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This man is disgusting, but I force myself to keep an even expression on my face.
“Is that right?”
He shrugs, clearly the gesture of a rich asshole who’s used to getting whatever he wants in life. “Oh yeah. And let me ask: do you ski, Mr. Select? Do you enjoy ski bunnies?”
I stare because the term “ski bunny” is a loaded phrase. Is he talking about cocaine or actual snow?
“I snowboard,” I say in a tight voice as Addy clutches my arm with concern. John smiles conspiratorially again.
“Well, good because I have a tip for you. The snow here in the Mid-Atlantic is fucking awful, so I usually hit up Vail. You know, in Colorado?”
“Yes, I’m aware that Vail is located in Colorado.”
The older man sniggers, showing off capped teeth.
“Good because Vail ski bunnies are the best. They ski in their bikinis sometimes and you know who’s there to give them a massage after their tushies and titties get burned from all that sun,” he quips. “But don’t forget, there’s Chamonix and St. Moritz too. You know, French and Swiss snow bunnies sometimes ski au naturel. That’s right, no bikinis. They wear nothing but goggles and mittens, and then after they ski down a slope, they land with their sweet pussies right on my face!” he chortles.
Okay, I can’t take this anymore. I have half a mind to throw this fucker out, but at that moment, a bell dings and a man in a black and white penguin suit announces, “Ladies and gentlemen, dinner is served. If you’ll just follow me.”
John turns, still grinning lasciviously.
“We’ll talk later, Mr. Select,” he drawls. “It was nice meeting you.”
I’d say the same, except it wouldn’t be true at all. Instead, after the man saunters away, I turn to my beautiful girl.
“I’m sorry you had to experience that.”
Addy shakes her head.
“No, I’m just glad that I’ve never been alone in a room with John Foley before because he’s gross. Utterly and totally disgusting, and in a bad way too.”
I nod while guiding my girlfriend to the dining room.
“Hell yeah. That guy’s a walking sexual harassment lawsuit, if I had to guess. He’d make Harvey Weinstein look like a choir boy by comparison.”
With that, I help Addy take a seat at the front table, trying my best to put John Foley from my thoughts. But why is he here? And how the hell did he become such a fucking jackass? All I know is that I want nothing to do with him, especially after the things he just said and did.
8
Caleb
* * *
For the rest of the gala, Addy is on edge. While we eat, she’s got a smile plastered on face and converses normally with other guests, but I can tell she’s tense from our run-in with that Foley dweeb. What a loser. I’m so angry that he’s ruined her night, and have half a mind to tackle the older man to the ground and fuck the consequences.
But this is my party, and I can’t let my BikeWorks family down. As a result, I manage to act normal. Hell, I do better than that. I’m charming for the remainder of the event, even if my fingers itch to pound Foley into the ground.
Finally, the event ends and Addy’s quiet during the car ride back to my place. She stares out the window with a pinched look on her face and when I put my hand on her leg, there’s hardly a reaction. That’s strange because usually, she’s a purring and meowing little cat who’s ready to show me her kitty even in the confines of the car. Fuck. I know it’s John Foley’s fault, and sure enough, the second we step into my apartment, Addy takes one look at me and her composure drops. She bursts into tears as I pull her against my chest, stroking my fingers through her wild curls.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. What’s going on? What’s wrong?”
She sniffles and pulls away from me. “The party was fine. It’s just that whole conversation with John Foley was awful.”
I nod.
“I knew it hurt you, but don’t let it get to you, baby. He’s a loser with a big mouth, so I’d just ignore him.”
She stares at me.
“Yeah, but he made me feel worthless! Like I was some imposter to even be at your party. Honestly, I could have been invisible from the way he acted.”
I squeeze her hand. “You’re not invisible, baby. I see you every day.”
She shakes her head with frustration.
“You know what I mean, Caleb. He wanted me to be seen and not heard, like I was a child or maybe even the help. Hell, he’d probably be perfectly happy if I wasn’t seen either, come to think of it, because he’s the kind of loser who uses women for what he wants. Brains? Opinions? Keep them to yourself, lady. Plus, I heard the way he was talking to you. It was disgusting.”
