I shake my head. “Fuck no, Hope never passed any of this kind of thing on. It was always a blanket no. If we attended anything, it was through personal invitation only—something that was sent directly to me or to my dad. We’ve never attended any of these publicity generating things. Because you know that’s why any of us get invited. The place or people want publicity with their new venture, and they think being able to throw one of our names around will guarantee them press.”
“Those kinds of events are perfect for our needs. But if you do decide to do something scandalous, can you please let me know so we can spin our own press on it?” He’s not even looking at me, he’s swiping across his phone. I snort in disgust.
“Scandalous? Do you have someone picked out for me to be caught on my knees with, or can I pick my own partner?”
He smirks, but it’s not friendly. “Come on, Jacinta, don’t act all high and mighty. It’s just you and me now, and we both know you have no problem with getting fucked by a stranger.”
I stand up, slamming my hands down on the desk. “Fuck you, Cole. I’ve never done anything like that before. Ever.”
“You know you’re quite the little tease. I bet Shane, Alex, and Jace have no clue what we did, do they? It was all I could do to keep my mouth closed the other night. I bet they wouldn’t be so interested in you if they knew that I had fucked you like I owned you.”
I grit my teeth to stop the scream from escaping. “You wish. It was all I could do to fake a response,” I snap, and that finally gets a reaction other than snarky amusement.
“Like fuck you did.” He’s on his feet now, stalking toward me. I back away as he rounds my desk, but when I hit the bookcase behind me, I have nowhere else to go.
“There was no faking it when your pussy gripped my cock so tightly I thought it was going to strangle it. There was no faking the way it gushed all over me.” Once again, he pushes me up against the wall, and my body shudders with excitement, the traitor. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind. You were so fucking responsive, and now I find out you’re just a fucking cock tease. Playing three other men against each other as well.” He slams a hand beside my head, and his fist opens and closes like he’s trying to stop himself from grabbing my hair.
“I’m not pitting them against each other! They want to add me to their relationship. We would all be together,” I tell him, my anger fading with the building sexual tension.
“Yes, they set me straight after you and Riku left. I asked why they were willing to ruin their own relationship for a piece of pretty ass. Jace just about decked me, but Alex and Shane laughed in my face. Taunted me with the fact that I was just a little too interested in what they were doing with you and how there was room for one or two more in your harem.”
I scoff. “My harem, what the fuck?” Before I can argue any more, he swoops down and takes my mouth with his. And just like the other night, I melt against him as he ravishes me. His tongue tangles with mine, his teeth biting my lip. It’s an explosion of passion, and it’s all I can do to hang on to the bookshelf behind me and enjoy the ride.
Suddenly, he pulls away. “Fuck! What am I doing? Goddamn it.” He stalks across the room as I try to get my breathing back under control and picks up his phone from my desk. “Make sure you go to these things, Jacinta, I mean it,” he growls before leaving the room.
I’m frozen in shock, but that only lasts a minute before I grab a book off the shelf and hurl it in the direction he went. “You fucking asshole!” I scream, then I hear the sound of feet and the slamming of a door just before Simon appears through my office door, gun in hand.
He surveys the room before he relaxes. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes.” I wave my hand at him and push off the bookcase. “Just angry at that asshole.”
“Mr. Chambers? I’m sorry. He said he had an appointment, which is why I let him in.”
“Not exactly, but that’s okay. He just makes me mad, Simon. There is nothing to worry about,” I assure my bodyguard who shoves his gun back into the holster.
“Okay, just let me know if you need me.” He goes back to watching the movers as I hear the sound of the helicopter winding up. I peer out my window, and I can see him sitting in the pilot’s seat. He flicks a couple of switches, completely engrossed with doing whatever it is pilots do when readying a craft for takeoff. Of course he has to be a control freak like my brothers. Why else would you want to pilot an aircraft when you could be perfectly happy in the back being the passenger? I flip him off as the helicopter lifts into the air, but he doesn’t see it.
“Fuck you, Cole Chambers. You want an out of control party princess? Well, I’m going to give you exactly what you asked for.”
ChapterTwenty
Jacinta
Unfortunately, I never get to have my movie night with Jace as the next week passes in a blur of public appearances, cocaine, and alcohol. My anger is steadily growing in a slow burn, but every time I get ready to attend something, my anxiety and nerves take over, and I need to rely on the stimulants to get through the night. I attend a club opening, a movie premiere, and a birthday party for a minor member of British royalty, which is three events too many for my loosening grip on my sanity.
I socialize with the hottest stars of Hollywood, the modeling world, and Hollywood as well as socialites like the Kardashians. Simon and Riku stay close enough to protect me when needed but far enough away that they can’t monitor the amount of alcohol I’m consuming.
It’s at Lord Lavington’s birthday party that I find myself at a table with Selena Cross and Evangeline Masters. Both actresses are represented by Neighpalm Productions. Evangeline is a good friend, but Selena has only been friends with me in the hope of getting in Declan’s pants. Even now, although she’s aware he’s off the market, she’s digging for dirt.
“But how can a virile man like Declan be satisfied by a woman who has to split her attention six ways?” She shakes her head as she pulls a bottle of pills out of her bag. I’m just about to snap at her and tell her to fuck off, but the sight of the pills stops me. I guess Evangeline can feel how tense I am because she jumps in to defuse the situation.
“For fuck’s sake, Selena. Get over Declan Summers! He’s never going to be yours. You should be grateful you still have a fucking job after lying and telling them you could ride. You could have been blacklisted completely.”
“Fine, maybe you’re right. Maybe I need to set my eyes on someone else like actual royalty.” She’s looking into the crowd, and I turn to see who she’s watching. Lord Ashton Lavington is a fucking sexy man, all aristocratic bone structure and plump lips with artfully styled black hair and dark brown eyes you can sink into.
Again, Evie snorts. “Good luck with that one. He’s a notorious playboy, and the rumor is he prefers peen to pussy.”
I drag my eyes away from the man who’s surrounded by women and men vying for his attention. Selena shrugs, opening the bottle and tapping out a pill into her hand before popping it into her mouth and tossing back the rest of her cocktail.
