Chapter Thirteen – Cullen
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CULLEN
“ I ’m not going.”
“If you’re not going, why are you bothering me with your presence?” Rafe glances at me through his reflection in the mirror before slipping on his cufflinks.
“Because I like to bother you.”
“Isn’t this the exact same thing you were bitching about Kelton doing?”
“No. I was bitching about Jace because he interrupted my date.” I make an exaggerated effort of looking around his brownstone. “I don’t see a woman anywhere here. Therefore, different scenarios.”
“I regret letting you on my jet.”
“No, you don’t, because then you would’ve had to go to this event alone.”
“So, you are going.”
“Yes, but only because you’ll owe me.”
“You act like a five-year-old.”
“And you act like a grumpy old man.”
Rafe’s right eye twitches. “I fucking hate socializing.”
“I know.”
Despite all his complaining, I am one of the few people Rafe Richmond tolerates, outside of his family.
I’ve known him for almost twenty years and am able to put up with his constant grumbling and snide remarks.
Rafe inherited Richmond Resorts from his father, becoming the youngest CEO the company has ever had, but he would rather drown himself in a vat of hot oil than deal with people.
Tonight’s event is one of the few exceptions.
While I’m dragging my ass to Jace’s launch event because I sold him the land for the new hotel, Rafe is attending as a rival.
As fellow hoteliers, they run in the same circles and have a very competitive relationship.
I’ve met Jace a handful of times outside of our business deals, but it always feels like he is putting on a show.
My phone buzzes and I pull it out to see a text from Verity.
VERITY: So far so good!!
There’s a selfie below the text of her smiling and giving a thumbs up. She looks stunning in a rich blue dress that makes her tits look out of this world. I’d rather be going wherever she is tonight.
She explained to me briefly that she had a work function her team had done the branding for and that she was nervous because her CEO would be in attendance.
ME: Youre going to crush it — and not just because you look so fucking sexy
VERITY: stoppp youre making me blush
ME: I’m serious
ME: I wish we were back on that rooftop, with my hands all over you
A text bubble appears and disappears a few times before her reply finally comes through.
VERITY: me too 3
“I forgot how insufferable you look when you’re dating.”
I glance up from my phone, catching my smile in the mirror.
“Jealous?”
“No.” His upper lip curls. “Come on, let’s get this over with.”
I follow him out of the brownstone and into the car waiting for us on the street.
Rafe has never been big on the dating scene.
Anything that takes away from his precious alone time or disturbs his work is seen as a red flag.
I think his longest relationship was one month during our freshman year of high school, and that was because he didn’t even realize he’d agreed to date the girl.
With the way he avoids relationships, you’d think he is the one with the jaded past, not me.
When we arrive at the Kelton, there are already hordes of people milling about out front. We are an hour later than the event’s official start time because Rafe refused to be one of the first people here.
A stunning woman exits the car in front of us, and the cameras immediately start flashing as she’s quickly surrounded. It doesn’t seem to bother her much as she smiles and poses for them briefly.
“Get out while they’re distracted by the actress.”
I don’t recognize the woman myself, but Rafe doesn’t give me much time to process as he exits the car and stalks for the entrance. I beeline after him, noting that not one of the paparazzi takes notice of us.
He slows down once he’s inside, taking his time to observe the lobby. He snaps a few photos and jots down some notes on his phone. I try to imagine what he sees, if there’s some checklist in his mind he is going through as he analyzes every square inch.
Kelton Hotels have always had an element of grandeur to them—that’s what has made them stand out.
The lobby of their newest addition is no different, boasting a giant, fifteen-foot metal sculpture of a pigeon.
Intricately carved metal leaves are individually hung from the ceiling on invisible wires at differing lengths above it.
I never said their idea of grandeur made sense.
I heard their hotel in Colorado has a giant polar bear statue in the lobby.
Once Rafe is satisfied with his assessment, we make our way to the elevators and show our invitations to a security guard, who swipes a golden key card that grants us access to the fifty-ninth floor.
When the doors finally open to the Kelton Honors Lounge, a slight groan comes from my friend.
I can feel the reluctance pouring off him in waves as we stare out at the bustling party before us.
Directly before us is a large blue and gold step-and-repeat where a professional photographer is taking photos of everyone as they arrive.
The moment Rafe’s designer shoes cross the threshold, his entire demeanor shifts. Cool ice settles over him as he sports a perfectly crafted look of unimpressed boredom.
He attempts to bypass the photo op completely, but I grab his elbow and force him to pause for a picture—his PR team will thank me later.
I pluck two champagne flutes from one of the waitresses floating around and hand one to him as we enter the large room.
There are three smaller rooms off to the side—one that houses games like billiards and darts, one styled after a sports pub, with large televisions, and one that is a library doubling as an open workspace—in addition to a wraparound balcony that can be accessed from this main area.
The branding of the club centers on royal blues and rich golds mixed with a creamy white marble. It meshes with Kelton Hotels’ overall sophisticated vibe but puts a modern, bougie spin on the otherwise classic English chain that normally holds regal elegance.
Modern is Rafe’s style, and I know this concept has to be poking some holes in his skin.
“This turned out pretty well.”
“It’s basically a rip-off of Barlow House.”
“That’s a lie.” Jace appears out of thin air, sipping on a glass of scotch.
“You created a member’s only hotel,” Rafe challenges.
“No. I created a member’s only floor as part of my very public hotel. Everyone can still stay at the Kelton, but the elite and those dedicated to our brand will be rewarded for their loyalty.” He tilts his head. “You’re just mad you didn’t think of it first.”
“You haven’t even officially launched it yet. You have no proof of concept.”
“The twelve thousand members who have already paid the premium would argue otherwise.”
“Twelve K? Good to know.”
Rafe smirks, and Jace frowns, realizing he just let loose a valuable piece of information. Rafe might not play well with others, but he sure knows how to play them.
“Cullen, I’m glad you could make it.” Jace switches his attention and claps me on the shoulder. “Did you have a good date last night?”
“I did.”
I’m still suspicious of him. I haven’t been able to figure out whether he paid for our meal just because that’s the sort of person he is or if he wants something. Jace is a strategic businessman, but outside the boardroom, he is beloved by the public.
“I saw that bird of yours around here somewhere.”
“What?”
“Your girlfriend or whatever she is. Verity.”
“Verity’s here?”
“Yes.” Jace looks at me like I’ve grown three heads. “You good, mate?”
That doesn’t make any sense. She is supposed to be at a branding event. Why would she be here?
“Where did you see her?”
Jace floats his hand around the room. “Somewhere.”
“Really helpful.”
“There’s over five hundred people here. I can’t keep track of every Tom, Dick, and Harry. I think I saw her by the billiard room,” he smirks before adding on, “maybe.”
I down the rest of my champagne and hand the empty flute to Rafe before going in search of Verity. He will be pissed at me later for not acting as his buffer, but I can handle that.
Trying to locate my girlfriend in this sea of people is another issue. The billiard room is a bust, and I try the other two rooms before resigning myself to going back to the main area.
Maybe Jace was fucking with me, or maybe he got the wrong girl.
A flash of blue and blonde appears in the corner of my eye, and my hand reaches out before I can stop it. The second my fingers wrap around the woman’s forearm, I know it’s wrong.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Cullen Ross.” Bridget Vaughn, the city’s most notorious socialite, grins back at me.
“Bridget.”
“Chloe said you were moving back.” She gives my pec a playful tap. “The city’s missed you.”
I give her a noncommittal hum as I continue to scan the room for my girl. Some people might consider it rude, but I’ve known Bridget for almost my entire life; she is practically a second sister.
She smooths down my shirt collar. “I’m surprised you’re here, though.”
“I came with Rafe.”
“Did you now?” Bridget sways to the side, making a quick search over my shoulder. “I’m shocked you were able to get him out of the house. I thought he was withering to death.”
“He’s not a hermit, B. He travels all the time.”
“Yeah, well, his social manners—” Bridget gasps, eyes blowing wide at something behind me.
“What?”
I crane my neck to peer over my shoulder in the direction she’s staring.
Her dainty hands latch onto either side of my face and drag me down, centering my focus back on her.
But it’s too late.
Because in those three seconds, I saw the face of a woman I haven’t seen in ten years.
The face of a woman who loathes me.
The face of my ex-wife.