AllFreeNovel
Share Us
* * *
“Simone,” my assistant Cara was standing in the doorway clearly perplexed about something.
The opposite of me, she was this little petite thing that made me sick every time we hung up. She could eat a horse and not gain a pound, but when I inhaled the fresh air, an extra five pounds went to my hips. Her hair was short, reminding me of Toni Braxton’s famous style that she wore for years. Instead of the ends of her hair being curled under, they had small spirals that she sometimes combed out into waves. Not today. Her makeup was flawless as always and gave her business suit even more power. Her stilettos were her normal four inches high and she rocked them daily like sneakers.
“Yes, babe?” I said while smiling her way. She was a firecracker and I wouldn’t trade her for the world.
“You have visitors, and I think you should come fast.” She left the room and I followed behind her quickly. If she said something was up, it definitely was.
“Ms. Flowers,” an Italian man spoke as I entered the room.
Suave. That was the first thing I noticed about him. He was so put together that it was hard not to notice it. Charcoal gray suit tailored to his tall frame. Slim, but he wasn’t small. The suit softened his broad shoulders, his crisp white shirt smoothed whatever muscles were underneath, and I knew there were. Had to be with the way his thighs wore those damn slacks. Seams in his pants took away some of the definition in his legs, but… whoever he was, the man was bad. Diamond cufflinks shined, Gucci shoes gleamed, and his fresh haircut made him fucking impeccable. A weakness of mine was a man well dressed. Holy hell. And he probably was a devil in disguise, sinful enough to make me slowdown to make sure I could take him in before it became obvious that I was eye-fucking him.
“I am. And you are?” I shook his hand and the warmth from them traveled up my arm and down my spine. Could it be that he was a gift for all my accomplishments? The goatee that was perfectly shaped around his mouth drew my eyes to his lips. Slightly blushed, soft, and they seemed to be begging me to kiss them or put them to use elsewhere.Yes, please!
“Beniamino DeLuca, but you can call me Beni.” He smiled and it went straight to my…
“Hello, Beni. What can I do for you today?” He took a quick glance at the four men accompanying him.
They weren’t as immaculate as Beni, but they weren’t anything to sneeze at either. Dressed in all black, the four men seemed to flank him without being too close. They watched me carefully as if I’d been the one to invade their place of business.
“I thought it would be nice to meet my business partner in person. You had a meeting with Marcus today?”
“No, I am supposed to see him today…” I paused, clearly missing something. “Business partner?”
“Marcus signed over his half of the ownership to me over the weekend and I thought I’d come down to see what it was like on the inside. I could tell from the reports I pulled that you’re doing very well down here. I think we can make a few changes to do even better.” He paced around me with his eyes fixed on various parts of the club.
“Marcus did what?!” My brain seemed to be on delay as I felt the rub being pulled from underneath my feet. It wasn’t quick to make me stagger, but slower so that I could walk backward off the raised end where hands were sure as hell tugging.
“Denny,” Beni said from somewhere behind me.
The guy standing nearest us walked over and put a folder on the bartop. I walked over to it and began inspecting the document. Wouldn’t you know that piece of shit ex of mine’s signature was right here in bold-ass blue ink? It was right above Beni’s signature and it had been notarized by an attorney.
“Then I’ll buy you out.” I turned quickly. “I’ll give you the same check I was going to give him today.”
“You could if I was interested in being bought out. I’m not. Well, unless you have way more than that check is for.” He climbed the steps to the VIP section. “I can’t be bought for anything close to what your husband was worth, Ms. Flowers.”
“Simone. Ms. Flowers is my mother.” I corrected. “And Marcus is my ex.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He sat down on the couch and peered down at me. “I’m not selling.”
I moved to the center of the room and glared at him. “I’m not interested in having a partner.”
He leaned forward almost as if he was preparing to pounce on me. If he were an Amimal, he could probably make it. On second thoughts, with the way his eyes assessed me, he might be. Dark eyes. Ones that pinned me where I stood and dared me to move.
Momentarily stalled, transfixed by him.
“You hadn’t met your match before now. From here on out, we do things my way, not his.”
“He was never involved. I don’t follow other people’s rules, Beni. This is my show. I call the shots. If you have a suggestion, I’ll listen, but you don’t get to make decisions without me.”
“See, I do. Marcus owned fifty-five percent of this investment. Which makes me own that. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want.”
I swallowed because that was something I’d cleverly never discussed with Marcus. What Beni said was true and I knew it.
“How much will it cost to buy you out?” I blurted.
“You’re a smart woman, Simone. What did I just explain to you?” He lowered his head so that his eyes stole the show, watching me through his thick lashes.
