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That move would have surprised him, but I walk away and don’t look back. The same wayhedid all those years ago on the day I’ll never forget.
Seeing Jericho Grayson again is the least of my problems. It’s nothing in the grand scheme of shit happening in my life.
The dire financial situation Aunt Gina landed herself in came about because she saved me. Literallysaved mefrom death.
I swear the stroke she had months later was my fault, too. Enough was enough at that point. My poor choices in life affected her in ways she never imagined. Like her health.
Now it falls on me to save her business and her home, because she can’t do it herself. If I don’t find a way, I'll never forgive myself. So, no matter how bitter I feel after seeing my ex, or how many ghosts from my past haunt me, I have to focus on my family.
Perhaps if I had done so years ago and heeded my father’s advice to stay away from Jerichoandanyone with the last name Grayson, I’d be in a better position.
Jericho was my first heartbreak.
After him, nothing was ever the same.
ChapterThree
Jericho
My damn mind is a million lightyears away. I’m lost in deep thought as I try to figure out what could have happened to River to send her into the arms of a strip club.
This is the wrong time to lose my focus because I’m at Graysons Inc., making my way to the senior management meeting for today’s battle amongst the Grayson men.
How ironic that I’d gone to Club Edge to discuss plans to find a fake wife, only to run into my ex.
Myex, who now looks like a fucking goddess with her vibrant red hair and a body that could bring a man to his knees.
Dressed in that seductress’ leotard, River St. James was the perfect illustration of temptation.
Not even I with the strict control I usually have over my dick had a chance of resisting the lust that riddled my mind.
I had a hard time speaking to her while I tried to push away memories of the last time I saw her naked body. She’s filled out a lot more since with curves in all the right places and a don’t-mess-with-me attitude she wore as well as that leotard.
River looked like she was ready to hand me my ass. It pissed me off that the only answer I got out of her was to leave her alone and that her business wasn’t mine.
She was right, but that didn’t make me feel any better or cleanse her from my mind.
Unknown to her, the last time I actually checked in on her was three years ago. She was living in Russia at the height of her career.
And she was engaged.
Clearly, none of that could have worked out. Unless herhusbandhas a twisted mind and thinks it’s okay for his wife to work in a strip club. I didn’t see a ring on her finger, but that doesn’t mean a thing. Many don’t wear such things in places like Club Edge.
After I left the club, I spent the night checking out River’s records.
My skills and expertise extend to dig up information on people and businesses you normally can’t find.
What I found on River left me more unsettled than I already was because I didn’t find much, but from the intel I gathered, the only sensible conclusion I could come to is that she needs money for something.
A lot of money.
River works at the Kelly’s Café on Crosby Street from six a.m. to eleven a.m. six days a week. On the weekdays when she’s finished there, she works at the Riverside Academy as a dance teacher. After that, she heads to Club Edge, where she works until one in the morning. On weekends, she works at Emersons Dance Company, but that seems like it’s for a production in the making.
In any event, it’s all too much. She’s working right around the clock with barely any time off to even sleep.
She’s been working at the club for the last month and at the café for the last three months. The job at the school seems to be her main one because she’s been there for seven months.
It seems that something must have happened to her recently and makes me wonder how long she’s been back in New York.
