AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I look back to the bar and see her smile at some sleazy asshole as she passes him his drink. Her head goes back, exposing that long neck, and she laughs at whatever the prick said, before leaning in close as if to hear him better. My hand clenches around the glass I’m holding and I place it on the table beside me so I don’t crush it.
From up here I can see the creamy curve of her breast in the tight t-shirt, and suddenly, I get the urge to change the entire uniform so they have to wear baggy, polo-neck sweaters It wouldn’t matter though, Lottie would look like a goddess in a bin liner. She’s just that beautiful.
I’ve noticed how thin she is from my spot here in the corner and the dark circles under her eyes, which no amount of makeup can hide. Zooming in on the security cameras every night to get a better look before going home to my penthouse and jerking off like a creep, is a compulsion I can’t seem to break. It makes me hate her more.
“She isn’t my girl.”
“Perhaps you just need to get laid, Lincoln.”
“Maybe you’re right. Perhaps I just need to find some quality pussy.”
Harrison claps me on the shoulder. “That’s my man. Beck has a few girls in room six if you want to join him.”
I shrug, the idea of sharing with Beck tonight leaving me cold. We’ve shared before, more than once, and more than just Beck and I, but the idea leaves me restless. “Maybe.”
“So, she stays off this floor?”
“Yes.” I can’t tolerate her this close. She’ll try and bewitch me again and I won’t have it.
“I’ll let her know, and I have to say it’s a shame. I think she would’ve been popular.”
I grit my teeth so hard it’s a wonder they don’t crumble in my mouth as a growl escapes me. “Fuck off.”
Harrison shakes his head and moves back down the stairs as I watch him head to the bar and speak with Lottie. I have this overwhelming need to claim her, to mark her as mine so every man and woman knows who she belongs to. It’s out of character, and I know I need to walk away but it’s not as easy as it looks. The desire to claim her is fighting with the desire to hurt her like she hurt me, but then maybe I should thank her. Lottie leaving made me the man I am today, and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far. I’m filthy rich, get grade-A pussy whenever I want, and more importantly, nobody fucks with me. Probably because they know I have zero fucks to give about anyone other than my family, and grudgingly, I add my friends to that list.
Lottie’s eyes fly to mine and I know Harrison has told her. Her cheeks turn pink and I don’t know if it’s anger at me for getting in her way or embarrassment for getting rejected. All I know is that it makes me hard. I want to find out if the rest of her skin is that sexy pink color.
I raise my glass to her, baiting her and having no clue to what end, yet I can’t help it. She consumes my every thought and I want to punish her for it. Punish her for leaving me, for making it so I can’t fucking forget her.
I watch as she storms toward the stairs, arguing with the bouncer before Harrison nods at him to let her through. I turn, leaning on the balcony with my elbow as I watch her approach. Lottie has always had a quick temper, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch. I swallow the last sip of whiskey as she reaches me and place the glass aside. I see Harrison hovering just behind her, concern on his face and it makes my blood boil. She doesn’t belong to him.
But she’s not yours either, a tiny voice whispers in my ear and I shove the thoughts aside. “Can I help you?”
Lottie moves fast as she slaps me hard. No, not a light slap, a full-on whack across the face. It barely hurts, just stuns me as I rock back. I reach up to touch my cheek as Harrison dives to grab Lottie, but I put my hand up to stop him and he pauses. He looks aghast, unease on his face as if he knows what’s coming. I have the exact excuse I need to fire her now. Lottie crossed a line and he knows that. Yet I find I’m enjoying this far too much to give it up just yet, despite the sting tingling my cheek.
“You fucking asshole. How dare you poke your nose in my life. You have no fucking right.”
I watch her chest heaving, her face wild and all I want to do is pin her against the wall and kiss her until I consume all that fire. “I have every right. You work for me.”
Lottie throws her hands in the air. “Oh, is that how it works? I work for him too. Doesn’t he have a say?” She points at Harrison who puts his hands up and steps back with a raised brow.
“Don’t fucking test me, Lottie.”
“Or what, you big prick? You gonna try and wreck my life more than you have already? You don’t own me, Linc.”
Hearing her call me Linc after all this time is like a balm to my soul. She’s the only person who calls me that, and up until now, she’s kept me as Lincoln or Mr. Coldwell.
I move closer, crowding her as people walk past, their eyes seeking the drama and the show we’re providing for them now.
I know Harrison is confused by the familiarity between us and he’ll have questions but for now, I need to shut this down before I do something stupid like kiss her treacherous lips. “I have no wish to own you either.”
I see my words have hit their mark and smirk as a feeling of satisfaction moves through me. “You’ll go home and if I decide you can keep your job, you’ll be on a final written warning for gross misconduct.”
I feel every nerve in my body buzz with the knowledge she’s about to tell me to shove my job, giving me exactly what I want. Yet instead of the jubilation of knowing I’ve gotten my way, I feel a small whisper of regret that this has come to an end so soon.
I see a plethora of emotions cross her face, anger, hate, and suddenly defeat, and it twists my gut in a way I hadn’t expected.
“Fine, I apologize for hitting you.”
