Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Ana?s
Me, Rue, and Creed sit in the back of the town car as we make our way down to Monte Carlo Casino.
I watch out the window whilst Rue quizzes Creed on the drivers and who he thinks, on a scale of one to ten, is the hottest. After refusing to answer four times, he finally gives in on the fifth attempt.
I giggle to myself as he begins to rank them, and once she is satisfied, she asks him to rank the drivers on their capabilities and then onto the teams.
Relentless.
But he seems to be enjoying himself, secretly, of course.
The drive isn’t long and before I know it, the car is rolling to a halt.
My mouth pops open, eyes widening slightly as I take in the beauty of the building in front of me.
A water fountain sits in the middle of well-kept grass, red flowers trailed down the sides.
It is magnificent, and I feel like I needed another trip here to just appreciate it.
It reminds me of a palace, not a casino.
Creed lowers his face down and mutters something to the driver and I am still standing in awe. The car rolls behind us and drives back out into the distance.
“Wow,” I mouth to Rue, and she just smiles giddy.
“It’s something, right?”
I nod, following Creed up to the door when the doorman asks for ID. I slip my hand into my purse and hand it over, Rue following, and Creed does his last. We get a firm nod before we walk into the Monte Carlo.
“Did you know,” Creed says as he walks past the check in for coats and bags, “if you’re Monegasques, you’re not allowed to gamble?” He looks over his shoulder at me and Rue.
“Really?” I ask and Rue nods eagerly, agreeing with him.
“Yup, a law was put into place way back when and Prince Charles III banned his own people to protect them financially.”
“Well.” I shake my head softly. “You learn something new every day.”
“That you do,” Rue says as she links her arm through mine and we move towards the restaurant Le Train Bleu.
I feel so hungry. It had been a long day, and I know I have eaten far too much but I still felt famished.
They greet Creed like they know him and lead him over to a table tucked at the back of the restaurant and I see three other gentleman sitting there. Two are a little older, maybe the same age as Creed, and a younger man who I recognised but I couldn’t put my finger on who he was.
“Lexington.” One of the older guys stands up and shakes his hand, then gives me and Rue a smile. Creed shuffles in and claps his hand into the other guys before greeting the younger man.
“Luke, Zach.” He turns his attention to me and Rue. “This is Ana?s and Rue, you may recognise Ana?s, she used to date Royce.” I swallow when they exchange knowing looks. “Rue is Ana?s’ friend, I took the liberty of inviting them tonight, I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course we don’t. Ana?s, it’s nice to formally meet you,” Zach says and holds his hand out for me to shake, which I do. Luke is already shaking Rue’s hand and then we switch.
“You too,” I address both of them and then take my seat next to Creed, Rue sits next to me.
“How rude of me.” Creed sighs, holding his hand out in the direction of the young man sitting opposite us. “This is Griffin Montgomery, he drives for Montcroix, Zach is the team principal, and Luke is the CEO.”
“Ah, nice to meet you.” I extend my hand, which he takes gladly but ends up bringing the back of it to his lips as he kisses it then repeats on Rue.
“Likewise.” He smiles as he picks up his menu.
“Okay if I order wine to the table?” Luke asks.
Creed holds both of his hands up, giving him the go ahead. My eyes are on the menu, and I am already getting panicky about how I am going to afford to pay for this. Creed clocks my expression straight away and I feel his hand slip onto my leg.
“All okay?” he says quietly, his voice low.
“Yeah, just checking the menu out.”
“Order whatever you and Rue would like, it’s on Montcroix.” He winks, patting my leg before his hand is back on the table, fingers pinched at the edges of the menu.
“I can pay for me and Rue.”
“No, you do not put your hand in.”
“But—”
“No buts, Ace. It’s not on you.”
I swallow down the nerves. Rue catches me and I just shake my head.
“Yes, that’s fine, Luke.” He smiles, his eyes back down on the menu.
A waiter appears at Luke’s side and they have a small conversation in French before Luke is ordering.
“We will take two bottles of the Dom Perignon ‘Vintage’ 2008, please.” The waiter nods.
“Then, once that is finished, please bring a Chateau Minuty Cuvée 281.” Luke pauses as his finger trails down the menu.
“And a Chassagne-Montrachet L.Pillot.” He closes the wine menu.
“And a couple of bottles of water for the table, please.”
The waiter smiles and scoops the excess wine glasses from the table, then disappears.
I slip my phone from my bag and re-arrange the menu slightly and taking a close-up photo of the restaurant. Their eyes are on me and I give them an awkward smile.
“I work in social media… I was just going to pop this on my story.” My voice is quiet.
“Go ahead,” Zach says, his head bowing slightly. “Just don’t get us in any, we’re rivals, after all.” He winks and Creed and Luke chuckle, Griffin gives a smirk.
“No problem at all, I understand.” I wink back and go back to posting on my story.
We all toast to the upcoming season and Rue and I sit and listen as the guys all fall into conversation, talking amongst ourselves.
Our food comes and the wine continues to flow. I must give Luke credit, he knows a good wine. My dinner was delicious, I went for the linguine, with yellow cherry tomatoes, Sicilian red shrimp, and lemon olive oil. Filling but still light, and definitely room for dessert.
Once we were finished, Creed leads us out of the restaurant, and I don’t miss the way his hand hovers over the small of my back causing my breath to catch at the back of my throat.
Rue steps beside me, linking her arm through mine again as we walk down towards the casino.
“Is there something going on between the two of you?” she whispers as we move ahead slightly, and I shake my head.
“No, nothing, just being nice.” I cast my gaze over my shoulder and see his eyes on me whilst Luke and Zach talk. Griffin is nowhere to be seen.
“I think he might have a thing for you,” she whispers again, and I laugh at her words.
“Don’t be silly, I think he feels bad because of Royce… maybe? Maybe he thinks I am sad or something.” I shrug and my steps falter as we stand at the entrance of the casino.
“Where first, gents?” Creed’s voice crashes through me and I stand to the left, still with Rue glued to my side.
“Roulette table.” Luke rubs his hands together.
“Roulette it is.” Creed beams, nodding his head for us to follow.
“Ever played roulette before?” I whisper to Rue.
“Nope.”
“Ditto.” I give a weak smile as we follow the guys to the table.
We wait for a space and after a few minutes, Creed sneaks in, dragging me and Rue with him.
“Hit me with a number, Ana?s.”
I freeze.“Er.” I look at Luke, silly smirk on his face, one hand resting on the edge of the table.
“Don’t overthink it.” He nudges his shoulder into me, and I laugh nervously.
“Seventeen.”
“Five hundred on seventeen.”
Snapping my head to look up at him, eyes all wide as sheer panic courses through my body. “Oh my God, Creed, no.” I place my hand on the top of his arm, and he laughs.
“I feel like you’re my lucky charm.” He winks.
The croupier calls out and the table spins before the ball is dropped and I swear everything moves in slow motion.
My heart is thumping hard in my chest, nausea swarms in my stomach and all I can do is watch as the ball bounces then rotates around the table.
Squeezing my eyes shut, my fingers dig into his arm until I feel fingers grabbing my wrist from the other side.
Opening one, I look at the table and see the ball nestled in seventeen.
Holy shit.
“Told you, Ace, you’re my lucky charm.” He chuckles, throwing his arm around my shoulder and pulling me into him, his head dipping as he places a kiss on the top of my head.
“Who needs a lucky rabbits foot when you’ve got her on your arm, aye Lexington.” Zach chuckles and Luke nods, agreeing with his colleague.
I try my best to ignore that way my skin prickled when his lips brushed through my hair, the way my heart hack hammered in my chest.
“No letting you go, Ace,” he mumbles before kissing the top of my head again.
No letting you go, Ace.
That damn nickname has butterflies swarming in my stomach, and truth be told, I am terrified.
Creed
The words replay in my head.
No letting you go, Ace.
I kissed the top of her head like she was mine to kiss. Like. She. Was. Mine.
Fuck.
I feel sick to my stomach.
She’s my sons ex-girlfriend.
She wasn’t mine to kiss.
In the moment and all that.
Scrubbing my face, I am leant up against the bar waiting for our drinks.
Margaritas for the girls, bourbon for us men.
We’ve not spoke about it since, just hovered over some tables. It was just a spur of the moment thing. I knew that. She knew that.
Casting my eyes across the room, her and Rue are sitting at a high circular table, legs crossed over their knees and they’re talking whilst Ana?s scans her phone around the room.
“Sir.” The barman’s voice pulls me in and I nod, sliding him my Amex and letting him ring it up.
“Thank you,” I say as I take the margaritas first, walking them over to the girls and placing them on the table.
Ana?s thanks me, snapping a picture of their cocktails, and then I turn on my heel and grab the three bourbons. Griffin disappeared before we even walked into the casino. I’ve no idea where he went but Luke assured me he was fine and this was standard behaviour for him.
I was desperate to tell them about Cowan, but until he has signed on that dotted line, my lips must remain sealed.
Luke is a good friend. We raced together back in the day, rivals on the track, but not off it.
We lived in each other’s pockets and he was there for me when I needed him most. He was like an uncle to Royce but also wasn’t afraid to give him a talking too if needed.
Royce was still immature when it came to his racing.
He was arrogant, like all young racers, and he definitely could do with being knocked down a peg or two.
Luke’s drivers, Griffin and Marques, both do that.
They make him drive better, make him never feel too comfortable behind the wheel.
Standing at the next table along with my friends, I hand them their drinks and they both thank me.
“Thank you again for dinner,” I say, taking a mouthful and groaning in appreciation.
“Not a problem, least I could do.” He holds his glass out to me, and I return my cheers. Zach is quiet and his eyes flit between me and Ana?s.
“So, spill it… there is something going on between the both of you.” He side eyes Luke, smirking.
I laugh, shaking my head as I place my glass down on the table and fold my hands into my pockets.
“There is nothing going on. Pretty girl, smart head on her shoulders, just a crossover in dates with the penthouse.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Zach laughs loudly and smacks me on the back, causing me to cough.
“Honest. Royce’s PR lady is Ana?s’ best friend.
She booked the penthouse after Royce broke up with her knowing full well Royce only comes to Monaco for races or events if he has to.
He wouldn’t come here out of choice. I fancied a break, came to the place I love the most and to my surprise, the pretty red head was asleep in my bed. ”
Luke laughs, shaking his head as he takes a mouthful.
“Maybe it was fate,” Zach pipes up.
“Or.” I raise my brow, holding my finger up. “Maybe it was just what it was… a double booking.” Rolling my eyes, I push my hand forward and grab my drink.
“Whatever, Lex.” Luke smirks. “We will see, shall we.”
“Okay, bet on her right now.” Zach rubs his hands together as the words leave his mouth.
“What?” I am taken aback by his comment.
“You and Ace, make a bet with us right now that this will be nothing more than what it is… a crossover of dates.” I see the playful glint that shoots through his dark brown eyes. Zach is practically bouncing up and down on the spot and you wouldn’t think we are three men in our mid-forties.
“Bet.” I nod, holding my hand out to shake both of their hands.
“May the odds be in your favour.” Luke winks and I roll my eyes.
“What’s the cost?” I take a large mouthful of my drink.
“Royce,” he says with a thickness of seriousness coating his tone.
“You can fuck off, anything but Royce.”
“The yacht then.” He throws a shoulder up, lips turning down in a nonchalant way. “Same monetary value, anyway.” He side eyes Zach whose lips are twitching.
“Deal,” I say through gritted teeth, knowing full well I have just signed my yacht away.
Shit.