Cheater

8. Derek

I’m both appeased and unhappy at the same time.

Appeased because I got a preliminary report from Kenny an hour ago on both Adam Hallman and Chloe Turner. He’ll have more information for me in a day, then even more a few days after that because I want an extra-deep dive. But I’ve got enough for the moment. Enough to know I’m moving ahead with a plan.

I’m unhappy that Chloe is drunk. It means I’m not making my move tonight. Because I want her one hundred per cent sober when I rock the foundation of her existence.

I had Shep and Mel watch her group all night. Two other men tried to approach Chloe on the dancefloor; they stopped it. I think her friend, the Black woman in her group, glommed onto it after the second one as she kept her eyes pointed at my men suspiciously after that.

It’s last call, and I’ve had my ears on their table so know they’re going back to Alannah’s apartment. I can already tell Chloe is the nurturer. Trying to please them all. The tall guy that’s been with them all night is going, too, but I don’t sense he’s got a sexual appetite for Chloe, rather for her friend, so that’s all that matters to me for tonight.

She’s on the move to the ladies’ room and none of her party joins her, so I slip into the hallway a moment later, ensuring I’ll catch her on her way back.

By design, she slams into me coming out of the bathroom.

“Oh! Omigod!” she gasps, then tries to move back, but stumbles on her high heels and I catch her before she falls.

Arms wrapped around her, I look down into her eyes.

“Whoops. So sorry about that,” she breathes out, eyes glassy from alcohol. Her eyelashes flutter and she sinks her teeth into her bottom lip in a way that I know is from our proximity. “Hello again,” she adds, voice a little husky.

My cock goes immediately erect and presses into her stomach. I don’t generally spring hard-ons like this, but my brain is already poring over plans including all the ways I’m going to fuck her and now that I’ve got her in my clutches, clearly it brought my cock up to speed.

We’re trapped in one another’s gazes for a long moment. And I feel something odd. Something jagged unfurls in me as I stare deep. Whatever it is I’m feeling, it’s new and it’s big.

“Careful,” I advise on not much more than a whisper, continuing to look into her eyes as I make a smooth move that she doesn’t notice, sliding down the zipper of that side pocket on her dress.

“Sah-sorry…” she stammers, wide-eyed, blinking adorably at me. She swallows as her eyes slowly rove my face, then she gives her head a shake and steps back. “First time wearing heels in a while… while imbibing,” she explains.

I don’t immediately let go. I take a step forward so she’s pressed against me again.

“You good?” I ask. “Need some help back to your table? To your cab? I can have a driver take you home. A hundred per cent above board and chivalrous here. I’ve got two sisters.”

She shakes her head. “I’m okay. I’m not totally trashed. I just wobbly. I mean, I’m just wobbly a little bit. The shoes are to blame. Lucky sisters.” She gets a wistful smile that piques my curiosity.

I flash her a wide smile and whether she realizes it or not, she’s melting into me.

“If you’re sure?”

She seems to snap out of a daze, so I covertly slip my business card into that side pocket on her dress and pull the zip up a second before she backs away.

I catch her hand and give it a squeeze. She looks at me with panic.

“Sorry for the trouble tonight. Get home safely, Chloe Turner.”

“Thank you very much, Derek Steele. You get home safe, too.” She shoots me with a finger gun and winks exaggeratedly. This surprises me. In a good way.

I smile, stuffing my hands in my pockets. As she takes two steps backwards, I add, “Might wanna watch where you’re goin’.”

She salutes me and turns, but nearly trips so I lunge and catch her by the hips.

“Easy there,” I say, my nose grazing the shell of her ear.

She stiffens and presses her hand to the wall, then walks away slowly. That Jeffrey guy has stepped into the hallway; his eyes land on me shrewdly.

Platonic protectiveness. Good. I’m glad she’ll get safely to her friend’s place tonight in his company.

I step back into my office, switch the monitor off, and call Shep in.

“You know Alannah Fisher? She’s in here often.”

“I do,” he confirms.

And the way he confirms it has me curious.

“You friends with her?” I ask.

“Hooked up once. Not on company hours of course, boss.”

“Of course,” I reply. “Good terms?”

“Good terms,” he confirms. “Cling factor zero.”

That’s what Shep prefers. Non-clingy types. Same here. Previously.

“Good. Would you make sure she and her party safely get where they’re going?”

Shep looks perplexed. My returning expression lets him know I don’t want to be questioned.

He nods and leaves. I send a text message to Kenny who already knows I want information on Adam Hallman and Chloe Turner. But my message lets him know I want her followed around the clock, beginning tomorrow morning from Alannah Fisher’s home.