Page 19 of Taunt Me (Dark Odyssey 2)

The meeting commences and it feels like the start of something I need to focus on.

* * *

It all went well.

All of it.

An hour after that meeting saw us signing contracts for a multibillion dollar deal.

Richness and wealth all of it good.

So why didn’t I feel anything?

I’m at The Dark Odyssey now. Got here ten minutes ago and I’m later than usual. It’s almost ten and I try to get here by eight at the latest.

Jenna is on reception. She’s on the phone and her eyes follow me as I walk past her. I don’t acknowledge her like I usually would. Acknowledging would be an invite to sex later and I don’t want that.

Nick hired her just for that and he got the shock of his life when he met Mia months later. That doll practically turned his life upside down and inside out. He fell hard for her and I knew even before he accepted his feelings for her that they were going to be together.

It was the way he looked at her and talked about her. Very defensive and protective over her, like I was with Charlotte.

She reminds me of her. She has the same good natured presence my girl used to have.

I make my way past the reception area and go down to the dressing rooms to find Mimi. She always stays back until the end to make sure all the girls who work here are okay.

She’s like a mother hen even though she’s younger than a lot of them.

I see her talking to Denise, one of the girls who works the Playboy Lounge. Denise sniffles like she’s been crying.

I hang back to give them some space but Mimi sees me and frowns.

“You’ll be okay. Guys are such jerks sometimes,” Mimi says with a shake of her head. She’s actually looking at me as she says that.

“I’m so stupid. I believed him. Thanks for listening Mimi. You’re the best.” Denise answers, giving Mimi a hug and walks away down the corridor leading to the lockers.

When Mimi turns her attention to me and folds her arms under her breasts and looks like she’s squaring off with me, I know she’s not ready to forgive me yet for the shit. All of it. She actually has no reason to forgive me and I won’t ask for it either.

I walk closer and stop a few paces away from her.

We stopped sleeping together eight months ago. She put her foot down and realized her worth.

“What do you want?” she asks.

“You.”

“No. You know it’s a no. I won’t be with you like that ever again Gabriel.” She full names me too when she’s trying to make a point.

“That’s not what I mean. I mean you the person who’s my friend I shouldn’t have crossed the line with knowing how you felt about me.” I’m trying to apologize but like fucking always I never say the right thing. She looks more upset with me than she already was.

I’ve never outrightly confirmed my feelings before. It’s hard to hear it but I’m saying it because it matters.

“Good to know.” She makes a move to go but I catch her arm and pull her to a stop. Miss Mimi however is stronger than she looks and looks like she’s ready to hand me my ass again.

I almost wish I hadn’t taught her to fight when we were kids. It’s on me for encouraging the beautiful little tomboy who used to follow me around. She grew up to be just as badass as the rest of us guys, except she wears heels and kept her little pixie features.

“Let go of me Gabe.” She scowls. I release her. “You are the worst fucking piece of shit I know and I will not forgive you for the way you’ve made me feel like shit. Don’t come down here to me trying to reason. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to talk about us so don’t make me.”

“I’m not. I’m just here trying to talk to you, that’s all.”

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