Simone actually breathes a sigh of relief while I'm left reeling.
“I'm supposed to sit with my aunt and uncle,” she breaks the news.
“I'm supposed to sit with my father. But dinner is only a short part of the evening. Once it's over, you’re all mine again.”
The look on her face. It expresses so much without her having to utter a word. So much conflict and insecurity mixed with fight and desire. I run my thumb along her cheekbone before she walks away.
Fuck me. Simone Travers has become my drug of choice. Completely detrimental to my health, but an addiction I refuse to give up.
Before heading to my seat, I make a pit stop in the bathroom. My cock is hard, my palms are sweaty, and my head is light from getting high off Simone.
I do my business, wash my hands, then splash some cold water on my face to cool my jets. I’m in overdrive, and the night has barely begun.
As I lift my head and lean on the sink, I find a surprise glaring behind me through the mirror.
“Joseph.” I reach for a paper towel casually, even though my heart rate is picking up speed. The older man replies by clenching his jaw. “Cat got your tongue?” I fuck with him. If he thinks he’s going to intimidate me, he can think again.
“What the fuck are you doing with Simone?” he all but bites my head off.
“We were dancing,” I state the obvious.
“You were doing a hell of a lot more than dancing,” he accuses, overprotectively.
I blot my face with the cheap, scratchy paper towel before balling it up and tossing it in the garbage.
“She’s a very attractive woman. I like spending time with her.” I turn to look directly at him.
“That girl is way more than a pretty face, Ty. She has walked through hell and back. She doesn't need some cocky bastard who's only interested in one thing messing with her life.” He pokes me in the chest.The audacity. I haven't spoken to this man in years, and here he is trying to tell me what to do like I'm still a child.
"And what one thing is that?” I ask arrogantly. “Making obscene amounts of money? I don't understand how that's going to mess with her life. The way I see it, it will only make it better." I try to slip by him, but he snags my arm.
“I mean it, Ty. Stay away from her. She's been through enough. She doesn't need an entitled heir fucking with her head.”
“I'm not fucking with anything,” I hiss. “Simone is a grown woman. She can decide whom she wants to spend time with. And she’s choosing to spend time with me. Get over yourself.” I push him out of the way. Anger burning in his gray, cloudy eyes like flames in a brick oven.
Shaking off the encounter, I head to my table where my father is already sitting, flirting with an attractive woman half his age. The silver fox has not changed. Besides being a ruthless businessman, his womanizing ways precede him. And of course, being his son, I am a womanizer by association.
I'm not saying the apple fell far from the tree; I'm just as ferocious when it comes to business dealings as my father and have had my fair share of women. But I'm hoping to avoid the three wives, seven mistresses route. I’d like to get married. But just once. And I want it to stick. I want the real deal. One life, one love kind of deal.
My butt barely hits the seat before my father is chewing me a new asshole.
“What the fuck was that shit on the dance floor about?” His mannerisms are relaxed and his facial expression cordial, but his tone ripping through my ear is hostile.
“I was dancing. What did it look like?” I steal a sip of water from my pre-set glass.
“It looked like you were doing a hell of a lot more than dancing with Alfonzo Travers’ daughter.”
“Have you always known about her?” I question, dodging his irritated accusation.
“Of course,” he confirms. “I know everything about my competitors and former business partners. That's how I keep my edge. It's no secret.”
“Your reputation for being a pit bull is legendary,” I agree.
“If you want to follow in my footsteps, I suggest you adopt the same attitude and stay the hell away from the Travers girl. That’s one hot hole you don't want to explore.”
“And why is that?” I poke, knowing I'm about to open a big ol’ can of worms.
My father straightens in his seat. He’s serious now.
