fantishu
69
“But he loved it.”
“I’m honestly still in shock.” She clung to the thin stem, staring at the bubbly. “You know, I always pictured myself working for him, but I never knew what that would really look like.”
Our eyes finally locked.
“My parents divorced when I was ten. I lived with Mom mostly. Dad took me every other weekend, and most of those were spent flying to one of his hotels. A nanny would watch me while I played in the pool, so he could meet with the executive staff of the property.” Her fingers tightened, and so did my grip. “I heard his phone calls, I listened to him talk to his employees whenever I was in his office, and I tried to picture myself on the other end of that conversation. It’s one thing to be an alpha’s daughter; it’s a whole other thing to work for him.”
“And impress him.” I smiled. “But you have.”
A gentleness came through her eyes. “I can’t even tell you how overwhelming that feels.”Owned by NôvelDrama.Org.
“Baby, trust me, I know.”
She placed her free hand over the back of mine, our fingers now stacked together, and she took several deep breaths, taking her time to say, “Today proved a lot to me, Jenner, and I know”-her voice softened-“it’s time.”
JENNER
W
hen the waitress had taken our drink orders, I’d been tempted to ask for the entire bottle of scotch rather than just a tumbler with a few fingers poured neatly. But getting shit-faced at a dinner where I was about to tell my largest, most important client that I was dating his daughter didn’t sound like the appropriate thing to do.
I needed to be aware.
Conscious.
I had to be on more than ever before.
So, I’d asked for a double instead, and I held the glass in my hand while the three of us sat in LA’s finest steak house.
I’d taken Walter here before, so I knew how much he enjoyed the food. I’d hoped the dim lighting, which was far more forgiving than sunlight, and the dark wood accents would create a relaxing vibe for him.
Except he didn’t appear relaxed at all.
In fact, for the last five minutes, he’d been on the phone, dealing with what sounded like an emergency at one of the properties.
Jo kept looking at me, gaining my attention each time her eyes widened, each time her head turned toward me. Without speaking, I knew she was wondering if we should postpone the talk to a later date.
But if we didn’t do it now, we would continue to put it off.
I didn’t want that.
I was ready to face this head-on, regardless of the outcome.
Walter’s opinion wouldn’t affect anything between Jo and me.
But what if he forbids us from being together?
What if he tells me to never get near his daughter again?
What if he fires her for this? Or forces her to resign?
What if he tells me he’s going to ruin my reputation?
I couldn’t think about that.
I couldn’t think about the problems this could cause.
I could only think about the relief I would feel when I finally told him the news, and that was what I concentrated on during the silence and when the waitress approached our table again.
“Can I get you any appetizers?” she asked. “Or are you ready to order your main courses?”
Food was the perfect distraction.
“Can we get a couple Caesar salads to share?” I asked. “We’ll also have the calamari and the beef carpaccio. I think that’s enough for now.”
“I’ll get those started,” she replied and left our table.
Jo had been holding her menu and placed it down in front of her. “I’m going to run to the ladies’ room,” she said, rising from her seat.
I tried to keep my eyes off her as she walked away from the table, but I couldn’t.
Not when she had on that dress.
One that was red and short, only reaching the top of her knees, hugging her ass the way I would if my hands were on her cheeks.
She was so incredibly sexy.
And she was mine.
“Just handle it, do you hear me?” Walter said.
The sound of his voice pulled my eyes away from Jo, and I instantly connected with his stare.
He hung up and shoved his phone in his pocket. “The fire alarms are going off at my hotel in Manhattan. No fire, but they can’t seem to find the cause. Total fucking shitshow.”
I reached for my drink, needing it much closer.
And before I was able to respond, he said, “What were we talking about before my phone rang?”
I tried to remember the conversation.
Utah?
Marketing?
The Napa renovation?
Jesus, Jenner.
My brain was so busy that I couldn’t even remember five minutes ago.
“Ah,” he said, “to be young and handsome again.”
He had glanced away, and I was so lost in my thoughts that I had no idea what he was referring to.
“I’m sorry?”
“Every woman who walks by stares at you.” He nodded in the direction where Jo had disappeared.
I held my breath as I looked that way.
The woman he was referencing was tall and blonde, her dress putting her tits on full display.
She held my eyes until she turned the corner.
“Is she on the conquered list?” He chuckled. “Or is she one you’re about to follow into the restroom?”
Fuck.
I regretted the conversation we’d had over that dinner where he learned how much of a player I was.
But never had I imagined I’d be here.
“That’s the old Jenner,” I told him. “I’m a new man now.”
“A new man,” he mirrored. “Does that mean she’s back in your life? Or there’s someone new?”
The brief conversation we’d had was replaying in my head.
“She’s back,” I told him.
He took a piece of bread out of the basket and bit off the corner. “So, timing was on your side after all, then.”
“Yeah …” I eyed the bread, but I wasn’t ready to put anything in my stomach. “Something like that.”
“What did I miss?” Jo asked as she took her seat.
“Jenner was just telling me that he’s off the market.” Walter chuckled. “Take it from a perpetual bachelor who’s seen it all; when a woman returns to your life, she doesn’t leave again. That shit right there deserves to be celebrated.” He raised his glass and clinked it against mine.
Jo looked at me, her expression telling me she wanted to make a fucking run for it.
My chest tightened. My hands felt unsteady as I lowered my glass and said, “Walter, there’s something I need to talk to you about.” I made eye contact with Jo again. “Something we need to talk to you about.”