by Nicole Dykes
My back is straight as I glare into her eyes, rimmed with long black lashes. “The feeling, Lola, is, without a doubt, mutual.” I fight leaning closer to her, thankful for the desk between us. “Believe me, I don’t have to work hard to get laid. I definitely don’t need an elaborate scheme to find women.”
“Okay,” Penelope tries to play mediator. “We believe you. The fact is, to keep our business afloat, we’ll need to split the work. I’ll be there as often as I can, but I have to fill in the gaps left by Lola working on your massive project.”
I hate losing control of the situation. I’m not used to people telling me what to do, at least not anymore.
I take a deep breath, trying to remain calm. I should have known this wouldn’t be easy. My gaze flickers to Penelope. “Fine.”
She nods her head at me and then to Lola, encouraging her to sign the contract she’s still clinging to. I watch as Lola inhales deeply and places the contract on the desk. “Do you have a pen?”
“Do you want to involve lawyers?”
She shakes her head. “I had a lawyer look over it last night.” That was quick, but not surprising. “Everything seems to be in order.”
I hand her a pen and she signs, handing it to Penelope, who does the same. I stand, and they both follow suit. “I’ll have my assistant contact you with the details to get you started, but I’ll be overseeing this every step of the way.”
“Of course you will.” Lola’s cold eyes show a hint of fire.
I walk them both to the door, eager to get them out of my house to figure out where to go from here. I didn’t anticipate them not working together on this.
Lola Sterling will no doubt make everything more difficult.
“See, total fucking asshole.” I climb behind the wheel and close my car door as Penelope laughs, buckling up.
“Yeah. He definitely is. He got under your skin for sure.”
“Did you see the way he looked at you? He was obsessed. I think we just signed a contract with your fucking stalker.”
I start the car and back out of the drive of Hayden West’s massive—and I mean fucking insanely huge—home. The house is a Tuscan style home with pillars and grand arches. He clearly has money, a large amount of it.
I hate that I had to accept his contract. I hate that his house is as gorgeous and stunning as he is. I despise the way his navy suit clung to his body as he couldn’t take his eyes off Penelope.
He was fuming when he heard Penelope wouldn’t be working with me on this project. It’s yet another red flag. I don’t trust him.
There’s more to this story, and I can’t fight the feeling of danger in my gut.
“He’s not a stalker. He’s a rich prick who wants his way.”
“He couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”
I know she thinks I'm insane even though I can’t see her face clearly while I drive and merge onto the freeway. “Lola, I love you and the big sister you are, but not everyone is out to hurt us. He’s a client.”
My fingers grip the wheel, unable to shake the dread. Maybe my phone call with Asher last night has me on edge, but I’m not wrong about Hayden. He’s hiding something, and I'm going to find out what it is.
“He’s a shady fucker.”
She laughs and slips her black sunglasses over her eyes, leaning back against the headrest. “This is a huge opportunity for us. Who cares if he has ulterior motives as long as we get paid? No one is coming between me and Linc.”
“What if he’s dangerous?”
“He’s not.”
“How the hell can you possibly know that?” Penelope isn’t sheltered. She had a tough life before she moved in with us. Okay, and also after she did.
I see her shoulders lift out of the corner of my eye. “I don’t know. Somehow, I just have a feeling. He isn’t dangerous.”
“I’m supposed to trust your feeling?”
I’m being bitchy, but it doesn’t faze Penelope. It never does. She just accepts me the way I am. “Yes. You are. We’re partners.”
My throat is dry and my body zings with anxiety, but she’s right. We’re a team. And if she’s all in, then I need to be also.
“Okay.”
I drop her off and head to my house, walking inside. I’m pleasantly surprised when Baz comes running and happily hugs me around my waist.
I smile and hug him back, his head nearly coming to my chest. “You’re getting so big!”
He giggles. “Yeah.”
I laugh and then see Vivienne sitting on the couch with Sawyer. She’s sitting straight up and looks nervous, as if she’s not allowed to have Sawyer over.
I walk further into the house into the living room. “Sawyer. It’s been awhile.”
He nods, waving with a grin on his handsome face. “Good to see you, Lola.”
Vivienne is clearly tense as she sits straight up with her hands in her lap. “I wasn’t sure if you would be home and Sawyer asked us out to dinner.”
I think Vivienne and Asher would be an absolute disaster, but Sawyer and Viv? That’s almost the exact same thing. Still, I’m not going to flat-out tell her what to do. “You guys have fun.” I look over at Baz as he starts to play with his toy plane, flying it through the living room, and then back at Viv. “I could watch Baz for a couple of hours if you want to have dinner alone.”
Although I've never been trusted with a tiny human before, he’s four. Surely I can handle it.
Sawyer looks over at Vivienne, waiting for her reply before he says anything which is so not a Sawyer move. Who knows? Maybe he really does care about her. Maybe he’s grown up.
Vivienne tucks her hair behind her ear nervously. “I appreciate the offer, but . . .” I thought I was wound tight, but I swear Vivienne gives me a run for my money in that department. “It’s just been a crazy week. He’s been . . .” She looks over at her son and then back at me keeping her voice low. “He’s been acting out a little. I think he misses someone.”
I watch Sawyer visibly tense at her hinting about Asher. I wonder if Sawyer misses Ash. He has to. Those two were close before everything went down.
“No problem. Just know the offer is there.”
She smiles sweetly, and Sawyer doesn’t seem at all disappointed about having Sebastian joining them. “So pizza it is, then.” He grins and Viv laughs, laying her head on his shoulder.
“I suppose so.”
He tips his chin in my direction. “You up for pizza?”
I wave him off as politely as I can. I’ve already betrayed my little brother enough. Going to dinner with Viv and Sawyer? Not a good idea. “No thanks. I have a lot of work I need to get done, but you guys have fun.”
I start toward the kitchen, and I hear Vivienne tell the boys she’ll be back as she follows me. I go to the fridge and grab a bottle of wine, closing the door and turning toward Viv. “Want some?”
She shakes her head as she slides onto one of the bar stools at the kitchen island. “No, thank you.”
I grab a wine glass and pour some of the delicious red wine into it, taking a small sip. “You okay?”
She nods her head, but I see her hesitance. “I’m fine.”
My eyes drift toward the living room, but I can’t see Sawyer or Baz. I look back at Viv. “You can talk to me.”
“I know.” She takes a deep, sad breath. “There’s really nothing to talk about, though.”
I place the bottle of wine back in the fridge before joining her on the stool by her side. “So, are you and Sawyer getting serious?” Maybe it’s not polite to ask, but I’m curious. And I can’t picture Sawyer getting serious with anyone.
“I don’t know.” She gnaws on her bottom lip, looking as confused and lost as my little brother did on the video call. “I care about him. He’s a lot better of a guy than I thought.”
“You sure?” I smile coyly and take a sip of wine as she laughs.
“He’s no saint, but who is? And yes, I know he’s done some pretty shitty things.”
&n
bsp; “To women.” I interject. I don’t want to push her away from Sawyer, but the stories I've heard about him aren’t great, and Viv is family.
“Yes. To women. He’s always been a player, but you know what, Lola?” She’s not angry, however there is a determination there. “He’s owned up to it. He regrets a lot of things, and with me, . . .” she sighs, “he’s been honest.”
As far as she knows.
I don’t say it out loud, but how do you ever really know if someone is being honest. A liar isn’t going to tell you they’re lying.
“Just be careful.”
“I will. But as of right now, there’s no commitment. We’re just taking it very slow.”
I study her, unsure of what the hell that means. “So, you’re both allowed to be with other people?”
She shrugs. “Yes.”
“And it doesn’t bother you?”
“I don’t know. Right now, I'm not in the position to ask him not to sleep with anyone else, and vice versa.”
If she’s fine with him sleeping with other women, I would say what they have is definitely not serious.
I take another drink of the red liquid. Although what the hell do I know about any of it?
She shrugs her small shoulders and laughs. “Well, at least he’s not bad to look at while I figure things out.”
“Just look?”
She blushes slightly, and I laugh with her. I shouldn’t dig too deep into her business, but I do want her to talk to me like she would any friend. I don’t want to see her hurting.
Sawyer pops his head in the kitchen, and I smile when I see Baz at his side. He’s definitely a Sawyer fan. “We’re going to revolt if we don’t get to eat soon.”
Vivienne laughs easily, and I see the freedom Sawyer allows her. With Asher, there was tension, but with Sawyer, it seems she can relax with him. “One moment.”
He nods and picks Baz up, setting him on his shoulders as they head back to the living room.
Viv’s attention is back on me. “You sure you don’t want to go?”
I nod and hold up my wine. “I’m all set.”
She gives me a brief hug before leaving to go feed the boys. My heart sinks knowing Asher will be crushed to see them together.
I don’t want any more pain in our family.
“Mr. West will expect you to be far more detailed than this.” I force my eyes not to roll at the tall brunette woman sitting across from me in the café.
Gretchen, Hayden West’s assistant, is absolutely stunning. Of course she is. Why, when he said his assistant would be contacting me, I’d pictured someone in their mid-forties with gray hair and wrinkles, I have no idea.
Everything about Hayden screams perfection, so of course, his assistant is a goddess.
She’s tall and thin, with beautiful shiny brown hair that looks fit for a shampoo commercial. Her nails are painted a dark red matching her full lips, and her cheekbones could cut glass. The woman looks fresh off the runway.
“This is just a preliminary. I haven’t even begun to work my magic yet.” I smile with a fake politeness I've spent nearly thirty years perfecting and take a sip of my coffee.
Her eyes narrow, and her lips purse in a thin line. “I’ll bet.”
Clearly, she’s not a fan. “Have I offended you in some way?”
She slides my notes back toward me, folding her arms in a huff. “I don’t understand why Hayden West—a widely successful businessman—would trust your brand-new company with only two employees to his newest venture. One that’s had quite a lot of press surrounding it already because it’s the next big thing.” She drops her arms, leaning in. “Why you?”
Honestly, I have no fucking clue. I can’t say that though. I straighten my back and portray confidence. “Because we’re the best.”
“Right.” Her eyes flit over me quickly and then meet mine again. “He’ll quickly become bored with you.”
“We’re under contract for all three hotels.”
She huffs, irritated by my mere presence, and it almost makes me miss Hayden. At least his annoyance seems to lessen from time to time, but this woman’s hate has been constant since I showed for the meeting.
I was even on time, hoping we could trade Hayden war stories and maybe she’d be an ally, but no such luck.
“Just make sure you have your shit together. He’s come too far to let his dick fuck it all up for him.”
My eyes widen more than I would like, and I know I'm showing my surprise. “I’m not sleeping with him. It’s purely professional.”
She scoffs, which sends fury through me, but I try my best to remain calm. “Please. You can’t tell me that he just handed the sweetest deal to you and your little colleague for your experience.”
“To assume that a woman can only land a job using what’s between her legs is abhorrent, especially for another woman.”
“It’s the only thing that makes sense in this case.”
“One could assume the same about you.” She’s young and beautiful. He’s successful. I admit she wasn’t what I was expecting, but still my mind didn’t go to her sleeping her way into the job.
“I worked my ass off to get this position.”
“So did I.”
Her eyes shoot fire at me. I can now say I feel the same about her as she does about me. Fuck her and her theories.
“He expects you at his office tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Do not be late.”
“Will you be there?”
She looks even more annoyed as she shakes her head and stands from the table. “No. He wants to go over the details with you alone.”
I never thought I’d be relieved to be alone with Hayden. “I’ll be there.”
She leans down, her hands flat on the table in front of me. “Don’t fuck him.”
My anger level raises yet again. Who the hell does she think she is? “Do you tell all of Mr. West’s business associates the same thing?”
“If I think they want to hook their claws into him, yes.”
Our eyes are locked, and I’m sure I’ve never made a faster enemy in my life. “I’m not interested in your boss for anything other than a paycheck.” My right eyebrow lifts, and the smile on my lips is cold and bitchy. “But you are, right?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
I lean into her, refusing to be intimidated. “Oh, I'm not.”
“You should be, sweetheart. Even if he does fuck you, Hayden doesn’t play for keeps. Ever.”
“Lone wolf. Got it.”
“You know nothing about him.” Her eyes are deadly serious, and I have no idea what I've walked into, but I would say the two definitely have a past. It’s a feeling I can’t place, one that gives me an odd feeling. All I know is I don’t like her.
“I don’t want to know anything about him.”
“Keep it that way.” She stands, slinging her designer bag over her bony shoulder.
“So happy to be working with you, Gretchen.” My tone drips with sarcasm that she doesn’t even entertain as she spins on one heel and exits the café.
I sigh, hating that I signed the stupid contract, that I got Penelope and myself into this mess but try my best to stay strong.
I did this because I don’t want to be under my father’s thumb. I hated working for him more than anything, especially after I found out about his fight with Colt right before he died. It was the catalyst to Colt’s death as far as I'm concerned.
I’ll do whatever it takes to never have to rely on him or his money ever again.
And that includes working for someone who is exactly like him, a strong, ruthless businessman who doesn’t care who he has to step on to get where he is.
With Hayden though, there’s no shared blood, no false feelings of love or obligation. None of that will be an issue. I wanted my father to be a good man deep, deep down. I’d hoped he truly loved me and my siblings no matter how terrible he was.
It made me weak. It made me try my best to impress him in everything I did an
d earn his respect, which I didn’t realize would never happen. He didn’t respect me. I was just another person to do his bidding. To be at his beck and call. More property.
But I'm much stronger now.
“I don’t trust her.”
My eyes narrow, zoning on in Grechen as she sits across from me at my desk. I try to rub away the impending headache using my fingers on my temples. “I didn’t ask.”
Gretchen pouts in her typical way, her eyes blazing with anger, lips pursed tightly. She’s dressed professionally in gray slacks that go to her ankles, black heels, and a slinky black top. Her hair is down today, but she’s definitely on edge after her meeting with Lola yesterday. “Hayden, you should hire a more established firm.”
I should have known better than to ask her over for a briefing before my meeting with Lola today. I’m disappointed Penelope won’t be joining her, but still . . . business is business, and I need to conduct it no matter what.
“That will be all for today, Gretchen.”
She looks hurt, showing a rare hint of emotion, and I don’t like it as she stands and walks to stand before me on my side of the desk. “Are you sure there’s nothing else you’d like, Hayden?”
Her voice is sultry as her eyes lower to my lap. My eyebrows draw together in confusion. Is she offering what I think she is? “Nothing else. I’ll see you in a few days. And I'll be in contact. Watch your emails, and help Ms. Sterling with any requests.”
She huffs annoyedly, crossing her arms over her small chest. But then, she grows bolder, dropping her hands to rest on my thighs as she leans forward. I can smell her sweet perfume as she gets in my face. “Are you sure I can’t do anything else for you while I'm here?”
“Gretchen . . .”
“It’s not like we haven’t before.”
Lust flickers in her eyes, and I look to the clock in my office seeing it’s ten o’clock. Lola is supposed to be here, although I'm sure she will be a little late just to test me. “That was a mistake.”
And it was. A moment of weakness months ago. I’ve been successful at such a young age because of my laser focus and never allowing myself to get distracted. Never mixing business with pleasure.
