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And I need Alex to get this club.
Just not in the capacity of my legal counsel.
I’m wholly aware that what I’m about to do is underhanded, and if anything, incredibly stupid. Especially given her reaction to me calling myself her husband at the airport. But I’m hoping that she keeps her cool—at least until we get back to the apartment—and doesn’t throw a fit.
“You’re being awfully quiet.” She breaks the silence that’s blanketed over us in the back of the cab.
If I was a better man, which I’m not, I’d bring her into my plan, but it’s too personal and there would still be the possibility that she’d walk away. I can’t have that happen.
Instead, I just smile. “Just going over the points I want to discuss with George.”
“Okay.” She eyes me for a moment, shaking her head as she continues, “I’m not sure why you brought me to this meeting, but tomorrow I’m meeting with the firm that will be hosting us when we close. I think it would be a good idea for you to come along. To get to know them.”
“Sure,” I reply, looking out the window as the streets of Chicago pass us by.
I wonder briefly if I should back away from this club and the plan I’m about to initiate. I rub my sweaty palms on my thighs, berating myself for letting my nervousness take over. So much is riding on this and if it blows up in my face, I could ruin my reputation and I’ve worked too damn hard for that to happen.
Meeting George for the first time is a huge detail and as my heart races, I try to prepare myself for the conversation that’s to come. As if sensing my need for quiet, Alex is content to look out of the window.
It doesn’t take long for the cab to arrive at the club. Even at four in the afternoon, the neighborhood is bustling with patrons filling the high end restaurants and tourists coming and going from the hotels. High-rises fill the skyline of downtown Chicago, and I pull in a deep breath of city air as I step out of the cab. I turn and hold a hand out for Alex as she follows.
Of course, she doesn’t take it. I don’t know why I expected her to. This is the guarded Alex. The Alex that texted me last night is a side I doubt I’ll ever get to see in the sober light of day.
My steps are confident as I walk to the entrance of the two story building. The exterior has a warehouse vibe to it. Small windows are dotted around and the walls are white-washed brick. If I didn’t already have a plan and was really going to turn it into another one of my clubs, it would be the perfect location and vibe. I would turn it into an exclusive club, tailored to Chicago, with a nineteen twenties speakeasy style club.
I just need George Bennett to sign the place over, then everything else will fall into place and I can walk away knowing I got what I came for.Revenge.
I hold one of the glass fronted double doors open for Alex and she breezes past me, leaving a hint of peaches in the air behind her.
“You’re being quiet. Disturbingly quiet.” Alex’s eyes are squinted at me as we stand in the lobby of the building.
“I’m in business mode. I like to take in a property without noise,” I say almost pointedly.
My gaze roams around the room. It will need some work, but nothing that previous buildings haven’t needed. Sometimes people can become complacent with their properties, especially when they’ve owned them for as long as George has.
As if reading my mind Alex says, “It’s going to need some work.”
“That it is, I’m afraid,” a booming voice calls from the door that I assume leads to the main space of the club.
George Bennett reminds me of Colonel Sanders and Santa if they’d had a baby. He looks a lot different to the pictures I’ve seen of him; older and more weathered. His rounded stomach and cheeks match perfectly with his pure white hair and handlebar mustache. A beaming smile graces his aged face, and as he approaches, the laughter lines tell a story of a life well lived.
He envelopes my outstretched hand in his own and gives me a strong, sure shake. Reminding myself that I need to play nice and not let my personal feelings toward this man show, I lift the corner of my mouth into some semblance of a smile.
No time like the present to throw the grenade down, I guess. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person, George. This is my fiancée, Alexandra.”
If I didn’t have so much riding on this very moment, I’d have laughed at the comical nature of it. Alex’s eyes practically bug out of her face, but the smile doesn’t leave her lips as she simultaneously greets George and throws daggers at me.
Oblivious to my impending doom, George fills the silence. “It’s so nice to finally meet you both. Let’s get on with the tour so you can enjoy the rest of your evening.” He turns to walk into the club, leaving Alex and I to follow behind.
“What the hell was that?” Alex whisper-shouts, her eyes ahead on George.
“I’ll explain later. Preferably when he’s not within hearing distance.”
I’m sure she’ll get over it. There are more important things at stake than her hurt feelings.
“I can’t fucking believe you, Sebastian. You’re in a whole heap of s—” Alex’s words die on her tongue as George turns to speak to us.
“This is the main—” George narrows his eyes at us, before asking, “Is everything okay?”
