Page 17 of Watching Her

The fact she used to work for Covington should be a cautionary tale, especially after Jessica’s phone call. While possibly a coincidence, I didn’t believe in them. The fact she’d left a six-figure salary to deal with romance books held a story of its own not possible to learn through any dossier.

I could resort to using less questionable methods in discovering more, but I’d worked very hard to sterilize my family’s reputation. Destroying it over one woman was… questionable. Although I’d done much worse in my life.

Yes, I could eventually push every rule aside, but there was such significant joy in the process of discovery itself. Every scrap of information was useful, including aspects others would ignore.

To me, the smallest details were the most important.

The win of seduction could be twofold. One being the enjoyment of her body and her full surrender and the other? A way of discovering insider information on Covington, although it had been a long time since I’d resorted to something so pedestrian. It was possible I was simply craving the act itself, my life becoming boring as of late.

Leaving Brandon as fish food had been the most fun I’d had in years.

“Just how do you anticipate our contest proceeding?” Sebastian asked. He was enjoying the visuals as all four bars and the area by the pools had been flooded with guests, mostly women enjoying the camaraderie of their peers.

As well as the preening done by several of the male models depicted on the banners.

“Our boy is far too interested in the potential merchandise.” Xander laughed and sat back in his seat, also admiring the view. Several of the women had changed their attire, likely anticipating a more fruitful evening of debauchery.

The swallow was warm, smooth, and exactly what I’d craved. At least I could fulfill one need for the evening.

“Things have changed in twenty years, gentlemen. We have more to lose than our scholarships and abilities to play on sports teams.” My answer was truthful. We were all powerful, rich men with respected careers. Yes, the three of us also resorted to handling difficulties as necessary, but we certainly no longer compared notes.

“I’m shocked, Chris. You were always the instigator, eager to control everyone around you. What’s changed?” Sebastian was testing me as he’d always enjoyed doing.

“Nothing has changed. I’m simply more thoughtful and perhaps demanding than in the old days.”

“Ouch. A reminder that we aren’t getting any younger.” Sebastian feigned being hurt, his brow wrinkling.

Huffing, I swirled the drink. “Let’s face the obvious. We’re set in our ways and grow bored very easily.”

Xander nodded. “You are correct. All kidding aside, how do you suggest we go about selecting candidates?”

“I wasn’t kidding. Look around you. We have any number of choices.”

“Yes, dear Christian, but whereas we had a captive audience in choosing Harvard students or at least those living in and around Cambridge before, the convention caters to people coming from all across this country and even the world.” Sebastian’s eyebrows furrowed together.

“Then I suggest you discover a way to narrow down the playing field.” It was apparent my buddies had lost some of their imagination. We’d been creative as fuck before, allowing no limitations in who we’d chosen as our contestants.

“Do you remember when Christian selected the wife of the one of the local politicians?” Xander laughed and as soon as Sebastian brought the story to his mind, he did as well.

“That was the one time I was certain you were getting kicked out of school.” Sebastian lifted his empty glass just as the waitress came close.

I took another sip just as another party of girls arrived, only a few yards away as they passed by our shadowed table. With the ambience inside the bar, including low lighting and the use of mahogany wood throughout, our presence could easily be ignored.

But we had a bird’s-eye view of half the expansive room. In this case, we were in the perfect location. Ms. Michaels had arrived, somewhat more relaxed than I’d seen her earlier.

Seeing her brought another wave of hunger even more intense than before.

I chuckled with them, the memory one that had lingered with me long after my father had made a hefty contribution to the congressman’s upcoming election pac. “She was an extraordinary submissive.”

“You were always into the kinky stuff. Including stalking if I remember.” Xander was baiting me.

“Yes, well, we all enjoy our proclivities. Don’t we?” After shooting him a look, he lifted his glass in respect. We’d sworn an oath of secrecy and solidarity during our freshman year, something that had withstood the test of time.

We’d been playing with fire, but our respective wins with seemingly unobtainable women had been the spark needed for the men we’d become. An added benefit had been boosting our bank accounts and obtaining more respect from our fathers.

Sebastian whistled. “So what are the rules? That we use our talents to find someone at the conference. Yes?”

“You are a mogul within media. You can’t tell me you won’t be able to find hidden talent amongst the authors or readers who would enjoy being in front of the camera gushing about their ideal alpha man,” I told him.