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Neither of us have seen Tobias more than once or twice since the engagement was announced. He was a year older than both of us, so he went to college first and graduated last year. Now he’s in California of all places, but I’m not sure what he’s doing.
I tap the screen and consider how to respond.
Bellamy: I’d love to. Unfortunately, I’m having dinner with the Hunts tonight. Drinks after? I could meet you in a few hours.
All I get back is a thumbs up emoji, but it brightens my day. I finish my wine and go in search of Tobias’s sister. My father is right. I need to spend time with this family that I’ll be marrying into someday. And it will happen someday. Whether I want it to or not. Unless Tobias decides he doesn’t want it. Something tells me he could put a stop to this whole thing if he wanted to. But he doesn’t. He just ignores my calls and gets photographed with supermodels.
Tobias doesn’t show up for dinner, and it turns into an argument between our fathers again. I texted him as we sat down to eat, but as usual, I got no response. They don’t even notice when I slip out of the dining room and ask a driver to take me to the bar where I’m meeting Owen.
He’s standing outside waiting for me when I arrive, and my pulse races at the sight of him. Handsome doesn’t even begin to describe him.
“Hello, love.” He pulls me in and kisses my cheek, then loops my arm with his, and together we go inside and sit at a secluded table. Owen orders our drinks for us without asking what I want, since it never changes. We make small talk until the server comes back with our cocktails, and Owen instructs him to leave us alone unless we wave him over. He’s being very stern and commanding tonight. It’s turning me on, something I’ve been trying to avoid where Owen is concerned.
“Do you want to move to Las Vegas with me?”
I nearly choke on my drink.
“Excuse me?”
He laughs. “Not today. But when we graduate. We’ve both got a semester left. I’m moving to Las Vegas to open a business with some friends, and we’d like you to join us.”
“What on earth for?”
“Help us run it.”
I frown. “I don’t have any experience running a business.”
“Sure you do. You’ve kept books for your father before, and you’re earning a degree in business.”
This is so confusing, and not at all what I was expecting when he invited me for drinks tonight.
Owen reaches over and puts a hand over mine. “What are you doing after you graduate?”
I make a face. “You know what I’m doing. I’m marrying Toby.”
His nose wrinkles. “So that’s still on, then? When I heard he was living in California, I thought maybe the contract was off.”
He knows it’s not off. But we have this conversation every few months. “Nope. Our fathers were arguing over the value of our contract just tonight. Disgusting. The whole damn thing. But I have to do it, Owen.”
He drops his head, his shoulders sagging, and my heart aches. Then he looks up at me and smiles. “I know you have to. But I still want you to join me. Even if it’s temporary.”
“Owen… nothing has changed.”
He smiles and squeezes my hand. “That’s what I’m counting on, love.”
“That’s cruel. We almost got caught. I can’t risk my father deciding he doesn’t want to work with your family anymore. He’s vindictive and desperate for this contract with the Hunts. I have no desire to be the reason a war breaks out between us.”
Right after I started college, Owen and I got romantically involved. Tobias seemed to all but reject me, despite our supposed engagement, and it stung. Turning to Owen for comfort was natural, and that comfort turned sexual. That sexuality turned more… exotic as time went on, and we explored power exchange among other things, which explains why I find his commanding nature such a turn-on.
But when my mother nearly caught us a few months ago, I put an end to it, and insisted we remain friends only. Since then, we’ve seen less of each other. Owen is still head of my security at school, but he says it’s too hard to be around me without having me, so he put one of his family bodyguards on my detail and checks in from time to time.
“I understand nothing has changed. Just consider it.” There’s a pleading tone to his voice, and I want to say yes.
“So, what’s this business you’re opening?” Even if I don’t go, I’m curious about what he’s up to. Then again, the prospect of going back to Philadelphia to live with my parents and wait for Tobias after college is not something I look forward to. What if this is my chance at a little freedom?
I stare at Owen expectantly, but he doesn’t respond.
“Come on, Owen. I’m not agreeing if I don’t know what’s involved. What are you starting?”
