could do this on a phone, too.
Then again, I don’t think he was sitting here shooting the shit with his guards for the half hour or so he made me wait for.
I glance at the men.
One of them has a briefcase. And it looks expensive.
I hook a finger through the air. “Computer?”
“Maybe.”
“I need a laptop or a phone. My phone doesn’t have enough to do anything on. And you should take a low IQ phone with you when you meet with people, too.”
