Page 45 of Captivated By You

She was right on the money—until her. I couldn’t imagine the day when I’d have had enough of her company.

“My father and his two brothers started the company with little more than grand ideas and the confidence of youth. They raised capital wherever they could, borrowed from friends and family, and worked their asses off to turn nothing into something. It took them five years to break even, and after that, the growth became exponential. It was at that point they split the company into three parts.”

“The hotels, casinos, and the music label, right?”

I smiled. “Yes. That’s where it started. And then it grew out from there. Eventually, they packaged the company into what it is today: Kingcaid Continental, Kingcaid Vacations, and Kingcaid Entertainment. Continental is the overarching brand for the hotel business, the nightclubs, which Johannes runs, and an international restaurant chain. Penn, my youngest brother, manages the restaurant arm. He’s based out of New York.”

“Is he more like you or Johannes?”

I laughed. “There’s no one like Johannes. He’s a one-off.”

Her lips thinned. “Hmm. He’s… a character.”

“That’s one way to describe him.”

“Johannes is an unusual name.”

I nodded. “Mom was on a business trip with Dad to South Africa, and she went into early labor. She named Johannes after the doctor who saved his life. He was pretty sick when he was born, and Mom credits his survival to that doctor.”

“And he’s in charge of the nightclubs, you said?”

A burning sensation filled my chest, and my jaw clamped tight. “You seem pretty interested in my brother.”

Her eyes flitted over my face, and her chin came up. Matched with a half smile, she seemed…pleased.

“Would it bother you if I were?”

I clenched my teeth so tightly it wouldn’t have surprised me if one of them cracked.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

She ran her tongue along the underside of her teeth, and then she broke out into laughter.

“Yeah. I am. Jealousy is aterriblelook on you. Your face is flushed, your pout is worthy of a fashion model, and if you don’t relax your jaw in a second, it’s a trip to the dentist for you, rather than a restaurant.”

“Har har. Hilarious.”

“Thanks. I’ve been told that on many occasions. And for the record, I’m far more interested in kicking your brother in the balls for pretending he didn’t know you when I came to your home than playing tonsil hockey with him.”

“Johannes is a dick. I’ll make sure the relevant payback heads his way.”

She pressed a hand to her chest. “Ah, my hero.”

I picked up my champagne glass and toasted her. “All you have to do is let me in, Kiana.”

Her smile wavered. “We’ll see.”

I almost fist-pumped the air.

That’s progress.

Chapter15

Kiana

All that bowing and scraping

must be bad for the spine.

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