She kissed him.
And he had hated that, too—hated how great it was. He couldn’t even lie to himself. Her firm lips, so greedy as she’d pressed them into his, it was more than he could handle. It had single-handedly brought about feelings he didn’t want to have. Feelings of love. Feelings that someone cared about him.
Which was why he didn’t kiss.
Period.
Kissing Sophia though, was all he could think about. He wanted to do it again. Even knowing all she was after was his money. He needed serious mental therapy. He was quite the case.
If that weren’t all, he had only himself to blame for not putting two and two together that Club Jericho was The Glass House. Why hadn’t he delved deeper into that? Jericho and Michael went way back. They met in college at a frat party. Jericho kicked his ass at a poker tournament the house put together and they’d been friends ever since. All these years later, Jericho was still happy to put together late-night poker games and take Michael’s money. Michael was stupid enough to allow Zander and Dylan as well as Jericho to keep taking his money. Some things never changed.
His grandmother’s shoes clicked against the tile as she entered his office. “Michael? You need to stop sulking. Why don’t you call her?”
“It’s Mr. Vilander and can’t you knock?” He looked up from his phone.
She rolled her eyes at him, silently calling him out on his change of request that he insisted she not call him Mr. Vilander. “No. Your attitude stinks. Your own security guards don’t want to be around you. You need to take a day off. At a minimum, you’ve got to get out of this funk,” Regina said.
While Michael held a lot of affection for his grandmother, he was not in the mood for her advice or her lectures. Hell, he didn’t need to be told that his attitude was shit. He’d known it the second To Eat or Wear stormed out of his office yesterday when he’d made an asshat of himself. He’d known it when he’d yelled at his two interns, Phoebe and Joanna, about changing some of the features on the website – something they’d discussed over and over.
Regina stood glaring at Michael as if she could intimidate him. He glared back. He was good at intimidation tactics and wasn’t in the mood to be bullied by his grandmother. Not today.
She released a huff. “Fine. Don’t talk to me until you get your act together.”
Until he got his act together? Was she kidding? She wasn’t going to talk to him until he got his act together? This outraged him even further. He stomped out of his office to her desk.
“You can’t do that. You’re my grandma. You have to talk to me! In fact, I can fire you for not talking to me. Besides, Sophia is a stripper! A stripper and she didn’t even have the decency to tell me!”
She shrugged in her I-don’t-care attitude that he’d seen on more than one occasion. The look that always made him feel like she didn’t give a crap, and she couldn’t believe he did. “Have you ever considered how you would have treated her if you knew the truth?”
Michael clenched his hands into fists and he bit down on his lip for fear of answering her truthfully. She knew he wouldn’t have given Sophia a shot and it pissed him off that she was making the right point. Before he could say anything to her, his IT guy, Eddie, walked up. After having been shot in the leg, he moved with a slow gait. The guy was large in stature—probably would do better on Michael’s security team than the IT department—and because of the scar that trailed from his left eyebrow down to the corner of his mouth, had the looks to succeed in that department too. Unfortunately, Eddie insisted that he worked better in the IT department than anywhere else. Michael couldn’t even argue that fact. Eddie was the best.
“We’ve got a problem. You’re going to want to see this.”
Fuck. This couldn’t be good. No news from Eddie was good news. Feeling like he’d been about to burst at the seams, he released a deep breath while rolling his shoulders, hoping to release the tension inside his body. “Come in my office.”
Eddie pulled up a chair and flipped his laptop open, setting it on top of Michael’s desk. Not one for pleasantries, he got right down to business. “There is an overload in the system for one guy in particular. I traced the IP address back to you.”
Dread settled in Michael’s stomach as he watched Eddie click on Together’s site where Michael’s fake profile appeared. Shit. He’d forgotten to delete it.
“We’ve been getting bombarded with hundreds of women adding you to their lists. All of them have been sending you messages non-stop. It’s slowing down the system.”
“What? How could that even happen? Hundreds of people a day send messages back and forth on Together. We’ve never had a problem in the past.”
“That’s correct. But I’m talking hundreds per hour, Michael. Look, your inbox is out-of-control.”
He pointed to Estwd5280’s inbox. Michael, at least, had the intelligence to not even pretend it wasn’t his profile. Not with Eddie. The guy was Einstein smart. So smart that Eddie probably knew what Michael had done, since the day the profile was created. Michael couldn’t believe he’d forgotten to delete his profile. His inbox was in the millions with messages. This was also why Eddie was the best—he never judged. Eddie didn’t care why Michael did what he did, Eddie simply needed to fix the situation.
“I don’t get it. No one even knows this is me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, boss.” Eddie pulled up another screen. “According to one message posted to your profile page, it says: “This is Michael Vilander’s account. Denver’s Most-Eligible Bachelor. Potential Wife Please Apply,” Eddie read.
“No. That’s impossible. How can someone even post on my profile page? How can they change it without my knowledge?”
“Hacked it. It was Mindy. I tracked it. How often do you change your passwords, Michael?”
Michael’s vision blurred. A large pressure formed at the center of his forehead. His blood was boiling and on the verge of exploding. His heart beat frantically in his chest as he thought about his passwords and how he never strayed from one password in particular. A password she would most definitely know. How could Mindy even know he set up a profile though?
“Never. I pretty much use one for everything that isn’t related to work.”
“I was afraid of that. You bitch every time you have to change it here, so I assumed you had a go-to. Most people do. The problem is when other people still know it. Like Mindy,” Eddie said.
Michael’s password was the same as his handle on Together – Estwd5280, except he’d added a C to the beginning and a pound sign at the end. Of course, she would know that. She was evil. If he could wrap his hands around her throat right now, he’d be hard pressed to let her go.
“Sorry, boss, to be the bearer of bad news, but you’ve got problems. Howard already confirmed the press is outside. Dying to know about your engagement is my guess. Julia is already on her way.”
“I don’t have an engagement. It’s over.” Michael hunched his shoulders, unable to stop messing with his hair. Creating the profile had been the most idiotic thing he’d ever done. Since the second Mindy had told him how money-hungry Sophia was, things had gone downhill from there.
“Sorry to hear that, man. Are you okay if I delete your profile? We’re getting hits from Singapore, Peru, all over the world. From women interested in becoming your wife. It’s unreal. I’ve never seen anything like it. We’ll set up a press statement that it was all a hoax. That work for you?”
Michael simply nodded because his mind was reeling and what could he say? He brought this all on himself. His shitty day had officially gotten worse. He’d never made a statement ending his fake engagement – Julia had simply pleaded for their privacy, but doing it now wasn’t the best time to do it. He didn’t want to address Sophia to the public. He didn’t want to admit their fake engagement was over. He wanted to keep their non-relationship relationship all to himself. Wallow in what was. Wallow in how aroused she’d made him, dancing for him, shaking her t
its in his face, and how no woman had ever come as close to being as magnificent as Sophia. He wanted to pout and punish himself for all the ways he was fucked up.
“I appreciate your loyalty, Eddie. Thanks for cleaning this up.”
“Can you just be sure to change all of your passwords? That’d make me feel a whole lot better.”
“Sure. I can do that. Thanks, man.”
Julia stomped into his office. “What the hell, Michael? Looking for a wife? Are you out of your mind?” Eddie, always cool as a cucumber, walked past her. Julia’s eyes flickered toward Eddie and even though she was pissed at Michael, she managed a small smile for Eddie. “Hi, Edward.”
Eddie nodded in acknowledgement.
“Don’t start, Julia,” Michael said.
“Don’t start? You’ve made the internet glitch. Glitch, for God’s sake. It’s a fight as to who can get closest to your building: women or the press. Look!”
She strutted toward the bank of windows and pointed her finger down below where Michael’s eyeballs almost popped out. Below, mobs of people stood around the sidewalk. Cameras flashed and news stations’ vans were parked in no parking zones.
“How am I going to spin this?” Julia asked as she folded her arms across her chest.
“It was a hack. Explain it like that. Someone created an account and set me up.”
“So there’s no truth to this?” Her voice softened slightly.
“You mean, me advertising for a wife? Hell, no.”
“You’re lying to me. I know you well enough, Michael, to see when you aren’t being completely real with me. What aren’t you telling me? I don’t like to be in the dark.”
Michael turned and leaned against the bay of windows, taking in his office suite and the small but mighty drone of commotion below them. As always, Julia was right. He knew that she needed all pertinent details to do her job because when she did, she was damn good at it.
“I created a fake profile to find a date for the gala. That’s how Sophia and I met. When Mindy came to our table that night, Sophia blurted out that we were engaged.” He turned to Julia and answered her quizzical stare with a shrug. “She was sticking up for me. If the situation weren’t so dire, you would find the humor in it.”
“I doubt it.” She smirked.
“Whatever. Anyway, after that, the fib had to be spun for a while. We agreed on one month, and then it would be over.”
“But things got more complicated than that?” she guessed.
Michael folded his arms across his chest as he thought about Sophia and how he’d fallen for her. Mindy outing her. Sophia’s dance. “Yeah, it definitely got complicated. Anyway, I forgot to delete the profile and somehow Mindy figured it out. My payback for not doing what she’d like me to do.”
“Which is?”
“Take her back,” he said.
Julia placed a hand on his arm. “First off, you’re an idiot. Secondly, I’ve got this. I’ve so got this that you don’t have to worry.”
Michael looked his dear friend in the eye, silently conveying he fucked up and yet unable to admit it out loud. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to clarify that it was all a hoax. That someone created an account, and it’s all a fake. I will assure the press that you are happily engaged to Sophia, and it’s in everyone’s best interest to put this behind us.”
Michael grimaced. “About that, Sophia and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms.”
“What else aren’t you telling me?” Julia’s shoulders fell and her head tilted to the side.
“I found out she’s a stripper.” Michael winced as he said the words, hoping Julia could spin this, too.
“You’re joking.”
Michael shook his head.
“Holy shit. Does anyone know?”
“Not that I’m aware of. Mindy does. I just found out.”
“Assuming there isn’t a way you can get her to quit, we’re going to withhold this information. For now.” Julia reached up and gave him a quick hug.
He smiled half-heartedly. “Thanks, Julia. I owe you. How about a week skiing in Telluride? I’ll have the cabin ready anytime you’d like. Just say the word.”
“I might take you up on that offer.” Confirming his ever-present suspicion, she asked, “Does Edward ski?”
Michael switched gears, trying to recall if he knew the answer to Julia’s question. “I think he’d claim to, if he knew he got to spend time with you. Which, I knew there was something going on between the two of you. Why do you two dance around one another the way you do?”
She glanced out the windows wistfully. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s time one of us makes a move.”
“Past time,” he added. “You can see yourself out? I’ve gotta get away from here. Thanks again, Julia.”
“No problem,” she said. “Don’t try hiding stuff from me again.”
He passed Regina and ignored her worried expression. He knew she’d heard everything Eddie had told him inside his office. Julia, too, for that matter. He headed down the stairwell and out the back door, confirming that Aslan would be there waiting for Michael in the garage.
“Just drive,” he said, as he opened his door.
Why would Mindy do this? She had a troubled way of thinking, he knew, but this? One second she was tugging his dick and the next she was sabotaging him. What in the hell did she want from him? There was no way he could ever go back to her, especially after a stunt like that. He couldn’t figure out her angle. He couldn’t confront her yet, though. He needed to cool down before that. Michael needed a drink. Who cared what time it was.
“Aslan? Take me to The Glass House.” He ignored Aslan’s questioning gaze and leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes as he waited for Aslan to get him to the strip joint. With the press and circus of women in the front of the building, Michael was grateful that Aslan and his security team used a decoy limo that left the same time the two of them had come up from the underground parking and out the back.
When Michael walked inside The Glass House, the place was showing only the slightest beginnings of turning into a full-on strip joint. Two waitresses were walking around with trays, and there wasn’t a single dancer on stage, yet. Michael sat alone at the bar, immediately shedding his suit jacket.
“You’re turning in to my best customer, Vilander.” Jericho greeted him from behind the bar.
“I don’t have anywhere better to be.”
“She isn’t here at this hour,” Jericho said.
Michael played dumb. “Who? I’m not looking for anyone in particular. Just came in for a drink.”
Jericho smirked as he set a beer in front of Michael. “Sure, man.”
“Don’t you have lackeys to serve me? Why are you doing it?”
“My bartender is running late. Ex wasn’t home to take his kid, so you’re stuck with me. For now.”
“Hey, handsome, you need anything tonight, I’m your gal. You looking for anything in particular?” A busty blonde settled beside Michael, resting her hand along his arm.
She was short and although her make-up did its best to cover it up, he could see that she was much older than she tried to look. It didn’t turn him on that she looked like an older version of his mother. As he contemplated her overt question, he knew she couldn’t give him what he needed. He realized it wasn’t because of her age, though, but because she wasn’t Sophia.
“What’s your name?”
“Name’s Teddy.”
“Nice to meet you, Teddy. You work here long?”
“Going on nine years, right, Jericho?”
“I think so.”
Wow. That was a long time to be at a strip joint. He never imagined anyone making a career here. He thought of it like a temporary job. He always figured they’d work at a place like this until something better came along. Until they made enough money to move on to bigger and better things. Was that what Sophia was doing? Working there to save money to move on to bigger and better th
ings? Or was this her place? Did she plan to stay like Teddy and make a life out of it? She claimed she was attending college for a pre-nursing program, but he didn’t know what to believe at this point.
His conscience nagged at him that he should have answered his phone when she called. Ask her the questions that were burning in his mind. Perhaps clear the air. The fact that she took his money though, spoke volumes and reminded him why he hadn’t picked up the phone when she called. Besides, he shouldn’t care what she was doing with her life. The two of them were over. Done with faking it. Done with whatever feelings he’d started to harbor for her.
“It was wonderful meeting you, Teddy. If I need anything, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
She winked at Michael and took off. He raised his eyebrow at Jericho. Jericho shrugged.
Michael drank his beer quickly, asking Jericho for another one.
“You drink ’em this fast, you’ll be hammered before she gets here.”
Michael snorted. “I’m not going to be here when she shows up.”
“Why?”
“Cause she’s just like every other female who chases after me.”
“Chasing after Michael.” He laughed. “A tale as old as time. Imagine that.”
“Imagine that.”
“Now, what’s the real deal? Don’t give me this bullshit side story.”
“All she’s after is money. Money-hungry. Looks like I sure know how to pick ’em.”
“Sophia?”
The way he questioned her name, made Michael turn in his seat expecting to see her beautiful face and stunning body standing there, but when he turned all he saw was Teddy walking across the room.
“Sophia what?” he asked Jericho.
A waitress interrupted them then. “I’m sorry to bother you guys, but Jericho, I need a word with you. Ernest is already falling out of his chair. And Zee is…” When he couldn’t hear her last word, Michael took the hint that the woman didn’t want to speak ill of whoever Zee was, and he took that as his cue to leave.
Nothing But Trouble Page 14
