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If anyone’s hurt her… I’ll–
“Sorry. Mr. Alexander, are you alright?” the driver asks. He’s already out of the car before I can see what’s happened.
“Why don’t you watch where you’re going, asshole!” Somebody calls out from the sidewalk, pulling their dog closer to them by its leash.
“They just walked right out in front, Mr. Alexander. Honest,” the driver says, beads of sweat on his brow and not just from the still heat of the day that won’t budge as the sun starts to dip past the city skyline.
“It’s alright,” I tell him, asking if he’s okay and if the dog and owner are alright, and he assures me yes.
“Then that’s the end of it,” I say, smiling cheerfully. Heading back into the car, I tell Chloe there’s nothing to worry about.
Once we’re moving again, she asks if I’m really okay, noticing my mood.
“I’m just thinking,” I tell her. “About how something like that would normally set me right off. Ruin my whole day and the next….”
Her face shifts in question.
“What I mean is. Today, with you, Chloe. It feels like nothing could get me down. That’s what I’m trying to say,” I sigh.
Chloe leans over and pecks my cheek.
“Here’s hoping that’s the least of our problems,” she says, matching my smile as the car starts moving again.
Edging closer to what I also know we both want now – more than ever.
My presence at the hotel, at any Condor Hotel, is enough to turn heads from the staff. But today, with Chloe by my side as we re-enter the building, I’m getting a different kind of stare.
I guess even someone with poor eyesight could see just how thick we are already.
A couple, dare I even say it.
Passing the reception area, I’m hailed by the manager, who trots over to us, panting.
The stress of the new hotel opening and me being here starts to show in his bird-like features.
“Mr. Alexander… uh…The luggage has arrived, I’ve had it sent up to Ms. De Laurent’s suite,” he manages to get out before his eyes betray him.
They’re moving over Chloe in a way I don’t like, in a way that tells me exactly what he’s thinking.
Maybe what everyone in the lobby is thinking?
That a man of my status, let alone years, probably shouldn’t be acting so friendly with a girl half my age.
Or am I just being paranoid?
“Ms. De Laurent’s luggage,” the manager repeats, looking down his nose at Chloe.
“The airline sent it on. Apparently, it wasn’t collected after she landed,” he quips.
Nope. Not paranoid.
The act Chloe’s been projecting is obviously starting to get a little see-through.
She needn’t worry, though. She’s mine now, we’re a team.
“Luggage?” I ask, sounding surprised. “I was expecting Ms. De Laurent’s outfits,” I counter, making the manager look even more confused once he drops his jaded judgment.
“Outfits?” he croaks in reply, and I smile a steel smile.
Firm and knowing, I give him my ‘don’t fuck with me’ smile.
And not just because I’m the boss, but I could literally clean the floor with this guy using just my pinky, and we both know it.
“Yes. We’re expecting her things from the boutique, and I’d appreciate it if you could address Ms. De Laurent yourself…Steven,” I add crisply, peering down at his shining gold name badge.
“I must’ve forgotten…,” Chloe pipes in, finding her voice. “I mean…with the interview and all, I was a little flustered before I got here,” she adds.
“See? Perfectly logical explanation,” I snap at the manager, tired of this already, just wanting to be alone with Chloe.
“I’ll need a table for two, seven o’clock in the restaurant. And be sure to have Ms. De Laurent’s things from the boutique sent straight up as soon as they arrive,” I snip before ushering Chloe toward the elevator.
I can hear the brisk steps of the manager as he moves to do as I’ve told him.
In twenty years of doing this, the few people who’ve answered back or told me what they really thought aren’t working for Condor anymore.
Rumor has it they can’t get work anywhere. And that’s not my problem.
“Maybe we should’ve gone back to yours,” Chloe murmurs, trying to smile, but I can feel her body trembling as my hand touches her, guiding her into the elevator to take us up to her suite.
“You’re right where you belong,” I remind her, pulling her even closer to me and kissing her once the doors close.
The sensation of our mouths locked shoots us both way higher than the elevator ever could.
“I guess there’s something else I should tell you,” she softly says once we reach her floor, the doors silently swishing open.
I know what she’s about to tell me, and there’s no need.
I press a finger to her lips, gently shaking my head.
“I know who you are, Chloe. I’ve tasted you, and soon I’m gonna devour you whole…all mine,” I remind her.
