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Syndicate of Sins

Page 45

by Marie Maravilla

The store was beautiful, with its pearl-white walls and opulent chandeliers. Fresh floral arrangements were dotted around the space, filling the air with their fresh scent. The two women standing at the counter in the middle of the shop halted their conversation when they heard the tinkle of a bell. The pause in their chatter left only the sounds of smooth jazz echoing in the space.

Caleb must have booked an appointment, because there was no one else in the normally busy store. He strode forward with purpose, leaving me behind as I trailed my fingers along the racks of fine clothing.

“We’re here to see Megan,” he announced.

The two women gawked at Caleb. The blond one’s back was going to hurt by the end of the day with how aggressively she arched it. She was basically presenting her tits on a silver platter to him. Both attendants looked to be in their early twenties and obviously eager to bag a wealthy man. I rolled my eyes at their bright smiles and doe eyes, continuing to gather up items I wanted.

“Mr. Callahan, we’re so glad to have you in our store today. Who is it that you’re shopping for?” Blondie leaned forward, resting her heart-shaped face on her palm. The position gave Caleb an eyeful of the cleavage tucked behind her black button-up. “Or maybe you’re preemptively buying for someone who catches your eye.” She giggled at her attempt at flirtation.

Gag me.

I moved closer, observing how Caleb would react to the advances. His smile was charming, but there wasn’t the same heat in his eyes as when he watched me. Or maybe that was all wishful thinking on my part. He glanced over to where I stood slightly behind the ladies, his eyes turning cold and challenging before he ripped them away.

“Does who I’m shopping for change the service I receive?” he asked, making the question sound dirty and explicit.

The asshole was toying with me.

The girl’s mouth fell open, like she hadn’t actually expected her flirtation to result in anything. “Oh, I’m happy to help you with whatever you need, Mr. Callahan.”

My position let me see how she hit her coworker’s leg in excitement under the counter. Poor girl thought she was about to get lucky. I rolled my eyes, pulling out my phone and typing out a message. I’d let them have their fun a few minutes longer. It wasn’t like they knew he was taken. The asshole had yet to say anything, and they’d both been so struck by his hot ass that they still hadn’t noticed my presence.

“I’m going to need a dressing room because I’ll need to see the clothes on to know if I like them or not,” he drawled out.

If he liked them? Fuck that. All he got to do was slide his credit card across the counter and load my bags.

“Oh, of course, Mr. Callahan. And I’d be happy to model the items for you. We even have a selection of lingerie.”

The clacking of heels on marble cut off whatever Caleb was going to respond with. “Mikayla,” an angry voice barked out. “If you’re so eager to get Mr. Callahan some lingerie he’d like, then I suggest you ask his wife for her sizes. This is no way to treat one of our best clients.”

Two sets of eyes snapped to where I stood behind them, widening when they saw the petite woman with the harsh bun giving them a disapproving stare. The one girl at least had the decency to look away in shame, but Mikayla glared at me, smirking when she looked me up and down. Apparently she found me lacking.

“So sorry, Megan. Mr. Callahan never mentioned her, and I’ve been very helpful to him,” blondie said in a sickly sweet voice before turning back to Caleb. “Mr. Callahan, I can still model the clothing if you’d like. It might be hard to tell the garments’ full potential without her hair and makeup done.”

My mouth literally fell open at the dig. Any sympathy I had for her went out the fucking window. The dumb bitch was picking a fight with the wrong person.

Megan’s wine-colored lips turned down into a disapproving line. “He’s not the client I’m referring to, Mikayla,” she said, taking the items from me as we moved toward the counter. “Ms. Scarletta is the one who regularly shops here.”

I gave Caleb a blinding smile when he looked at me in confusion.

That’s right, asshole. I’ve got money too.

He’d been quiet this whole time, his eyes pinging back and forth like he was watching a damn tennis match. The smirk on his face suggested he liked being fought over.

I moved in front of him, giving the women my back as I stood on my tippy toes to whisper in his ear. “Your little game is going to cost you, Caleb. I hope your bank account is bigger than your dick.”

I looked over my shoulder at Mikayla, motioning toward the pile. “You can start bagging those up for us. Oh, and by the way, those dark roots of yours are far more distracting than my fresh face.”

Rough fingers gripped my chin, pulling my attention away from the woman.

“Don’t like women talking to me, macushla?” His tongue poked out and swiped across his bottom lip. “There’s no limit on my card, but I want you to try on the lingerie for me. Now.”

Warm lips pressed against mine, devouring me as if there wasn’t an audience at my back.

“I’m the only woman who gets to model for you, Callahan,” I bit out between kisses. The deep rumble of his chest caused my nipples to harden.

He was playing me. Riling me up to get a reaction.

And I was powerless to stop it.