Chapter 5
FIVE
SHAE
W hen the hired car turns the final bend toward the DuBois Hotel, I pull out my compact and lipstick.
Red lipstick.
In any other event, it might seem garish to wear a red formal gown paired with a red lip and red-bottom shoes, but this isn’t any other event.
This is the event—the one where in order to secure my future, I’m gonna have to strut in there, whip my metaphorical dick out and plop it on the table for all the men in the room to weep at.
The Keystone executives are fucking with the wrong bitch, and by the time they leave tonight, they’ll both hate me and want to fuck me.
I can’t fucking wait.
“Ms.Rivers, here are the bios for all five of the Keystone executive team,” Melissa says, her efficient tone matching her efficient black evening gown. “My source in the ballroom has confirmed that Kenyon Braxton, Liam Boggs, and Kenyon’s sister Lucielle are there.”
I snap the compact closed and toss it on the seat next to me. Taking the tablet from Melissa, I scroll through the document.
Kenyon Braxton. CEO of Keystone Financial and rumored cokehead.
Mason LaBreque. COO of Keystone Financial and rumored by Melissa to be fucking the next person on the list: the very married Nancy Braxton-Hogg, Chief Legal Officer for Keystone Financial and wife to US Senator Donald Hogg.
Ashton Keane is Keystone’s CFO, and Martin Raymos is their CRO. I care less about Martin, a little more about Ashton, and I’m pretty sure I’ll have Kenyon begging for my forgiveness by the time the night is through.
Five-hundred-million dollars. They have half a billion of my money and want to jerk me around? Fuck. No.
Arching an eyebrow, I ask her, “How do you get all this information, Melissa?”
She gives me a reserved, closed-lipped smile.
“Here and there. Anyone can find anything if they look well enough,” she replies.
That’s a weird response, but I take it, nonetheless.
I hand the tablet back to Melissa after re-committing their images and names to my memory.
“Zane will meet you in the main ballroom,” she says, and I straighten as the hotel comes into view.
Zane’s attending the gala only as my business partner, but he wanted to go as my date.
I smashed that idea quickly. The last thing I need is for the press to get wind that I’m dating someone, much less the co-owner of my business.
That’ll get back to my mama and the kids quicker than I could sing the “Empire Today” jingle.
“Right.” I nod. “Just remember to?—”
“Stick close, but not too close. I remember,” Melissa says, then, almost as an afterthought, she smiles.
“Great,” I confirm.
Showtime.
I step out on the red carpet, momentarily blinded by the flashing lights, but Melissa and the security guard guide me to the step-and-repeat, where I take required pictures. I shift my pose smoothly and catch the guard’s eye.
The heat there sends me higher. Do I want him? No, not at all. Do I love the fact that he’s attracted to me and there’s never, ever, ever gonna be a chance he’ll get this?
Fuck yes.
It’s not a class or money issue at all, more that I have all the power right now, and this strong, broad man has none. At least, when it comes to me.
My shareholder Trance Jackson and his wife are the first people I see when I enter the formal ballroom. At the center of the back wall, an octet plays a strings-only version of “Black Beatles,” which, in a way, is hilarious.
“Trance,” I say warmly, kissing his wife, Lacey, on both cheeks. “Now, you know you’re wrong for the musical selection.” I eye the septuagenarians in the corner who flush red as they take in the varied dance moves on the floor.
“Somebody’s gotta have fun at these things,” Lacey says, and I smile at her. She’s a few years younger than I am, and if I were a better person, we’d probably be friends.
But I’m not a better person. I’m a busy person, and making new friends makes my hands itch.
I look around the ballroom, searching for Zane or anyone on the Keystone team.
I don’t spot Zane, but as if by divine timing, the arrangement changes to “No New Friends” by Drake, and by even more divine alignment, Kenyon Braxton, the CEO of Keystone Financial, walks in my direction.
“I’ll leave you both to your guests,” I say graciously, making a slow line for Kenyon. He spots me almost instantly, his gaze going to my breasts.
Predictable.
“Kenyon Braxton. Just the man I’d hoped to meet tonight,” I say, dropping the tenor of my voice. Since he’s staring at my tits, it takes him a second to realize who’s just approached him.
His features tighten, almost to a grimace, when our gazes connect.
“Ah, Liv.” That’s all he says, his eyes shifting behind me.
Before he can move, though, I weave my arm around his, securing us together in lockstep.
“Walk with me, Keys,” I drawl, still smiling even though I’m on the hunt.
We make it halfway around the room before he tries to pull back, but I tighten my hold.
“Relax,” I murmur, just for him. “I just want to talk. I figured we’d skip the dance floor and get straight to business.”
“You made your point, Ms.Rivers,” he says, jaw tight. “Now let me go.”
“Oh, honey,” I purr, pausing to turn and face him fully. “This isn’t me making a point. This is me clearing my throat.”
Kenyon’s nostrils flare.
I pull him closer, my palm going to his forearm, my gaze unwavering.
“You have until Monday to move the acquisition forward to closing. You will drop the other bid, honor our existing agreement, and finish the deal. If you choose not to follow through, I’ll call a press conference, and believe me, I’ll bring receipts. ”
He blinks.
“Receipts?” he echoes.
“Receipts,” I confirm sweetly. “Everyone knows you have a problem with powder, but do they know about your lover over in Ann Arbor? Or that you’ve been siphoning off state and federal grant money to finance your little love nest?
All through your shell company, so Grace doesn’t find out?
It really is so sad you got married without a pre-nup. ”
I smile. Not the nice kind.
“You think I’m bluffing, Kenyon? Try me. I dare you.”
His face drains of color. I lean in.
“Move the deal forward. And if you try to fuck me over again…” My voice rumbles like thunder. “I’ll burn everything you love to ash. Your bank, your brother-in-law’s Presidential ambitions, and your precious little legacy.”
I straighten, tug my gown just slightly higher, and give him a slow, assessing once-over.
“Don’t confuse the lipstick and heels for softness, baby.”
I smile, saccharine sweet. Then, with a kiss to his cheek, I saunter away.
Melissa meets up with me.
“Do you need me to corral the rest of them?” she murmurs.
I tilt my chin up, the adrenaline I’ve channeled to amp me up for the confrontation I just had starting to make me jittery.
After a slow breath so no one can tell I’m starting to feel…too much. Overwhelmed? Maybe not. Definitely not. I feel….
I’m riding high.
“No,” I tell Melissa, a small smile crossing my lips. “I’m sure Kenyon got the point. And if not?”
I look back at the man. He stands right where I left him, his phone out as he scowls at the screen. His sister Lucielle slides next to him with a tense expression.
“Well, we’ll see, won’t we?” I add. Straightening my shoulders, I adjust my trajectory to exit the ballroom.
I have no desire to mingle with rich bastards with sticks up their asses. It’s enough to have to deal with myself: a rich bitch. Stick may or may not be included, depending on the day.
Keep moving forward, Shae.
That’s all I can do. One foot in front of the other. Kenyon thought he could mess with me, but I still hold the power.
I win. You lose.
Feeling a little dizzy, I stumble to a stop. Melissa pauses, looking at me over her shoulder.
“You okay?” she asks, and I try smiling at her again.
“Yes,” I whisper. “Right as rain. I’m just tired and need to rest up.” It’s way too late to call the twins, and I promised myself I’ll get up earlier than usual to catch them before I set out for the day.
Melissa nods and heads to the concierge to call our driver. Pulling out my phone, I grin when I see an email from Nancy Braxton-Hogg with a meeting request in the subject line. I’m about to tap out a short reply when the air shifts, and I feel…something.
Like I’m being watched.
Looking around the space, I don’t see anything out of the ordinary. Melissa’s off to one side, a few couples spread around the floor.
But the feeling doesn’t go away.
After a full minute of standing in the middle of the foyer, I’m about to go after Melissa when a broad hand lands in the middle of my back.
I jump nearly a foot in the air.
“Whoa, you okay?” Zane asks, and my hand flies to my chest. I really need to relax. Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to run off and stay for a drink or two.
Beyond the glass doors, a flash of light brightens the busy street, threatening rain.
“Zane,” I say, catching my breath. “Sorry, you scared me. I looked for you earlier but didn’t find you.”
He gives me a charming smile, taking his time checking me out from head to toe. I look damn good, and I know this, but his open perusal makes me uncomfortable.
“That’s why I came to find you,” he says, taking a step closer. “I knew you’d bounce without finding me.” Zane’s low voice rumbles close to my ear, and I have to admit, he sounds nice.
And smells nice.
Still, we’re in public, so I take a step away.
“I got the Keystone deal sorted,” I tell him, keeping my voice low.
“All business, huh?” he says with a sideways grin.
I tick my head back, frowning.
“What do you mean? Also, you’re welcome ,” I snap, turning away to find Melissa.
“Wait,” he says, grabbing my wrist, and I immediately tense, my eyes going to where he restrains me. “Sorry, Liv.”
I raise my gaze again, and this time it snags on the faint smudge of lipstick on his collar. The fact that seeing it has nearly no effect on me proves what I already know: This situation with Zane is a mistake.
“Zane,” I say, calling on my patience. This man has been a friend more than he’s been a lover. In fact, calling him a lover feels wrong…love is nowhere in the mix between us.
“Hey, it’s all good,” he says, raising his hands. “I can be patient, Liv.”
I narrow my eyes, assessing him.
“Right,” I bite out. After a beat of awkward silence, I take another step back, nodding in Melissa’s direction. “I’ll see you in the office.”
Zane seems taken aback by my abrupt dismissal, but he has to be used to it at this point.
My phone buzzes again, giving me an excuse to get even further away from Zane. But when I glance down at the screen, something catches my eye to the left—a flash of broad shoulders. A tall frame. The tilt of a jaw that?—
No.
No, no, no.
It can’t be.
It’s not him.
It’s a dark hall, Shae. Get a grip.
“Shae?” I blink and shake my head as Zane’s face comes into focus.
“I’m fine,” I snap, sucking in a deep breath as the world comes alive around me again.
“Three minutes until the driver’s here. Everything okay?” Melissa appears at my elbow, giving Zane a strange look.
“Yes,” I say…even though my instincts tell me the real answer might be “no.”