Dominic was considering the week ahead, his schedule printed on the paper in front of him. Another trip to Latin America was needed and he was trying to fit it in. Catching up with Bianca had also brought back thoughts of the friends he’d left behind in the UK. It had been a long time since he’d seen them, quite some time since he’d been back to the UK, in fact. But looking at his schedule now, there was no time for a trip back to the UK for social reasons.
A knock sounded on the door and he knew it was Fennie by the rhythm of the strikes. Her head appeared. “There is someone here to see you,” she said quietly. Her eyes widened a bit which showed it was someone who insisted and Fennie hadn’t been able to fend them off. Over time, he and Fennie had developed quite complex communications through tone and body language. He always knew what Fennie thought about something without her actually saying it. And right now, she wasn’t pleased.
The door opened and Bianca stood there. That’s why Fennie wasn’t pleased. Bianca was the kind of woman that the conservative older lady that was his PA didn’t really approve of. Rich, beautiful—entitled, and Fennie had not had the force to sway Bianca from what she wanted.
“Hello, darling. Isn’t it time for you to knock off for the day?”
“It’s only four, Bianca.”
“The night is young, then,” she said and walked into his office with long, leisurely strides, looking around. “So this is where you keep yourself these days.” Sitting down on the sofa at the other end of the office, she turned her attention to him. The door was open and Fennie could likely hear everything that was said, but Bianca didn’t care. She hid nothing about herself, or cared that she was observed. But the sofa was also a little too far away for conversation with him behind his desk, which meant she expected him to come to her. He recognised the tactic. Actually, it amused him.
“You work too hard,” she said with a little shrug. “Take me for a drink.” He actually enjoyed her directness. It took some getting used to if you didn’t know her. Many were taken aback and didn’t know how to deal with her. In those cases, she tended to railroad straight over them.
Today, she wore white. A silk blouse and a skirt. Expensive tan-coloured heels complimented her skin. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. Maximillian Solstice had been so very in love with her at one time; it was hard to think that had soured, but most relationships did over time, from what he’d seen. His certainly had.
It wasn’t often women barged into his office and demanded a drink. It was nice to meet a woman who had the guts to, had the confidence to know what she wanted.
There was also a warning in Dominic’s head, because there was something in the back of his mind that told him to be careful, that she was perhaps here for more than simply catching up with a friend. Bianca flirted with everyone, but something told him that she was interested in him, had maybe even come to Marbella because he was here.
It was hard not to be flattered.
“I saw Felix,” she stated. “He told me you have a birthday coming up,” she said chidingly. “We conspired.”
“Did you?”
“Absolutely. Birthdays are important, a time to celebrate. I think we should both celebrate our freedom. I certainly need a chance to.”
“I hadn’t given it that much consideration.” He hadn’t, except that Felix had recently invited Cheryl to a party for it. Dominic had been uncomfortable with the idea, but couldn’t exactly explain why. There was something about Cheryl that made him uncomfortable, and it probably had a large part to do with the fact that he was, is some way, very attracted to her.
Cheryl and Bianca were two totally different creatures. Bianca shone whenever she walked into a room, and no one could fail to notice her. And she needed someone who was man enough to measure up to her, to hold their own. He also knew he could. She didn’t intimidate him like she did others. And yet, it was Cheryl who made him uncomfortable, who had nowhere near the force of personality that Bianca did—reserved and self-contained, whereas Bianca was exuberant and commanding.
“Now, how about that drink? I’m parched,” she said.
Dominic smiled at how uncompromising she was, refusing to be swayed from her objective. “As you came all this way,” he conceded and stood. There was nothing particularly important on his schedule other than doing some financial reviews, which he could to later that night at home.
Bianca placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and they walked out of his office and to the lift. “Caused quite a stir when you packed up and deserted London. A few people speculated if you’d had a little breakdown.”
A breakdown didn’t signify him at all, but he could understand how people who didn’t know him would be boggled at the choice. There had been articles written about him moving the Dunbury Industries headquarters to Spain. It had been seen as an unprecedented move and many had grappled with it. “Is that so?” he said, uninterested.
There were bullshit and power structures in London that had nothing to do with running a business. On some levels, London was a business-friendly town, but at a certain level, there was also an invisible structure that promoted or resented things on its whims, a structure that wanted acknowledgement and obedience, and Dominic had been sick of it.
Here in Marbella, he didn’t have to be considerate to anyone. The Spanish Government did keep his lawyers and planning department busy, but it was only red tape, and it did eventually get sorted with sufficient money and pressure. In London, things were always complicated, but on a much deeper level. There, the more you pushed the harder the structure pushed back, for no other reason than to be contrary.
His permanent move to Marbella, both personally and professionally, had been about simplifying his life and getting away from distractions that served no purpose but to confound and annoy him. His time in prison had shown him that it was him and his kids that mattered, nothing else. And that success was the best revenge, and Dunbury Industries was thriving in its new home.
Chapter 18
The incident in the theatre had taken Esme by surprise. It had just happened—partially because she’d badly needed it, but also because she had discovered something intriguing underneath Inns cold exterior. Accidentally stepping into him and finding him hard as a rock had been a bit of a shock. Typically Inns; he was all full of barbs and hard edges, even as he burned with desire. Pressing past that had brought out something a little frantic and even desperate. There was a deeper level there.
And apparently, she had found that inordinately sexy. Was she too young to be considered a Mrs. Robinson? In terms of experience, she would bet her life Inns had very little. He might even have been a virgin for all she knew. She could have spontaneously deflowered a virgin in a darkened theatre full of people. What did that make her?
Would Aggie care? She’d probably be gobsmacked that anyone had ended up fucking her prickly cousin. Esme couldn’t help but giggle at the ridiculousness of it. And honestly, it hadn’t been bad, but it might be the overlong celibacy and the danger of being in public that had made it so damned hot, because it had been hot.
Inns, however, seemed to have fallen to pieces after, and she was a little concerned about it. He’d rushed out of there, leaving his backpack behind, which now sat on the passenger side of her car. She’d afforded him the privacy of not going through it. In truth, she didn’t care. Inns still wasn’t someone she was interested in, as such. She wasn’t even remotely going to do her crazy stalker thing with him, which she invariably did whenever she was interested in someone and they showed even the tiniest bit of reciprocation. Inns was still an utter arsehole, and she had basically used him to get off in a spontaneous and unexpected bit of sheer sexiness.
It wasn’t like she meant him any harm, but a bit of sex shouldn’t upset a guy. Even if it had been his first time, it had been sexy, a hell of a lot sexier than her first time, which had been a painful mess of sloppy kisses and bony bodies. Maybe he was confused about his sexuality, which was why he took it so badly. But if he were gay, would
he’d had such a powerful stiffy at just an accidental touch?
Whatever. It didn’t serve thinking about, but a project partner with benefits was an interesting prospect. Fucking with someone she didn’t care about could be the perfect thing just at the moment, especially as she had basically sworn off guys—and the ways they always ended up screwing with her head. This was really clean cut. Sex and nothing else.
Pulling into the carpark, she sat down and waited on one of the ledges beside the stairs. Maybe she had scared him off and he wasn’t coming back. Really? How sensitive were you allowed to be? But then nothing Inns did made any sense to her.
Finally she saw him, pulling in to a park and getting out. He wore his typically awful clothes, although now she knew he hid quite a nice cock underneath, surprisingly nice for such an uptight guy.
He looked uncomfortable and awkward approaching her, a scowl on his face. Yep, he wasn’t happy, but it was hard to tell if it was general unhappiness or specifically related to this unexpected development.
“I got your bag,” she said, picking it up and holding it out to him. He took it and swung it over his shoulder. Didn’t say thank you, she noted, but then he rarely did to anyone.
He looked around to see if anyone was observing him. “We didn’t use protection,” he hissed.
Esme’s eyebrows shot up. That had not been what she’d expected him to say, but then he did tend to immediately seek the worst outcome in everything. “Don’t worry, you didn’t catch anything,” she said derisively.
“And if there’s consequences?” he said nervously.
“Consequences?”
“Of the familial variety.”
Astounded, Esme snort. “In a million years, I will not be carrying your baby, Inns. Is that what you’re worried about?”
He looked a little embarrassed.
“Are you afraid some girl is going to carry off with your sperm?”
Again, he didn’t answer. In his world, being lord of the manor, and all, he probably was worried. Esme laughed. “Rest assured, Inns. I have no interest in your family heirlooms. I wouldn’t stop for red lights on the way to the abortion clinic if my contraception by any chance failed. Don’t worry, your old, mouldering pile is safe from me.” She held her hands up in mock surrender.
Esme shook her head as she stood up and walked ahead of him up the stairs. Unbelievable. She wasn’t sure it had been possible for him to get more repugnant, but he actually had achieved it. Why was she surprised. “Let’s just go over the finances for the café,” she said, turning towards the library as she got inside. Maybe any kind of repeat intimacy with him was actually more than she could tolerate and for a moment, she wondered how she had managed to bypass his personality and had sex with him.
Happily, she could relegate it out of her mind and focus on the task at hand. The sooner this project was done, the sooner he would be out of her hair.
As if she would try to have his baby. He really was deluded enough to think that well of himself that someone would try to do that. A relic of some long-lost era, who refused to acknowledge that the world had moved on. People didn’t trap each other into marriage these days, Inns. In fact, if they did end up fucking in some way, she would double the contraception to ensure he didn’t come along with some of his strange notions that either of them was in some way entitled. Maybe best no to go there all together.
Chapter 19
The whole garden was brightly lit up, people milling across the whole back yard. There were waiters and dancers, lights, and tables. There was even a dance floor. Who had done this? The small intimate dinner Dominic had expected had turned into an extravaganza. It had to be Felix, although Esme was better at planning such things. Felix had been mentioning his birthday party to people, though.
Dominic walked through the large doors leading to the back yard. Someone had put a lot of work into this. He saw Fennie, who had most likely had a hand in the organisation. A large party wasn’t typically his thing.
Bianca walked towards him, wearing a white off the shoulder dress and a gauzy flowing wrap around her shoulders. Her skin was tanned, showing she’d been spending time in the sun since she’d been here.
“Hello, darling,” she said brightly, smiling broadly. She was known for that smile. As always, she looked sophisticated, her hair elegantly swept back in big curls. “What do you think of the party?”
“Did you have a hand in this, Bianca?” he asked.
“I might have helped a little,” she said coyly, which was code for yes, she had planned the biggest party she could dream up.
“You shouldn’t have,” he said lightly, belying how serious he actually was in the sentiment.
“Everyone wanted to celebrate, it seems, and you’re a very popular man in Marbella. I believe most of your friends have turned up, unwilling to miss what will probably be the party of the season.”
Dominic looked around seeing most of the notables in Marbella present. Many of the executives from Dunbury Industries were there as well. Felix stood amongst a group of people, looking casual with his hand in his pocket. He looked like a guy who was comfortable in his own skin and Dominic was suddenly very proud of him, even if he did still have a habit of stirring at other people’s expense.
Further along, Esme was milling around, wearing a flower print dress, laughing at something someone said to her. So far, she hadn’t quit her studies, which he saw as very encouraging, but he wasn’t holding his breath. Until Esme found the right thing for her, she wouldn’t stick to something. He just hoped there was something that appealed to her. Kids could go off the rails here—money making them directionless and seeking trouble. For a while, it had looked like both of his kids had been going in that direction, but things seemed to be coming right.
With a hand tucked in the crook of his elbow, Bianca walked with him. He wasn’t entirely sure he was comfortable with the party she had planned, but he did appreciate the effort she had put in. It was perhaps a little out of line with the kind of relationship they had, but then there was a lot of water under that bridge.
A more pressing question was why she’d done it. It wasn’t typically a role for an acquaintance. It could be that she had interest in something more. The thought hit him with surprise. Well, not that a woman would be interested in him, because that wasn’t actually rare considering his position and wealth, but that it was Bianca, with their long-winded past, which at times had been almost adversarial.
“I’m afraid I don’t know most of the people here. Why don’t you introduce me?”
“Of course,” Dominic said and walked to the nearest group, which turned out to be the Fellworths and Marsha Woolencraft. Aggie’s bright face was there, smiling. In the past, Dominic had held hopes that Felix and Aggie would hit it off, but it had never happened. With them was also a younger man that Dominic hadn’t met before.
“Dominic, splendid bash,” Nate Fellworth said and they shook hands. “Good to see you, Dom. We haven’t seen you around in some time. You should come for dinner one night.”
“Yes, bring the children. It will be great to see them, too. I see them around town, of course, but it will be wonderful to chat with them. I hear Felix is doing really well. He looks smart tonight. So grown up.”
“Yes,” Dominic agreed.
“It goes so fast, doesn’t it?” Bianca pitched in. “My daughter is studying for a Masters in Fine Art at the moment. It was only yesterday I was enrolling her in kindergarten.”
Another couple joined the conversation. Dominic didn’t know them well, but the Fellworths obviously did. A good time to move on.
“Felix is turning into a handsome young man,” Bianca said. “Looks a great deal like a young guy I used to know.” She nudged him lightly. “We should say hi. He helped a great deal with the invitation list.”
Bianca steered him towards where Felix way standing, and he was talking to a woman with blond wavy hair and a dark, form fitting dress. It was only when he saw her face tha
t he realised it was Cheryl Waters. Normally he saw her with her hair up, and hadn’t recognised her with it down, flowing loosely around her shoulders. The dress was high street with a square neckline and a small belt at the waist, a little reminiscent of something fifties inspired. As per usual, she wore makeup—smokey eyes and red lips.
“You know Cheryl, of course,” Felix said. Dominic could hear that edge in Felix’s voice, as if he was about to stir. He liked to mess with people and see their reactions. Felix knew that Dominic had a soft spot for her and seemed to throw that in his face every opportunity, even if Dominic couldn’t figure out why.
“Of course,” he said and stepped forward to kiss her on the cheek. It seemed the appropriate thing to do, even if it felt awkward. Her perfume was fresh and sweet, having none of the spicy edge of the perfumes usually preferred in this set. Cheryl almost smelled like a lolly.
“I haven’t had the pleasure,” Bianca said, extending her hand. “Bianca Solstice.”
“Cheryl,” she said with a smile. It was still strange to see her with her hair down, dressed for an evening out. Well, there had been an evening out between them in the past, where Cheryl had been vulnerable and he had felt protective, and it had all gone downhill from there until he’d walked away. Cheryl had always been prickly, their relationship adversarial until the point where he’d felt too brutish to squash her. That fact had ignited feelings he hadn’t wanted to explore, and she still made him deeply feel… unreasonable.
“Cheryl is one of my tenants,” Dominic explained, aware that he felt like he had to explain why someone like Cheryl was at his party, someone who frankly didn’t fit in.
“Oh, are you an entrepreneur?” Bianca asked with raised eyebrows, clearly not able to figure this woman out.
“I own a hair salon.”
Bianca smiled. “That’s lovely.” Dominic could see Bianca losing interest, like an expression sliding off her face.
Marbella Twist Page 7
