Chapter 15 Cole
Cole
“You’re not an easy man to get an audience with,” I said.
Gabe’s smile was noncommittal as he scanned the party. “The football club takes a lot of my time.”
“I’m sure it does. I heard you’re thinking of selling La Dolce Vita.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Word travels fast.”
“I didn’t think you’d ever sell.”
“Property was my father’s interest. I’m not attached to the hotels. I’d rather invest in my team.”
I lowered my voice. “Whatever my father offers, I will better it. Shall we get a meeting in the diary?”
Gabe’s shrewd gaze roved over me. “This is a party. It’s no time to talk shop.”
“Fine, I’ll have my people talk to yours. This week?”
He wrinkled his nose. “I don’t think so. I’m not one to get in the middle of family drama.”
“No drama. I just want to throw my hat in the ring if you’re selling. You’ll find me an easier person to do business with than my father.”
He frowned. “I’ve heard a lot about you and your father, Cole. I get it. My dad could be a difficult man at times. Family grievances are never worth it. Life is too short, believe me.”
“This is business. It’s not personal. I’ll make you the best offer.”
“Not everything is about money.” He flashed a charming smile, but his voice was firm. “My wife is waiting for me. Excuse me.”
Gabe headed off into the soirée. Fuck! I eased my tie around my collar.
It didn’t matter. You only fail when you stop trying.
Failure wasn’t a viable option. I’d find a way in.
My jaw ached with tension. I scanned the room full of fake-ass people having shallow conversations.
I had to find my fiancée. She’d been so long she must have fallen down the toilet.
I’d brought her here to make me look good, and she’d ditched me at the earliest available opportunity.
Among the sea of bodies, I spotted Charlotte in the arms of another man. Surprise froze me to the spot, but it morphed quickly to anger. Fucking Reuben! The sniveling little weasel had his hands all over her. I should have been the only one touching my fiancée, even a pretend one.
My fists clenched by my sides. Reuben was holding her too close, as if he had any right. Rage blistered through me. I wanted to plant my fist squarely in this bastard’s face. I weaved toward them, but a firm hand on my shoulder stopped me.
“You never grow up, do you, boy?”
The bitter words sent a shudder through me. My blood ran cold. He wasn’t supposed to be here. Theo had given me the guest list. This man wasn’t on it. I steeled myself to turn around and face my father.
Sir Philip Thorner’s cold eyes scanned me. “I saw you talking to Gabe Rivers.”
He hadn’t aged a day since I’d last had the misfortune of being in his orbit.
His salt-and-pepper hair was perfectly coifed.
His tux was immaculate. If Charlotte thought I looked like a vampire, then this was my sire.
He’d taught me how to drain people dry in corporate boardrooms. How to toy with your prey before you sank your fangs into the jugular.
Philip Thorner was a mean, soulless man.
By the time he was done shaping me in his image, I wasn’t much better.
His thin lips took on an amused twist. “Don’t these little games get boring for you?”
When he spoke to me in that tone, I was a powerless kid again. Scared. Obedient. He’d bullied me. Made me feel out of control. Never again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The strings of the violin screamed in my ear. His voice dropped to a vicious whisper.
“You’re pathetic. Vindictive. Spiteful. Just like your mother. You won’t go far like this.”
He wanted an outburst from me. He’d never seen me as a person.
Just as someone to criticize and belittle.
I’d best him by not giving him what he wanted.
I kept my tone level and composed. “Never speak about my mother again. You don’t have the right.
We’ve all moved on, Philip. I’ve changed. I’m not the man I was in New York.”
“Changed? Don’t kid yourself. You’re a Thorner. Men like us don’t change.” He leaned in closer, forcing me to inhale his sour old-man cologne. “That hotel is mine. Stay out of it.”
“Why do you even want it? What does it matter to you?”
“It’s the best hotel in Rome. Why wouldn’t I want it?”
The truth flickered in his eyes. He wanted it because he knew what it would do to me.
He wanted it because my mother had loved it.
And I’d loved her. I need to get Charlotte the fuck out of here.
I can’t ever let him near her. A wave of stark panic went through me.
I’d made her vulnerable. I’d got cocky and selfish.
What had I been thinking, bringing her into my world?
My father destroyed everything I cared about.
What if I couldn’t protect her? I’d kept away from Ecclesdale for all these years.
It should have stayed that way. I’d been weak.
I twisted and strode with purpose through twirling guests to where Reuben, the snake, had his hands on Charlotte.
“We’re leaving.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Already?”
Reuben frowned and swished Charlotte away, giving me his back. “Shame on you, Cole. This is terrible etiquette. Interrupting in the middle of a dance.”
Rage exploded inside me at his stupid grin.
Nothing made me sicker than coming face-to-face with my father when I was unprepared for battle.
Reuben extended his hand so that Charlotte could do a twirl.
She spun with a smile on her face, and he pulled her back to him.
His approving eyes roved over her body, landing where her beautiful breasts curved above the bodice of her tight gown.
Jealousy coursed through my blood, hot and sour like poison.
He had no fucking right to look at her like that.
How could she let him hold her? How could she be so at ease with the golden boy, of all people?
I fought to keep my voice low and level. “That’s enough. Put your eyes back in their sockets and take your hands off my fiancée.”
“You’ll get her back, don’t worry.” Teasing sparkled in his eyes. He was always so carefree and fun. He’d lived such a charmed existence. That floppy hair and endlessly sunny disposition made me sick. Everything was always such a big fucking joke for him.
“You didn’t warn me Philip would be here.”
“And you didn’t tell me you were engaged!” Reuben shook his head in surprise. “He changed his mind last minute. Apologies. I didn’t know I needed to warn you.”
My fingers burned to grab Reuben by the collar and shake that easy smile off his face. But causing a scene wouldn’t serve my purpose here. Word would get back to Gabe, and I’d look like the problem. Philip Thorner would win.
“Take your hands off my fiancée.”
Reuben laughed. “Someone is jealous. I told you, I’ll give her back to you.”
This bastard. My breath burned my lungs. The music was too loud. There were too many people. I had the strangest sensation, like I was in motion, driving a fast car with no brakes. My words exploded, raw and loud. “Remove your hands from my fiancée before I remove them from your fucking wrists.”
Reuben frowned and held still. A couple of nearby dancers turned to look. Charlotte’s lips parted in shock. Heat climbed the back of my neck. Fighting to keep any scrap of civility, I reached for Charlotte’s hand.
“We’re leaving. Now.” My words came out as a rough command despite the guilty sensation creeping over me.
She snapped her hand away from me, surprise and hurt glittering in her eyes. This wasn’t me. Not with her. I didn’t give a fuck if the world thought I was an arsehole, but not Charlotte. I didn’t want to lose my temper in front of her.
Her eyes searched my face. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. Just do as I say.”
Her expression filled with belligerence, and she folded her arms. “Do as you say?”
I glanced over my shoulder, scanning for my father. He’d still be lurking around here somewhere. My pulse pounded a sickening rhythm in my throat. I need to get out of here. “I brought you here, and now it’s time to go.”
She clamped her jaw tight and stared. Her breasts curved above her folded arms and I fought not to let my gaze wander down. She looked magnificent. No wonder Reuben had headed straight for her and put his filthy hands all over what was mine.
“I was dancing with Reuben since he’s the only one here who asked me to dance,” she said.
I took a deep breath. Regaining my composure was all that mattered.
That’s what I’d learned in New York. The world could be falling apart and, as long as you didn’t let it show, everything would be fine.
Philip Thorner didn’t get to make me feel like this anymore.
I’d have him dancing to my tune soon enough.
No one got to make me feel out of control.
“I’m not messing around here, Charlotte. It’s time to go.”
We stared at each other, each assessing the other’s annoyance. Her frown deepened before she unfolded her arms. She gave Reuben a nod. “It was nice to meet you, Reuben. Thank you for the dance.”
She gave me an unimpressed look before she sauntered ahead of me through the crowd.