“What did you expect?” He rifled through the papers on his desk late one night. “She made her intentions clear.”
He’d thrown himself into his work, as much as he could with the injury. There were still areas of the business he needed to learn, but he could only absorb so much at a time. Just this week, he’d met with the heads of catering, finance, and the hotel spa. His inbox had exploded accordingly. That was his own damn fault. He’d asked to be copied on certain communications. While he appreciated the distractions and the challenges, he also wanted to tell everyone to fuck right off and leave him alone.
Tonight, he was supposed to host another private party at Covet.
It was the last thing he wanted to do.
He was expected to schmooze the in-crowd. All the while, their booth would stand sentry in the corner, a reminder of what he and Dana had shared. The red velvet curtains would mock him. He wasn’t sure he could bear to see anyone else sitting in the space. It would feel like sacrilege.
He checked the time. Like an automaton, he finished up his work, not bothering to put his laptop away. A few papers lay scattered on his desk, as well as two used coffee mugs. He didn’t care.
Taking care not to bump his right hand, he retreated to his bathroom. The doctor had assured him his thermoplastic splint could be worn in the shower, but it was removable, so he’d gotten in the habit of taking it off to shower. Showering, itself, wasn’t easy, but he was getting the hang of washing his hair using only his left hand. He’d never be ambidextrous, but he was getting things done.
After showering, Alex put on some fresh clothes. Out of habit, his gaze landed on his rack of ties, but he’d forsaken them the past couple of weeks. He hadn’t even bothered to tidy up his closet. A pile of dirty clothes sat on the floor.
Dana would laugh if she saw it.
Once again, he thought of her. This time, he was tormented by the memory of her riding him in bed. Her sweet body, slick with sweat. Full thighs, gripping him hard. Her breasts bouncing as she took him deeper.
So beautiful.
He needed to get her out of his head. She’d clearly forgotten about him.
Finished dressing, he headed to Covet.
Alex didn’t say a word to anyone as he strode through the club toward the private rooms in back. As soon as he entered the VIP room, several acquaintances hurried over to greet him. He let himself be led over to one of the couches. A waitress brought him a Coke, even before he could consider what sort of drink he’d like.
He didn’t turn it away. He drank it down.
Someone started talking about a movie premiere, but five minutes later, he couldn’t remember which one.
For that, he’d have to care.
He sat in the same seat for an hour, barely participating in the conversations around him. It was all the same to his guests. They might defer to him but, at the end of the day, they didn’t care about him either. It was more important for them to be seen in his company.
Out on the pool deck, people frolicked. Celebrity guests laughed, their heads thrown back, their brilliant white teeth lighting up the room. Connections and liaisons were established. Love affairs began and ended.
There was a time when he enjoyed being among these people, when the fantasy turned him on.
Tonight, he couldn’t have cared less.
At the end of the hour, a woman approached. He knew her well. Rose Harding was a starlet. Her latest film had been a hit at Sundance. A beautiful brunette, clad in a form-fitting purple gown, she had the eye of every man in the VIP suite.
But she sat next to him.
“Hi, Alex. Long time, no see.”
“Hi, Rose.”
“Congratulations on Covet. This is the first chance I’ve had to visit.”
“Glad you could make it.”
“Me too. I needed to get away from work for the weekend.”
“Trouble?”
“Not really, but my new leading man has shit for brains. He’s driving me crazy. He’s never acted a day in his life, but he’s prettier than I am. He makes Brad Pitt look like Quasimodo. You watch. He’ll be the toast of awards season.”
