“I’m not going, Riv,” she tries to protest, but he manages to get her to leave with him.
I place a hand on Gloria’s delicate shoulder, trying to placate her. Just a few more weeks and she will be out of our lives for good. She will get the Throne family estate and enough money to comfortably live the rest of her life in luxury, and we will have full control of the board and any business-related decisions without her lurking around to see what we are really up to. “We will have a family dinner at Alejandro’s soon. I know Rochelle wants to see us all as well. Bodhi can show you back to your office,” I try dismissing her.
Her eyes narrow, her long fake lashes giving her a Wicked Witch of the West look. “Who’s the girl, K? You have some explaining to do before I’m going anywhere.”
My fake smile fades, my patience wearing thin. “No one you need to concern yourself with, Gloria.”
“Looks like a gold-digging bitch to me. You know how careful you need to be in your position. It’s only been a couple of weeks since your dear daddy died and already you have some girl chasing after you. I thought you were smarter, K.”
Bodhi chuckles, his amused eyes landing on me. There is no way in hell Dove is chasing me for my money. If anything, she’s literally only here as our hostage, and that shit appeals to his sick sense of humor.
Gloria moves toward him, running a hand up his arm playfully. “See, even Bodhi agrees this is not a time to be getting into a relationship with anyone.”
“You don’t have to worry about K, Gloria, he knows what he’s doing,” he grumbles, stiffening under her flirtatious touch.
She nods at him, then fixes her attention back on me, placing a hand on my arm, rubbing back and forth. I tuck my hand in my pocket and take a step back, making it clear she’s not going to get what she wants from me. “You need to be with family right now, K. Let me take some of that stress off your hands. We can go to lunch, then you can come back to my place.” She bats her lashes flirtatiously. It would be pathetic, if it wasn’t so sad. The poor girl married a man who was still in love with someone else and spent five years trying for any scrap of attention he would give her. And now he’s dead, and she doesn’t know what to do with herself. Doesn’t mean she is my problem.
“Be careful, Gloria,” I warn. We might need to tread carefully with her, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to let her sink her claws into me. I still hold all the power here, and she needs to know it.
Her lips form a thin line as she huffs out a breath. “I’m not the one who needs to be careful, K.” She leans in closer, and with her hand cupping my cock, she squeezes. “We both know I could have you bythe balls if I wanted to.” I wrap my fingers around her wrist and pluck her hand from my junk, my grip hard enough to send a message not to fuck with me. She blinks a few times, I think in shock. “Lucky for you I have a soft spot for you and like seeing you at the top of this corporation, especially if that means I’m under you.” Her teeth sink into her bottom lip suggestively.
Dear God. I need to get this situation under control before Dove comes back in and sees her carrying on. I glance at Bodhi, looking for help.
He grins back at me, having way too much fun at my expense. So, I do the only thing I can. Deflect. I’m sure he will understand.
“Bodhi has a free hour, and I just know he’s dying to show you the plans for the new golf course. There in his office,” I say enticingly. He’s up for fucking anyone, Gloria knows that all too well.
She turns her attention back to him, a seductive smile back on her lips. Her heels click on the timber parquetry as she makes her way over to him. “The new golf course, hey. That sounds fun.”
His glare is deadly, but he knows this is for the best. Today is too important. Without a word of complaint, he leads her out of the room. He’s a good mate, the best with the shit he’s done for me in the past.
I find my suit jacket and throw it on, then check my reflection in the mirror as I straighten my tie. The dark circles under my eyes are getting worse. I need sleep. And now that the golf course deal is done and Dove is settling into life back with us, it might just happen.
River clears his throat, and I glance up to find Dove hovering in the doorway, a picture of perfection in the little white dress I picked out for her. The expensive fabric hugs her curves, the white making her tanned skin pop even more, and the extra-tall heels making her legslook impossibly long. She fusses with the off-the-shoulder neckline, looking uncomfortable.
I take her hand. “You look beautiful,” I say, even surprising myself.
“I don’t think that’s the word for it. I look like the version 2.0 of whoever that was just in here.”
River chuckles out a laugh, covering his mouth to stop it. “That was Gloria, K’s stepmum.”
Dove’s horrified eyes flick back to me. “Oh, ew, gross, why was she giving you come-fuck-me eyes then?”
“You don’t look a thing like Gloria,” I mutter, placing a hand on her lower back, not liking the turn this has taken. “You look classy and will fit in perfectly where I’m taking you.” I give her a push, needing to be out of this place before she changes her mind and doesn’t come with me.
She glances up at me, but this time she looks less angry, more lost. “Expensive clothes won’t change who I am, Kasen.”
I huff out a heavy sigh. “I don’t want to change who you are, Dove, just trying to fit in with the dress code. Not everything is a personal attack. I happen to like your cute bikinis and shorts so damn small I can see your ass, but they would get us kicked out today. Can you just relax and enjoy yourself for once? I want to have a nice lunch with you.”
She stares back at me for a beat, looking a little lost for words. “Fine,” she mutters with a roll of her eyes. It’s not quite the compliance I wanted, but it’s as good as I’m going to get, so I’ll take it. This girl will be mine in every way. If she lets me, I will give her a life full of everything she ever dreamed of. She just needs to get out of her own way and stop fighting me. Maybe after today that will become clear for her.
Chapter 26
Dove
With Kasen’s hand in mine, we pushed through the doors of the elegant building, Strahan’s according to the sign at the front door. The exterior white walls were softened by the abundance of pale pink climbing roses, their sweet scent wafting through the air a nice distraction from the churning in my stomach. I don’t even shove him away because I’m feeling so out of place and, if I’m honest, uncomfortable.
The last time I was in this foyer, it was a one-story function center with a restaurant attached, a place I would go with my parents for special meals like birthdays or celebrations. It was nice before, but this, this is like next-level fancy. Chandeliers hang from the two-story ceiling, their crystal drops scattering warm light across the polished marble floors. The walls are lined with dark, flocked wallpaper; it’s rich and velvety and looks too expensive to touch. Gold accents trace the edges of columns, archways, and even the bar, adding a touch of elegance that you know only the truly wealthy can afford to enjoy. This isn’t just a restaurant, it’s a statement, a red flashing neon sign that says “you don’t belong.”
