Chapter 26
Ledgar
My phone rings for the hundredth time as I grab my jacket, slipping it on as I walk out the door.
This isn’t a phone call I wanted to take with her standing in front of me.
I’m sure my business partner would be thrilled to know Payson was just seconds away from me taking her back to bed.
Whatever needed to be handled could wait.
I had something far more important that needed my attention but work never stops.
So, I gave her a choice. Stay. With me. Or leave.
If she chooses to leave, then I won’t chase her.
I don’t turn around and wait for her to respond.
I grab my jacket, slipping it on as I head toward my office.
The elevator ride down is silent. By the time the doors open, my relaxed expression is replaced with my usual stern one.
Everywhere you look something is flashing or spinning.
The chaos never ends. It’s the reason I keep a bottle of bourbon in my office.
The buzz from the liquor soothes the enormous migraine I get each night as I go to my room.
My office is quiet when I step inside which is exactly how I like it.
My assistant, who works from home most days, makes sure that all the orders are handled quickly and efficiently.
Jarrell keeps me updated with all the day-to-day operations that concern me.
And any problems that may arise are resolved by yours truly with occasional assistance from Griffith.
Smooth. Clean. Productive. Just how I like it.
My gaze drifts to the security panel on the wall out of habit. I pull up the main cameras for the casino and hotel, then the corridor outside my office, and that’s when I see her. No bag on her shoulder, no suitcase in her hand. She’s not leaving.
My focus sharpens instantly as another man and a woman step into view.
I recognize them immediately. It’s her ex, Kraig, and Jarrell’s sister, Vivian.
She clings to him as he speaks to Payson.
The tension is clear between them, and I don’t miss the way my little firecracker curls her hands into fists at her sides.
I don’t turn on the audio, because it’s best I don’t hear what they say.
I can read it all in the way she stands there, on edge but defensive, like she’s been doing this her entire life.
The way he looks at her, like he still has some sort of claim on her, makes me laugh.
If he only knew. Her face twists. She’s clearly disgusted.
He steps closer to her, causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand.
He’s too close for comfort. I continue to watch as she lets him have it.
Her hands fling up with every word she says.
I have to stop myself from going to her.
Watching her stand up to him is a turn-on.
He deserves it, and much, much more. Vivian speaks next, and whatever she says causes Payson to retaliate.
Pain mixed with fear lace her features, and it’s enough to make me push away from my desk.
This isn’t my problem to fix, but she is mine to protect.
When I turn the corner, they’re still there. “Is there a problem here?” My voice cuts through the hallway. All three of them turn to me. Her eyes find mine first, but don’t hold them long as she turns pulling away from him. He lets go of her arm too little too late.
“No problem here,” he says quickly. “Just catching up.”
I glance at her, then at Kraig. “Good,” I reply.
Vivian’s gaze flicks between us, trying to read the both of us. “Ahh...” she mutters. “I see.”
I don’t acknowledge her. My focus stays on him. “Then we’re done here.” But Vivian doesn’t let it end there. Like a typical Reith, she has to have the last word. Her eyes flick to Payson, then back to me, roaming over my body in a seductive way. The taste of bile fills my mouth.
“This is far from over,” she taunts, looking at Payson, then at me. One phone call to my business partner, her brother, is all it would take to shut her up for a while. I don’t have the patience to deal with her shit. Her words settle between us not as a threat, but as a warning.