Page 17 of The Billionaire's Temptation

“I know that. Is it my fault I didn’t take offense at our father insulting me that way?”

“You know he meant for all of us to use it!” Clay snapped.

Sean snorted his disagreement, but Levi answered him. “Ah, so if that’s the way our father meant for our inheritance to work, then I should get a third of the profits from the retail business that he left specifically to you and Martin.” He leaned forward. “But if we’re doing it that way, then I want a third of the profits based off of the net worth when dear old dad died. Not what it’s worth today.” He tsked, shaking his head. “I’ve already had a conversation with Martin about the pathetic state of your business.” He paused, letting his words sink in, then continued, “I hope you have a plan B for your next career because it doesn’t seem like the sporting goods stores are long for this world. Perhaps you could get something out of the remains if you liquidated everything.”

“Or sell off the stores that are no longer profitable,” Sean offered. “You could end the leases on those store fronts and consolidate everything into the more profitable areas.” It was sound business advice, but neither Levi nor Sean thought for a moment that Clay would follow it. He and Martin were too arrogant and entitled to accept business advice from bastards.

Clay pulled his shoulders back, his arrogance firmly in place. “Martin and I are going to keep on managing all ninety-nine stores across the country. We just need a new marketing strategy.”

“Yes, that was brought up with Martin earlier tonight,” Levi confirmed.

A few gasps and a commotion by the entrance were heard. Sean and Levi turned just in time to see Matteo, the third part of their trio, enter the house. The hostess rushed through the other guests, eager to greet the most recent arrival.

“That man is just as much of a bastard as you two,” Clay snarled, but kept his voice low. Criticizing Matteo, or any of them, in public was tantamount to heresy among the wealthy in the room. “None of you should be allowed in polite society.”

Sean chuckled. “Ah, but the days of being illegitimate as a bad thing are over, aren’t they?”

Clay’s eyes widened as he looked up at them. “TBC!” he murmured. “That’s the name of the club!”

Sean lifted a dark eyebrow when the younger man stated the obvious. “And?”

Clay’s gaze moved back and forth, then glanced at Matteo, the illegitimate son of a Spanish Duque. When he turned back to Levi, he sneered, “Everyone thinks that the initials for your damn club stand for ‘The Billionaires Club’. It’s one of the reasons everyone is clamoring for membership.”

The sound of ice clinking against crystal sounded for a moment. “I thought it was the fact that we are a jolly group of fellows,” Sean commented, his Irish accent intensifying as his humor increased.

Clay ignored him. “But it really stands for ‘The Bastards’ Club’, doesn’t it?”

Levi threw back his head, laughing at Clay’s insight. “Now that would be stupid, wouldn’t it? Because not all the members were born out of wedlock.”

“Isn’t that you’re best buddy Harry over there?” Sean asked of Clay. He pointed towards another corner of the packed living room. “I don’t recognize the other two, although… they do seem vaguely familiar.”

Matteo walked into their small group, his sneer obvious when he looked down his nose at Clay. “You’re friendly with your half-brothers now?” he asked, ignoring Clay’s greeting entirely.

“No!” Levi snapped, then pushed through the crowd. “I have to go.”

Matteo glanced at Sean with amusement. “Was it something I said?”

Sean looked over the crowd, his attention caught by a very pretty woman in a pink dress. The dress was nice, but definitely not a cocktail dress. It would be more appropriate for a summer barbeque. The pretty brunette with big, brown eyes looked as if she wanted to fade into the shadows and disappear.

“Ah, I see the lovely heiress has ventured into our world,” Matteo commented, stealing Sean’s drink and taking a long sip.

Sean’s eyes narrowed at the woman. “That’s Fuque’s daughter?” he asked, shocked. Now that he knew who she was, he could see the similarities. The resemblance between father and daughter were definitely there, however, Arthur Fuque had been a highly social man, always at the center of every group, making everyone laugh with his audacious humor. The woman currently shrinking back against the wall wasn’t anything like her gregarious sire. She was beautiful, but obviously uncomfortable among the glittering party guests.

“Apparently our friend is smitten!” Matteo murmured, referring to Levi.

Sean and Matteo watched as Levi literally pushed people out of the way in order to rescue the woman, who looked like she was considering opening a window to escape.

“Fascinating,” Sean replied.

“What the hell is so fascinating?” Clay demanded, too short to see what was going on across the room. “Why did my brother leave? We were having an important conversation!”

Sean and Matteo turned as one on the younger man. “You were begging. It is unbecoming of you,” Matteo replied flatly. “Go find your brother and start another false rumor about how cruel your bastard of a half-brother is. The other guests are just dying to hear more of your whining about how unfair we are.”

Clay’s face flushed with embarrassed fury as he turned away and disappeared into the crowd.

Levi caught up with Clarissa just as she was about to…he had no idea what she was going to do. She looked as if she was in pain and he wanted to pull her into his arms and make her smile again.

But that wasn’t his role. His job was done. He’d delivered her to her father’s house, explained her inheritance, and now, he should just mind his own business.

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