Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Molly’s been in the guestroom with Angus and her team of three stylist getting ready for this gala for the last two hours.
I don’t understand why she’d need so much time to get ready.
She’s fucking perfect the way she is. I’ve also been instructed that unless the world is imploding, I am not allowed to go into that room.
It took three seconds of having her in my arms for all the rage I was feeling to leave my body earlier today. Don’t get me wrong… I’m still worked up, and someone’s head is going to be rolling down the fucking Strip when I find them.
CJ and Sammie J went to a call out at one of our warehouses.
It had been hit. About seven hundred grand worth of cocaine stolen and five of our men dead.
So you can imagine that news didn’t sit too well with me.
I should be out there looking for the fucking thieves now, not sitting here playing dress-up and going to a fucking party.
But my father insists on keeping up appearances and all that jazz.
So, tonight, I have to trust our employees to do their jobs and find the fucker who stole from us.
I’m nursing a glass of whiskey, the same glass I’ve been nursing for the last hour because I know I can’t drink much tonight. Not with the plans I have for after this gala.
Finally, I see the door open. I stand straighter as the three stylists walk out. They startle at seeing me waiting outside the room. I probably shouldn’t be lurking around in the hallway. But fuck it, it’s my house. If I want to wait for her in the hallway, I will.
“Ah, she’s just getting her dress on now, Mr. Giuliani,” one of them says, closing the door behind them.
“Thank you.” I pull out my wallet, and they all shake their heads at the same time.
“Miss Olive has already been very generous,” another adds, and then they’re all scurrying off in the opposite direction of me.
I roll my eyes. Of course she has.
Five minutes later, the door opens and Angus stops dead in his tracks when he sees me. His lips tilt up into a smirk. “Are you going to be able to keep the vultures at bay tonight?” he asks.
“Excuse me?”
“The paparazzi and, well, men. They’re going to swarm her.
Word leaked that she was attending the gala and everyone wants a piece of Mol.
She has her own security team, but I’m guessing she’s going to be following you around all night anyway.
Are you going to be able to stop their greedy paws from getting to her, or do I need to station her bodyguards in that ballroom? ”
“No one will be touching her,” I tell him. I’m fucking offended he thought I’d let anything happen to her.
“Good. That’s what I figured, but you know I have to check.” He shrugs. “Mols, I’m leaving you with your boyfriend. See you tomorrow,” he yells through the door.
“Not my boyfriend,” Molly says as she appears on the other side. And my breath is literally pulled right out of my lungs. Because, holy fucking shit, I’ve never seen anything more fucking beautiful.
I’m rendered speechless. My eyes travel up and down the length of her body.
She’s wearing a light-pink dress. A corset top, her breasts popping out the neckline and a good amount of cleavage on display—something I would appreciate if I didn’t know every other fucking asshole is going to be looking at her with indecent thoughts tonight.
The satiny skirt touches the floor, and Molly holds it up, showing off a pair of strappy white heels.
Her hair is done in intricate curls on top of her head with small tendrils framing her face.
“You…” My throat is dry.
“I think you broke him, Mol,” Angus says, sounding amused. “You got this. Call me if you need anything.” He nods to her and walks away.
“Are you okay?” Molly asks me.
“I’m… Fucking hell, you are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, Molly Olive.”
“You don’t scrub up too bad yourself, Alfie Giuliani.” She smiles at me.
“I mean, you’re beautiful without all… this. But fuck, you wear that dress well,” I tell her.
“Thank you. Should we go, or do you want to stand here and stare at me a little longer?”
“What I want to do is take you into my bedroom, tie you to my bed, and fuck you all night.”
“As great as that sounds, I do want to go to this gala.” She shrugs a shoulder.
“Okay. But tonight, I am bringing you back here.”
“We’ll see.” She laughs.
“I actually have plans for after the gala, so do me a favor and don’t drink too much. I need you sober.”
“I’m not going to get drunk and embarrass you, Alfie. I know how to behave at these kinds of events.”
“I wouldn’t care or be embarrassed if you got drunk, Molly. But if you did, we wouldn’t get into the place I want to take you afterwards.” Like fuck, this woman could ever embarrass me. “Hold on. I need to grab something.” Taking her hand, I guide her down the hall and into my office.
I drop her hand, slide the bookcase to the left, and press my palm to the large steel door that opens upon my touch. Then I walk into the hidden room and find what I’m looking for.
“Come here.” I crook a finger at Molly.
Her eyes are wide as she takes in the variety of weapons. “I’m not going to ask…” she says.
“Probably for the best you don’t.” I laugh.
Kneeling in front of her, I pick up her right foot and slide a small leather garter up her calf, over her knee, stopping when it reaches her thigh. Next, I pick up the petite knife, cased in a pink sheath that fastens to the garter.
“It’s light so it shouldn’t be too weird for you,” I tell her.
“It’s pretty. Doesn’t really seem like your style, though,” Molly says.
“I buy stuff for my sister. This has been sitting here for a while. Angus said something about paparazzi hassling you. If anyone gets too close, take this little knife and aim for the side of their neck.” I wink at her as I stand.
“I am not stabbing the paparazzi, Alfie. Are you insane?”
“Probably.” I shrug. “Now we can go.” I take her hand, close the door to the safe, and slide the bookcase back into place.
Angus was right. The moment Molly stepped out of the car, camera flashes were going off and her name was being shouted by a greedy bunch of news reporters. Molly didn’t seem too fazed. She smiled and waved as she posed by my side for a few pictures.
Now that we’re inside, it isn’t any better.
We’ve just stepped through the doors, and all eyes have turned to her.
My parents are the first to approach. My father giving me a stony don’t fuck up this event look, while my mother takes Molly in her arms and hugs her.
She then guides her across the room to meet someone.
I watch for a second before I’m following close behind them.
“You know, for someone who was supposed to be running this woman out of town, you sure are doing a backwards job of it,” Dad says, a slight twinge of humor in his tone.
“She’ll leave,” I say, and bile rises in my throat. I have no doubt she will leave. I just don’t think I actually want her to anymore.
“Yeah? That why you had her at your house today?”
“She’ll be there tonight too. Doesn’t mean she’s not going to leave town when she doesn’t get what she came here for,” I grunt.
“There are ways for you both to get what you want,” Dad hums.
“Yeah, how’s that?”
“Work together. Let her rebuild those properties, and influence her on exactly what you want in them,” he says.
“Influence her?” I raise a brow. “Molly is headstrong and the fucking smartest woman I’ve ever met. She’s not just going to be influenced when it comes to her business.”
“You could always marry her,” he states.
“I’m not the marrying type,” I grumble and walk towards where my mother has introduced Molly to a woman who makes no secret of giving me the once-over as I approach.