AllFreeNovel
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"I thought it was just a one-time thing, but you’re taking it too far. It sucks to know that Ella sees you as some kind of hero or a saint, but she doesn’t know the real you. It’s more than just a little misleading." Damien gives one of the Congressmen a little wave and a plastered smile when he looks over at us.
"How about you stick to sucking up to investors and stroking their egos and leave your ass out of my business?" I say with a fake smile.
"What do you think will happen to all those investors if people catch wind of this? That your plaything is barely old enough to rent a car and works for you? In case you’ve forgotten, when it comes to our company, your business is my business."
"Well, who I screw isn’t."
"It used to be, until you got stingy and refused to share Chloe with me."
Before I realize it, I turn on Damien like an animal and shove the end of my golf club up under his chin. I tilt his head back until he can’t help but look at me.
"Don’t even think about her like that… ever!" I say through gritted teeth, my words dripping with venom. Damien backs away quickly and looks around to make sure no one sees our exchange. Always worried about the company image.
"You are truly screwed up. By what, a kid? What is she, twenty-two? Twenty-three, tops? I’d sure hate to be you," he says, rubbing his chin.
"On the contrary, it sounds to me like you want to be me pretty bad," I say and move to leave, but Damien holds me back.
"Where do you think you’re going?"
"I told you I had somewhere to be."
"Our guests are still here."
"You meanyourguests. Just deal with them like you always do. Laugh at their jokes, flash them your charming smile, stroke their dicks, whatever they want." I smirk and pretend to arrange his clothes, then I say more seriously, "I’m out." And with that, I hurry off, my gait purposeful.
I can’t stop thinking about Chloe. More to the point, I can’t stop imagining the worst about what she’s doing at the resort. Ella had only told me about the out-of-town plans yesterday, but it’s all I’d been able to think about. Ella and her boyfriend, going out of town together? No father loves that scenario. I’d been a little more at ease when I learned that a bunch of her friends were going, too, even though it probably meant just more partying. Whoever said that dads were rational when it came to their daughters? I might not be the father of the year (more like years plural) but I still have the protective instinct.
Then I figured out the math… Chloe and that kid were on the guest list.
The thought of Chloe being at a hotel with that guy is unnerving, and I can’t honestly say I like this feeling. The fact that she can wake up one day and see why she should be with the younger man makes me scared. And I hate feeling weak or scared.
What’s more striking is how stupidly in love I feel. If you’d told me two months ago that I’d be struck with a case of puppy love–over anyone, let alone a girl young enough to bemy daughter–I’d have laid you out cold. Instead, I’m potentially blowing off contracts, important ones that I know Damien worked hard to arrange, to act like a sniveling teenager.
I driveto the resort after leaving the golf course. I text Chloe that I’ll be outside soon, and ask her to meet me there. An hour later, I pull into the winding circular drive in front of the resort’s hotel. With some odd sense of relief, I spot Chloe coming towards my car.
My heart races like wildfire at the sight of her. I never thought I had what it takes to have such feelings for another person. I don’t know what to call my feelings for Chloe. It feels weird to call it love when I met her only a month ago. But I know this much: whatever it is I’m feeling, it’s very deep. Deeper than I thought myself capable of.
She opens the door and slides in, looking uncertain and nervous. Her face is blazing with something fierce and thrilling, but also worry. She clearly saw me driving off earlier.
"I thought I wasn’t going to see you until tomorrow." I feel an urge to kiss her so hard that my pulse quickens. For a second, I can only watch her smiling at me. It’s weird and unlike me to be nervous.
"Wanna go grab a drink?" is all I can blurt out. What the hell…So much for being the one who is pissed off at her behavior.
"Of course. But you haven’t told me why you’re here. Is everything okay?" she asks, a hint of caution in her voice.
"I just wanted to see you, that’s all. Chloe, you have a way of making me question my sanity that no one has ever dared to."
She raises an eyebrow and leans towards me slightly. She bites her lips seductively, gazing into my eyes.
"Jeremy, are you trying to say I drive you crazy? That you missed me already?" She gently purses her kissable lips, then she leans back into the seat. God, how did I let myself get affected by her like this? I turn away from her, starting to reach up and adjust my imaginary tie before remembering I’m still wearing my golf shirt.
I should have stayed away from her, and now I can’t even think of living a day without her. Right now, if she asked me to walk through the fire for her, I’d do it without batting an eyelid.
I don’t answer her question. Instead, I lean over and brush my lips against hers. She smiles against my lips and pulls back a little to look at me. She looks reassured at my reaction and seems to regain some confidence.
"I knew you were a man of action and very few words," Chloe teases.
"I can show you if you are not convinced."
