You wouldn't believe how fast I blush at his words.
I clear my throat in an attempt to find my bearings. "As I was saying, someone is paying for Bibi’s transformation."
"And what’s the other thing that jumps out at you?" Barrett asks me.
“The photos speak volumes. Who smiles at the camera while giving a man a blowjob? Someone who's fully aware that a camera is pointing in their direction."
“I agree, the photos look staged," Barrett says.
“There’s one more thing,” I announce.
“What?” all three lawyers ask in unison.
“On my way here, I checked Bibi’s Instagram account. There have been four updates since I left the hotel. Four. If Bibi is in prison, who’s updating that acc—”
“Bloody hell, Bibi isn’t in this alone. There’s someone else. Potentially the same person who leaked those photos to the press… maybe even the person who tipped off the police.” Barrett pauses. “This is a setup,” he concludes.
I nod.
There isn’t much more to say.
"This isn't good news," Dialina sighs.
"Perhaps, but at least now—thanks to Charlotte—we know what we're dealing with,” Christos says.
I don't know why, but my eyes move to Barrett's.
The trademark scowl painted on his Adonis-like features makes my knees go weak—and I’m sitting down. The way he squints his eyes only allows for a hint of green to flash at me. He breathes in and out through his nostrils. His powerful presence acts like an anchor in the room.
He holds my gaze in silence before speaking his mind.
“When I told Christos and Dialina you were brilliant and well deserving of your multiple awards, this is exactly what I meant. You fucking nailed it, Charlotte.”
And just like that, my lips break into a huge smile.
CHAPTER 17
Barrett
The publicists from Artemis PR that Dialina hired showed up not long after Charlotte had briefed us on what her team was able to dig up. The interesting thing is, her people were able to find a lot more valuable information than Artemis’. They didn’t even know the escort’s name. The two partners at Artemis PR—Konstantinos "Kostas" Paparizou and Vassilis “Ilis” Anastopoulos—were the ones who showed up, but they have an office of a dozen publicists scouring the Internet and making calls.
Charlotte’s team has doubled its efforts and now that Derek and Alek know who we’re dealing with, they’re digging further into Bibi’s past.
In other words, things have been frantic all day. In fact, everyone ended up working through lunch. Christos had his secretaries order takeaway.
Since Groove Renegade caught wind of the news, Tim and Landan have been taking turns calling Charlotte and me. They’re panicking. I don't blame them. There’s too much at stake. Jason could lose everything based on a scandal of this proportion and of course this would be a huge financial blow for the record company.
At seven, Christos calls it a day.
Thank God.
After a quick trip outside to clear my head and to feel the hot air on my face, I return to join the others.
I needed a respite.
I stride back into the conference room to find Ilis leaning into Charlotte. I don't know what he's saying to her, but he seems quite amused by his own joke. Charlotte on the other hand seems a lot more lukewarm.
I lean against the wall near the door and observe as he makes a play for her. Again.
When Charlotte walks in a room, the air changes. Not that I ever aced physics in secondary, but I’m sure the molecular structure of atoms and cells mutates when it comes into contact with her heavenly perfume.
I can draw in lungful after lungful of her enchanting scent and never get enough.
It’s bewitching.
I suspect that Ilis is under the same spell.
That still doesn’t make me hate the asshole any less than I do. I have no sympathy for the fool. Hands off.
He’s been flirting hard with her since he laid eyes on her.
I guess it's inevitable.
She looks ravishingly beautiful.
Little minx.
She surely showed me by snubbing my gifts.
Charlotte’s gray dress, accentuated by a thin bright pink line and a second orange one that runs across the waist and at the neckline screams sophistication. The fact that it hits her below the knees is a tease. It doesn't go unnoticed that she's wearing the same sexy sandals as yesterday, minus the gold lockets. I didn’t realize they were removable.
I wonder if she’s wearing one of the lingerie combos I bought her.
Why does lingerie make me think of her naked?
More precisely, her naked on her knees with my cock in her mouth.
Because there’s nothing quite like shoving my meaty ten-inch cock down her throat until she gags.
Yeah, I'm a bastard like that. But don't worry, she enjoys it as much as I do.
The way that woman gives a blowjob is a bloody art form.
“Christos, you’re coming tomorrow night for dinner at my house, right?” Ilis shouts from across the room. His voice snaps me back to the moment and that's when I realize Christos is standing next to me.
“I’ll ask the wife if she has any plans, mate. Tomorrow is Saturday and she usually does.”
“Excellent. No pressure, but you’re the only one who hasn’t given me a definite yes. It won’t be the same without you,” Ilis says.
Huh?
“I’ll be sure to text you before the end of the evening," Christos says.
“Charlotte is coming as well.” Ilis grins like a tosser. Interesting. Even though I'm standing right next to Christos, Ilis completely ignores me. “I’m trying to convince her to come as my date, but she’s shy.”
Charlotte? Shy? That’ll be the day.
“I’m sorry, Ilis, but you’re on your own. I'm not getting involved,” Christos chuckles before turning his attention to me. “Are you going to Ilis’ dinner?” he asks.
“I wasn’t invited,” I deadpan.
“Ilis yelled out the invitation a few minutes ago, just before I went to the loo,” Christos explains.
I shrug, shaking my head.
“We do things so informally here—to a fault,” Kostas, Ilis’ partner, explains.
I guess I was so taken by Charlie that I didn't even see him standing to my right.
“I wasn’t in the room. I just got back,” I explain.
"Really?" Kostas asks, surprised.
"Really," I confirm.
“Ilis, you idiot, you forgot Barrett,” Kostas shouts.
Ilis shoots me a stare that says it all. He purposely forgot me.
He’s been a wanker since he asked me how Charlotte and I knew each other, and I simply said, ‘we go way back’.
“Of course you’re invited, Barrett. It’s implied.” I see the challenge in Ilis’ eyes. He’s trying to goad me. Asshole. What’s implied is that you have your sights on someone you have no business wanting. "You're part of the team, after all," he adds. He has the audacity to wink at me. That just makes me want to punch the motherfucker in the face.
“Thank you for the invitation. I'll be there.” I force a grin.
If it wasn't for Charlotte, I would decline. I have better things to do with my time than to spend it with this loser, but I refuse to allow him to be around her without me being present.
"No problem," Ilis says before focusing on Charlotte again. "Why don't I send my chauffeur over to pick you up?" he tells her. "Let's say eight o'clock?"
"Thank you so much. That's very kind of you, but I'm okay," Charlotte says.
"I insist," Ilis retaliates. He even scoots a little closer to her. My shoulders tense at the sight.
"I have a full-time chauffeur at my disposal," Charlotte explains.
“Charlotte and I will make our way to your place together since we’re saying at the same hotel." I put an end to this absurd back and forth.
> Yeah, call it a pissing match. And I'm not one to lose easily.
Charlotte shoots me a puzzled stare, but I ignore it.
“Of course," Ilis sneers. I hold his icy stare, daring him to say anything more. "In that case I'll text you my address, that way you'll have my number in your phone." That idiotic grin again.
I open my mouth to say something, but Christos precedes me.
"Mate, I'll take care of it. I'll text both Charlotte and Barrett your address. With the type of lavish dinners you host, you'll have enough on your plate," he chuckles.
Thank the fuck God.
"Oh, come on. It's only going to be a small intimate thing," Ilis says.
"If you say so," Christos nods. "Don’t believe a word he says," he nudges my arm with a smile.
"Trust me, I don't."
“Now that you’ve made me look bad, you have to help me convince Charlotte to have dinner with me tonight. I'm dying to get to know her better."
“Forget it, Ilis,” Christos shuts him down. He even waves a finger and shakes his head.
Grow a pair, mate.
What real man has to consistently ask another guy to be his wingman?
"Oh, did someone say dinner? That sounds like a great idea,” Dialina purrs coming from the small kitchenette. She approaches me like a cougar in heat, her eyes locked into mine. “Barrett, why don’t you come over to my house? I’d really love to cook for you.” Her fingers walk along my tie. I clamp my hand over hers, preventing her from going any further. Fuck, that’s unprofessional. “Ilis is keeping your publicist friend busy and Christos is going home to his wife. You and I can keep working together until very late.” I read the desperation in her eyes and it leaves me absolutely cold.
From the corner of my eye I notice Charlotte tilt her head to the side. She even squints and purses her lips. Her eyes hold a mix of stormy emotions. When she flares out her nostrils, I know she's upset. Now you know how I feel.
Ilis sees Dialina’s invitation as an open door and turns back to Charlotte.
“Your little friend has plans,” Pathetic moron. “So, you and I should definitely have dinner,” he presses. “I have a home in Ekali, it’s located in an elite northern suburb of Athens." No, the guy isn’t full of it. "I'd love to show it to you. The expansive deck is outfitted with a canopy bed—"
I push myself from the wall I’m still leaning against and take a long step forward, forcing Dialina to get out of my way.
“Charlotte and I still have so much to go over. We need to brief the client on today's developments and we should be thorough and prepared,” I say.
Honestly, I have no right acting like a bastard. She’s a grown woman. She wants to shag a spineless dick like Ilis? As much as I hate to admit it, that’s her prerogative. I shouldn't interfere. It would be boorish of me to be jealous of her need to be with someone she doesn’t share a complicated and somewhat seesaw past with. Someone who comes with a blank canvas. Someone who isn’t carrying two idiot monkeys on his back. But I’m not feeling that saintly today. I’m as possessive of her as I’ve always been—even when I know she’s no longer mine. Sue me. I'd rather have my eyes poked out with a sharp pair of scissors than to do nothing to stop that asshole from getting into her knickers—especially if she’s wearing a pair I bought her. She can be mad at me. It wouldn’t be the first time.
The tension in the room grows with each breath I take.
Charlotte knits her eyebrows together. I'm not sure if she's surprised by my boldness or simply pissed off that I’d take such liberties.
She brushes her eyes up and down the length of my body. Her lips are slightly parted, but she remains silent.
“Charlotte, we can make it a quick dinner or perhaps just a drink at your hotel,” Ilis pleads.
My God, the man is incessant in his quest.
Give it a rest, mate.
Something flashes in Charlotte’s eyes and I fully expect her to tell me to sod off for overstepping my boundaries.
She turns to Ilis and offers him a small smile. "Thank you for the dinner invitation, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline. Barrett is right. There's still so much for us to go over."
That’s my girl.
CHAPTER 18
Charlie
As I head to the lift, I steel my nerves, preparing myself for my evening with Barrett.
When the doors open, I pull my shoulders back, tuck my clutch underneath my armpit and take a confident step inside.
I coax myself silently for good measure. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this, as I press the button for the fifteenth floor.
I quickly check my reflection in the mirror. I can’t help but smile.
What?
There’s nothing wrong with looking my best.
I can handle Barrett.
I will not succumb to his dangerous charms.
I’m stronger than that.
I've managed to handle myself with poise and grace so far around him. Look how well I managed yesterday in the sauna. I just need to keep this stoic outlook throughout the evening.
No problem.
That's very achievable.
When I finally managed to get my tardy ass to Perraki, Lekkas, Kazakos and Associates, I was so flummoxed by Barrett’s brusque remark that I almost didn’t notice how fucking handsome he looked. Despite the fact that he had pissed me off, for some inexplicable reason, my brain still managed to register everything about him—the slightly messy brown hair—it’s an art you know, the keen green eyes, the chiseled jaw and the perfect straight nose. And yes, I did notice how well he was wearing that navy blue pinstripe suit, the bold colored Italian silk tie and the crisp white shirt with French cuffs adorned with cufflinks, which I'm sure, molds to his strong torso like a glove. A suit like that wouldn’t be complete without a pocket square and Barrett didn’t disappoint. Even in the sweltering heat, Barrett looked every bit a Brit.
Fuck, he was delicious.
"Come on, Charlie,” I admonish myself as I step out of the lift. “I need to focus on my new rules, ‘No sex with my hot ex’.”
I repeat that in my head a few times to make sure it anchors in as I stroll down the corridor.
“He doesn't own me," I remind myself.
No, he just owns your pussy, says a little wicked voice in my head.
"Shut up!” I shout.
My internal—well, I guess it’s external—voice startles a couple as I turn the corner towards Barrett’s room.
Remember, you’re armed with your big girl's knickers.
Technically I'm wearing a pair he bought me, but that's beside the point. I can totally do this.
With a fresh surge of determination, I knock on Barrett’s door.
"It doesn’t matter how sexy he looks, how well he behaves—tonight will not end in sex. No shagging allowed,” I mumble to myself.
When the door opens, Barrett stands there with a hand clamped on the door and the other tucked inside his pocket. His hair is still wet. He’s all man… and all testosterone. That’s what makes him such a formidable lawyer and lover.
Goddammit, he's making it very hard for me to stick to my new rules.
I hold his gaze for a few more seconds, but eventually, I falter.
You’d think I would know better than to look down.
Nope.
The man looks like an Adonis, but from the waist down he’s sinful.
“Hey,” he says.
My eyes bounce back to his.
“Oh.”
That’s my bloody response.
Why?
Because I want to fucking climb the man like a bloody tree and beg him to take me right here in the corridor in the most unrepentant way.
I take in all six feet three scrumptious inches of him. The man looks like fucking sex on legs in a pair of dark-washed jeans, a cognac leather belt and a white shirt. A few buttons are undone revealing a hint of his chest hair. Yes, yes, and yes. His long feet are bare. Even his feet are bloody per
fect. The man can rock a suit and he redefines the whole concept of suit porn, but when he’s casual like this, he’s delectable. And very fuckable.
Damn!
Unwillingly, I flash back to the last time he shagged me.
I shiver.
My nipples harden.
My thighs tremble.
And so help me God, I loved every minute of it.
Even now, remembering that sexy night turns me on.
His big strong hands.
His sensual and demanding mouth.
His very thick and hard cock.
My pussy clenches again at the recollection.
Damn.
And I’m not ashamed to say that I’d drop to my knees right now and worship this gorgeous man.
God.
“Charlotte?” Barrett huffs out a deep sigh. I guess he called out my name a few times. “Did I lose you?”
“Huh?”
“Where did you go just there?” His gruff voice snaps me back to reality.
Bollocks.
He looks at me puzzled... that scowl on his handsome face.
I want to slap it right off.
No, I want to lick it right off.
Argh!
“Barrett,” I say when my brain kicks into gear again.
“Come in,” he waves me in.
I enter.
He closes the door and leans against it.
There's a very awkward silence that passes between us before he says, "You look gorgeous, Charlotte.” Under these lights, his eyes are the most brilliant shade of green with only a few specs of gold shimmering from his irises as he appraises me.
"Thank you," I say shyly.
He raises an eyebrow. “You changed?” Barrett's beautiful mouth quirks up just a slight bit.
"I did. I needed a shower to recharge my batteries," I offer.
"I had to take a shower as well… but for a whole different reason," Barrett says in a low voice. His devilish smile says it all.
"You're incorrigible," I chastise.
You're All I Think About_Second Chance Romance Page 11
