Page 109 of Rebel Revenge

Harold raised an eyebrow. “The Royal, huh? Great course. Hard to get into.”

I was aware. The only reason I’d managed to make a booking was because my father was a part shareholder. Harold mustn’t have known that though, and I wasn’t about to tell him. I mimicked a golf swing while I waited for his answer. “I could definitely use some more hours on the green. You’ll probably pummel me into the ground. You’re pretty good, right?”

“Was twelve over par last I played that course.”

I whistled like I was impressed.

I wasn’t. I’d been nine over, beating his score, but I could let the old codger win if it meant strengthening the relationship. “I can get us on at ten?”

He patted my shoulder. “No can do, unfortunately. Ted, James, Simon, and I are away this weekend.”

I froze.

Ted, James, and Simon were all business acquaintances who’d been sitting at this very table a few minutes ago. The fucking old boys club I’d spent the last two years trying to get into. Clearly, that hadn’t worked well if they were all going away for a weekend together and hadn’t even invited me.

I took a breath that did little to calm the anger at being passed over yet again. “Well, that sounds fun too. Another time.” I went to leave the room before I could blow a gasket.

Harold caught me by the arm. “Why don’t you come too? You can afford a trip to the Bahamas, can’t you?”

It was fucking insulting he’d even ask about whether I could afford it, but I brushed that aside and focused on the fact I’d been invited. “Have your secretary forward mine the details. First round of cocktails is on me and Black Industries.”

Harold shook my hand. “That’s the attitude. Let me walk you out.”

I was beaming when we exited the boardroom and stepped into the reception area of Weston and Coker Investments. A leggy blonde sat on the black leather couch in a tiny red miniskirt and heels that matched.

Great fucking tits. No flab on her thighs. Totally bangable.

I got ready to turn on the charm when she looked up from her magazine, bypassed me completely, and ran into the arms of Harold. “There’s my man!”

He kissed her with the enthusiasm of a horny teenager, and she sighed happily in his arms.

I had to clear my throat uncomfortably for them to separate.

Harold chuckled. “Caleb Black, meet Luanda Coker. My wife. Caleb and his partner, Bethany-Melissa, will be joining us this weekend.”

Luanda clapped her hands. “Oh, lovely! I can’t wait to meet your wife. Us girls are planning all sorts of dinners and breakfasts and golf and the beach!”

I put a hand in my pocket, trying to appear casual. “Actually, it’ll just be me.”

Harold frowned. “Where will Bethany-Melissa be?”

I cleared my throat, debating whether to lie, but too many other people already knew. “We actually aren’t together anymore.”

Luanda put a hand over her mouth and gasped. “Oh no!”

I fake smiled at her sympathy. “It was for the best. But it’s okay, I’m really just ready to move on and be single for a while and concentrate on my career. A weekend away with you all will be just what the doctor ordered.”

Luanda looked to her husband and made a face I couldn’t understand but he obviously did.

He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck awkwardly. “Listen, about that, we’ll have to take a rain check. I didn’t realize you and Bethany-Melissa were no longer together. This weekend is about family. We’re all bringing our wives and kids…”

“But you’ll be talking business too, I’m sure.” The words came out sharp. Probably because I could see where this was going and I was preemptively pissed about it.

“We will, but I think it would be awkward to have a bachelor there. You’ll come next time, when it’s just us boys, okay? Plus, you wouldn’t want to miss that reservation you have at The Royal. It really is the most beautiful course.” He leaned over and pushed the down button on the elevator, a clear dismissal. “Make sure they validate your parking downstairs, okay?”

He hurriedly guided his wife away, leaving me standing there waiting for the elevator doors to open.

I kept a polite smile on my face until they closed behind me and then let out a scream of anger into the tiny box that hurtled toward the ground floor.

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