Wade approached Alex from the side. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just thinking.”
Regrets wouldn’t serve him well now. The best thing he could do was keep busy. Being industrious had carried him through the trials of the past year and his ability to focus would help him become more successful than ever before.
When he’d opened Champagne and Liberty, his New York clubs, he’d tasted a dollop of true success. With Vice and his two other casino hotels, that success would be cemented.
Right now, this was Alex’s time, and he would make a difference.
But he would do it his way. Not Liam’s, not anyone else’s. By the time he was done with Vice, it would be the most popular casino hotel in the world.
Alex clapped Wade on the shoulder and led back him to the elevators. “I have great plans for this place, Wade. Wait and see.”
“Sounds awesome.”
“First things first. I want to meet as many staff members as possible. You know this place better than anyone.” He summoned the elevator and they got in. “Lead the way.”
As they descended, another woman’s face flashed in front of his eyes and Alex indulged in a quick daydream.
Dana.
He’d barely spent an hour in the woman’s company two months ago and he still couldn’t get her out of his head.
Dana, the one who’d made him forget himself.
He just wasn’t sure he deserved to forget.
He’d flirted with the idea of searching for Dana, but with nothing more than a face and a first name to go by, he hadn’t bothered. What good would it do, anyway? They may have shared a raw sexual encounter in a tacky bathroom, but she’d left him high and dry.
Clearly, she hadn’t wanted a second round. It seemed stupid to waste time thinking of her now. Even if he did happen to run into her, what would happen? She’d probably take one look and run.
There was nothing quite like getting rejected by the same woman a second time. He wasn’t sure he had the stomach for that kind of embarrassment. There was no way he could tolerate a put down from Dana, the stranger whose fragrant skin and quiet moans had soothed his soul for an evening.
She might be his favorite daydream, and a memory that caused his mouth to run dry, but that was all she would ever be.
Besides, he had work to do now.
His Dana fantasies would have to come to an end.
It was time to create some new fantasies.
***
Shortly after arriving at Vice, Alex realized he was being stalked.
Badly.
The paparazzo wasn’t even trying to hide the fact he was trailing Alex. If Alex had business at reception, the man would stop at one of the lobby bars and strike up a conversation with the bartender on duty. If Alex walked through the casino, the man followed, always at a distance.
It was starting to get on his nerves.
With the walls of Vice surrounding him, Alex felt more at ease. This guy had dared to set foot inside his safe place. Alex didn’t want to have to keep looking over his shoulder.
Now, as he walked to the site of Vice’s former piano bar, invisible fingers teased the back of his neck. A backward glance confirmed the paparazzo once again followed him.
“For fuck’s sake.” As much as it made him feel sick, it was time for a confrontation. When he reached a quiet hallway, he turned around. “What do you want?”
The man aimed his camera, took a picture and shrugged. “You’re an interesting guy. I’m just waiting for you to do something…interesting.” He took another photo.
