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“Why?”
He seems to stall, unsure if he’s willing to answer my question. He looks at his watch, then stands, sticking his hand out to me. “We have to get out of here. Let’s go.” Disappointed, I take his hand, and he assists me to my feet. He doesn’t let my hand go as he directs us through the gallery. When the main door Fredrick brought me out of appears, Damien turns to me.
“I’m selling Exquisite.” My mouth drops as he continues. “I’ve been researching investors for months now. I’m done with it. I have been for years. You asked me why I had you look at the numbers? Because I wanted to see if there was a chance to salvage it. Turn it into a legit club instead of all the shit that goes on there. I’m done with it all. I just needed a good reason to walk away.”
The way he’s looking at me, I feel like I already know the answer before I ask the question. “And what is your reason?”
“You.”
“GET ME THE DRAFT OF the contract by this afternoon. I’ll read it over and have notes for you before close of business today. Thanks, Simmons.” I hang up as I walk through the bright club, heading back to my office. My morning was spent with a group of buyers interested in Exquisite.
Since the art museum, I feel lighter. Freer. I’ve never opened up to anyone about my brother and father. How I obtained the club. There has never been a single person in my life who has triggered such purpose for me. Jensen began as a conquest, a game—a way to pass along my time being numb. She was supposed to keep me entertained, until she dulled for me, and then I’d send her on her way. Because that’s how I’ve handled women in my life. As toys to fill time. But they never could fill the emptiness inside me. Until her.
She’s young and too innocent for me, and for that, I should walk away. But I plan on keeping her close and feeding off her beauty and solace until our time together is up. Because sadly, there is an expiration date. I won’t take her away from her dreams as someone once did mine. But I also can’t stay here.
When she opened the camera, it brought back so many memories. The moment I bought it. The excitement flowing through my veins knowing all the adventures it would capture. When it got delivered to the address in Prague, I was already home. It took months for the tour to send it back to me. By the time it made it, I was already knee-deep in Exquisite. I never even opened the fucking box.
But the way her eyes lit up when she saw it, it brought me peace. I knew she would use it as I would have. And I know once our time is up and I’m done disrupting her simple life, she’ll continue to be amazing at anything she does.
I walk through the side bar and across the dance floor. I think about tonight and how I’m going to take Jensen to Navy Pier. The mental image of her sucking my cock on the Ferris wheel hardens me instantly. But the image of her face as she admires the view softens my heart. She’s going to love it. I sent her a text, telling her to meet me at the address just before dusk, and to bring the camera. I’m about to enter the private hallway when I see Fredrick talking closely with a woman.
“Patricia?” I ask, surprised to see her here. “It’s been some time since I’ve seen you in this place,” I say, curious. Almost ten years, as a matter of fact. I bring my eyes to Fredrick, whose stare is blank. “What brings you here today?” I step up to her, and we hug. I offer her a kiss on her cheek just as I’ve always done in the past.
“Is there a place where we can chat? In private?” she asks. I nod, escorting her to my office. The moment I shut the door, she begins. “What are you up to, Damien?”
“I’m not sure what you’re asking.” I sit down at my desk. Instead of taking the seat across from me, she sits on top of my desk, close enough that her thigh brushes against my arm.
“Jensen Stone. What are you doing? She’s a child. And Fredrick says a major distraction to the club.”
My fingers tighten around my armchair. “That is none of your business. Neither is the club anymore. If that’s why you’ve come here, you can get the fuck out.” She doesn’t flinch or seem affected by my verbal threat. She spreads her legs so her thigh brushes harder against me. “Get off my desk.”
