20. Oliver
Chapter 20
After Toby’s proposal, we spent most of the day in his little oasis, then he took me out to dinner. We spent all night wrapped in each other’s arms and only surfaced this morning because we missed Aiden and Jace. Plus, I had work to do today.
Toby and I are finishing up cooking breakfast together when Jace comes downstairs. He wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses my cheek. “Good morning, Angel. Did Toby finally let you out of his death grip?”
I laugh and pat the top of his arm around my waist. “Yes. We missed you guys.”
“Could have fooled us.” I look around Jace’s arm at the sound of Aiden’s voice, and he smiles. “Good morning, Darling.”
I reach out to grab a plate to set on the table, and Jace grabs my wrist. He flips my hand around, inspecting the silver band on my finger. He runs his finger across it. “You did it, Dirty boy.”
“Hell yeah,” Toby answers. He sets several plates on the table before turning around with the biggest smile on his face. “You aren’t the only one who has a claim on him now.”
I roll my eyes and slide out of Jace’s hold. When I step around Jace, Aiden pulls me into his arms. I’ll never get tired of the constant affection. It scared me at first, but now I grab it with both hands. “Congratulations, Darling.”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
Jace walks up behind me, sandwiching me between him and Aiden. “Do we need to celebrate again?”
“I’m perfectly fine doing something with just us,” I laugh. “I think the last celebration brought my best friend out of the closet.”
“Have you talked to him?” Aiden asks. He and Jace lead me to the table, and Aiden pulls my chair out for me.
I sit and get comfortable while Toby makes a plate for me. Jace and Aiden sit on either side, leaving Toby to sit in front of me. It’s weird sometimes that they never let me do it myself, but I love how much they like taking care of me. “A little bit. He’s been working a lot. I think he’s trying to distract himself.”
“I talked to Vince yesterday, and he’s not giving up,” Jace says.
Aiden snorts. “You mean when you went on a trip to confront my dad?”
My head whips between them. “What do you mean?”
“There was no way Jace was letting that shit go,” Toby laughs.
“How did you know?” Jace asks.
“Like Toby said, I knew you wouldn’t let it go. Plus, Dad messaged me yesterday and said he wanted to talk.”
“Are you going to?” I ask, squeezing Aiden’s thigh under the table.
Aiden shrugs. “I don’t know. Usually, he just shows up when he has something to say. He’s never given me an option before.”
“I’m probably not the one to give dad advice,” I say. “But I think you should hear him out on your terms. Have him meet you somewhere neutral. Do it for you, not him.”
“When’s the last time you talked to your dad?” Toby asks softly.
“Years. The last time I saw him, he was an alcoholic.”
“Do you ever want to contact him?” Jace asks.
“No. He’s as dead to me as he said I was to him.” My dad’s voice can still be loud in my head, but the guys have given me a way to shut it up. I would love nothing more than to have a relationship with my father, but it’s not something that keeps me up at night anymore. I have the guys, Leland, and Payton, that’s all I need.
We finish eating, and I tell the guys goodbye. Just like clockwork, the driver is already waiting for me when I walk down the steps with the door open. “Good morning, Cass!” I call out, and he smiles.
“Good morning, Oliver.” Cass is an older gentleman but still very handsome. He’s also huge and ex-military, which I’m sure is the reason Jace gave him to me to use. I’ve gotten to know him, and he’s a really nice guy. “Where to this morning?”
“To the office.”
I slide into the car, and he shuts the door behind me. I’m meeting one of my newer clients, and I’d never admit it to the guys, but he makes me uncomfortable. But I couldn’t pass up the business because he has me designing everything for three new businesses. I check emails and messages on the drive, and before long, we’re pulling up out front. Cass opens the door, and before I walk away, I turn back to look at him. “Can you hang out inside today?”
Cass shuts the door without another word and follows me inside. The building has several different offices with one secretary by the door. I smile on my way by and go to my office door. “Is something wrong?”
I sigh and turn the key in the lock. “The guy I’m meeting today gives me the creeps.”
Cass’ brows furrow. “Has he done something to you?”
“He’s…touchy. And I’d rather none of the guys get a murder charge.” I set my bag on the desk and pull my laptop out.
“Would you like me to stay in here?”
“Can you wait by the door, on the outside? He’s weird about people knowing what he’s doing before he can announce it.”
“Absolutely.”
“Thank you, Cass.”
Cass gives me a simple nod and slips back out the door. I sit down behind the desk to set everything up and, at nine o’clock on the dot, my client Trent walks in. He’s around my age and filthy rich because of Daddy’s money. The last time I met with him was at a small cafe and instantly regretted the decision. I plaster a smile on my face and stand up. I stick my hand out to shake his hand. “Nice to see you again, Trent.”
“You too, Oliver.” Instead of shaking it, he grabs it and flips it over to kiss the back of it. His lips linger too long, and I try to keep the revulsion off my face. “Do you have some designs for me?”
“Of course. Have a seat.” I tug my hand from his grip and flip the big screen on so he can see them in full detail. “I started on the club first.” I get everything on my laptop and pull up the folder. I start flipping through the designs, explaining everything to him as I go. I designed his logo for the building, his menus, and anything else that I could think of. “I’ll be working on the restaurant this week.”
“You’ve been very busy.” Trent sits back in his chair and gives me a look that instantly has my back up. “I heard some interesting news last week.”
“And that was?”
“That you’re involved with Jace Masters.”
“You know Jace?”
Trent waves his hand. “We run in the same circles. I hate to tell you, Oliver, but he’s already involved with someone else.”
I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Is he trying to put a wedge between me and Jace? Never going to happen. “I’m aware of Toby and Aiden.”
“You deserve someone that gives you all of their attention.”
“Trust me, they do.” I flip to another folder, trying to get him to stop asking questions. “If you look on the screen?—”
“They?” Trent asks. “You’re involved with all of them?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Oliver,” Trent shakes his head, and it pisses me off. “You don’t deserve to be passed around between them like a toy. I don’t know much about Aiden, but I do know how Toby and Jace are.”
I set the remote down and cross my arms on the desk. “How are they, Trent?”
“They play with anything set in their path until they get bored.” Old habits die hard, and my stomach immediately sinks at that implication. Then I think about my life since I went back to them. I one hundred percent believe them when they tell me that I’m it for them. Aiden might not have said it yet, but I know he feels the same way. “Let me show you how a real man can treat you, Oli.”
“It’s Oliver. This is strictly business between us, Trent, and I’m more than happy with my guys. They do treat me like real men. If you can’t maintain a professional relationship then I’m afraid I can’t work for you anymore.”
I can tell by the look on his face that no one ever tells him no. Anger is written all over it, but he’s trying to hide it with an easy smile. “I didn’t mean to overstep. I was just looking out for you.”
“I can look after myself. Do we still have a deal?”
“Of course.”
I go back to showing him the designs, and I’m showing him the last one when someone knocks on the door. “Come in!” I call out expecting Cass to walk through. Imagine my surprise when Jace strides into the room. “What are you doing here?”
“I was coming back from a meeting and wanted to see you.” Jace ignores Trent completely and walks behind the desk. When he kisses me, it’s meant to be claiming, and I know Cass called him. I can’t even be mad when I get to see Jace in possessive mode. When Jace finally pulls back the kiss, he looks at Trent. “Trent.”
“Jace.”
Jace pecks my lips one last time and makes himself comfortable on the little couch against the wall. His eyes never leave Trent, and I have to fight to keep the stupid smile off my face. “We can set another meeting in a couple of weeks. I should have all the designs done by then.”
“Very well.” Trent stands up and buttons his suit jacket with jerky movements, showing his anger. “I’ll have my secretary call you.” He leaves without another word, and I look at Jace.
“You should have told me that you didn’t feel comfortable with him,” Jace says.
I shrug. “I didn’t want to worry you, and I handled it. Did Cass call you?”
The man in question sticks his head in the door. “I’m sorry, Oliver, but he needed to know.”
“No need to apologize.” I know his loyalty is to Jace since Jace is the one who pays him. “He didn’t have nice things to say about you and the guys.”
“I’m sure he didn’t. Trent has hated us since college.”
“He said you ran in the same circles.”
“He wishes. No one can stand his pompous ass. We all went to college together, and he continuously chased Aiden no matter how many times Aiden turned him down. You need to be careful around him, Oli.”
“I will.” I get up from behind my desk and walk over to him. I curl into his lap and lay my head on his shoulder. “It’s nice to see you, though.”
Jace’s arms close around me. “You can see me whenever you want. All you have to do is call. I was serious about what I said. You should have told me about Trent.”
“I think you took care of that problem,” I laugh and kiss his cheek. “But that’s why I brought him here and told Cass to stand guard. I don’t trust him. And in a couple of weeks, his contract will be done.”
“I don’t have anything on the schedule until later. Do you want to go get lunch with me?”
“Of course.” I kiss the tip of his nose, making him wrinkle it. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
Weird conversation with Trent aside, I still got to see Jace in protective mode.
I’ll take that any day of the week.