20. Beckham
Chapter twenty
Beckham
W alking Gavin out the front door, I raised a fake laugh at a joke he’d already told me once before. It was almost as funny as the circumstance that brought us together as growing “friends.”
“I’m telling you, Beckham, the guys at the firm are going to love you. Clear your schedule. We’re setting the date for sometime next week.”
“Gav... you already know you have me convinced. I’ll be there.”
He nodded before hesitating for a moment.
“Let me know if I cross the line, but you have to tell me, are you genuinely involved with Jessica? I mean, I can tell when a woman begs for attention, and it seemed like the interactions you had were somewhat one-sided today.”
I mulled over his words. One-sided relationships… I guess he ’ d be the one to know about those.
I shrugged. “In her mind, the feelings are mutual, but I don’t know. I don’t think we’re all too compatible, to be completely honest.”
Gavin sighed. “I know the feeling.” He shook his head.
I had half a mind to pin the fucker to the ground, but I decided against it.
Of course he and Rosenna weren’t compatible. She was sweet, determined, intelligent, assertive, delicate… captivating in every way possible. Words could barely describe the kind of woman she was.
And from my perspective, Gavin was, for lack of better words, a dick .
“Oh, that reminds me,” he continued, and I watched as he pulled out a business card. “Would you mind doing me a favor and giving this to her for me? She had a few questions about our travel schedules and services, and I forgot to give it to her.”
I took the business card and rolled it between my fingers, processing his words.
There could be two reasons as to why he would give this to her. The first reason, combined with his nonchalant method of finding out if we were indeed together, was his first step to getting closer to her. Giving her a business card was the next step, a placeholder for whatever bullshit reasoning he’d come up with later. Travel schedules and services… Much like he could tell she was after me, I could tell he was subtly trying to pursue her.
The second reason could have been that he simply wanted to gain another client, and it was purely business-related matters that they would discuss and conduct. But from the way he glanced at her a few times earlier, I could tell his intentions weren’t pure…
I guess we were much the same then.
If I were a good person, I would question his intentions to gain contact with Jessica. I would ask why he didn’t give her a business card in the presence of his wife. I would ask him if Rosenna felt comfortable with him sharing this info with another woman who was also giving him lustful and desire-filled stares.
But I wasn’t a good person.
And because I’m a “guy’s guy,” I correctly responded with, “I wouldn’t mind at all. I’m sure she’ll be glad you left this for her.”
Gavin gave me a small pat on the shoulder as a silent thanks and looked at his watch.
“Where is Rosenna? I have to get back to the office in about half an hour.”
I nodded toward the entrance. “Probably talking to my father. I’ll grab her for you. Sit tight.”
He nodded as we bid goodbye, and he went over to his car.
Upon entering, I noticed my father standing by his office with Kira, Sebastian, and my little flower.
Jessica was nowhere in sight, and I could tell by Kira’s sales-pitch laugh that she was trying to please Sebastian in the hopes of potentially gaining his business.
“All right, ladies, you’ve got me. I will make it to the art exhibit. God, Vincent, I don’t know how you deal with these two. I’ve never met anyone more persuasive,” he laughed.
I bit my lip as I watched Rosenna let out the most attractive and tempting laugh as she followed Kira’s lead.
I knew Kira was more of the hustler and go-getter of the two, while Rosenna focused on plans and ideas. It was the way they balanced one another out. Yet, seeing her in this sort of element was fucking sexy. The way she commanded attention and wouldn’t take no for an answer, she was a woman who knew how to get her way.
“I tried to warn you,” my father chuckled.
Rosenna and Kira both shook Sebastian’s hand and hugged my father as if he were their own.
It was almost hypocritical the way in which he hugged them, giving them a sense of independence and encouragement when, in reality, he was the one controlling all of their new growing contacts and opportunities.
However, I had to hand it to Kira. Getting his attention initially was virtually impossible, and now that he had grown a favoritism toward them, he was going to make sure they achieved everything they wanted and more. The only person who I could see potentially stopping him was Gavin and his mediocre values that plagued my flower’s mind constantly.
Sebastian and my father both stepped into the office as the girls walked toward the entrance.
Kira spoke first as she noticed me.
“Rose, I’ll be right back. Gotta head to the bathroom.”
Only then did my little flower lock eyes with me.
Before she was able to protest, Kira scurried to the bathroom.
I held back a chuckle. I could tell why Gavin didn’t like her, though I was slowly starting to be one of her biggest fans, second to my beautiful flower, of course.
Approaching her, I kept a relatively safe distance as I tilted my head. “Your husband is waiting outside for you.”
She crossed her arms, pushing up her perfect tits in that little dress, and my restraint nearly snapped in two. Fuck, I was going to lose it.
“And your little girlfriend is waiting for you in the den.”
“Jealousy doesn’t suit you well, Flower. I thought we talked about this?”
“But when you’re jealous, it’s supposedly a likable character trait of yours?” she shot back.
I shook my head as a smile came to my face at her boldness. “I see you’ve sobered up enough to land another business deal.”
“When I realized the champagne glasses that were constantly being offered to me were the problem, I stopped. You can blame your father.”
I hummed as I approached her slowly. She glanced toward my father’s closed office door, then to the bathroom down the hall—like someone might be watching. But that only made me harder. The thrill. The risk. The thought of her getting caught in my hands, flushed and breathless.
I stood only a foot away from her, and she bit her lip.
That fucking lip.
As she went to step back, my hand wrapped around her waist as I pulled her in closer to me. She placed her hands on my chest to push me away, and I only pulled her even closer as I pushed a piece of her hair behind her ear.
“Anyone could see us, Beckham. Go away,” she practically seethed.
I simply leaned down to her neck as her breath hitched.
She smelled like warm vanilla and something soft I couldn’t name.
Placing a small kiss on her collarbone, I leaned back to her ear and whispered, “I’ll see you at our next session, Flower.”
Interestingly enough, she allowed me to place another small kiss on her ear before she pulled away and walked to the entrance.
Looking over my shoulder as I turned, I hissed internally as her ass swayed back and forth while she strode out with her natural confidence and seduction. She doesn ’ t even have to fucking try
“You’re playing with fire, Mr. Garcia.”
I turned to see Kira walking over.
“Don’t mind getting burned,” I muttered.
She sighed and crossed her arms. Her playful demeanor turned into one more serious and cutthroat.
“Do me a favor, don’t let Gaslight Gavin throw you off track,” she added, her voice sharp with meaning. “Start working on those floor plans your assistant gave you last week. I need themes, composition ideas, and mockups by the end of the month.”
I rolled my shoulders, letting out a slow breath as she stared me down. She wasn ’ t going to let this go.
“I’ve been busy.”
“Make sure you divide your time accordingly when you are engaging in your… busy time,” she muttered knowingly, and I nodded as she walked away. “If not, I’m going to light a fire under your ass. You don’t mind getting burned, but if you can’t take the heat…”
—then get out of the kitchen … well, gallery.
Preoccupied with my flower, I’ve been somewhat inconsistent with communicating with my father’s associates and assistants working closely with Kira. I couldn’t let my flower down. With all of my focus solely on her, it was relatively challenging to find time to occupy my mind with something else.
She needed my assistance and artistry to grow her business and get back on her feet…
Above all, she needed me . The bare minimum wasn’t acceptable… not when Gavin had already filled that role perfectly. The perfect man would ensure his woman was well taken care of in all aspects of her life. And I was going to make sure I was the perfect man for her.
Walking over to the den, I was met with Jessica, who was reading a magazine on the couch.
She looked up at me as I passed by. “Babe, I was thinking we could get dinner sometime during the week. What do you think?”
“I’m busy.”
She furrowed her eyebrows. “You’re going to be busy all week?”
I didn’t respond. Didn’t need to.
She stood abruptly, heels clicking against the floor as she stepped in front of me, her expression shifting from annoyed to outright furious.
“I thought we were going to work on us? You told me you were excited to spend time with me. Now you want nothing to do with me?”
I was already growing annoyed over this pointless conversation.
“I never said that—”
“But I know that’s what you meant!” she snapped.
I simply stepped around her as I walked toward the staircase.
Jessica was silent for a moment. But just when I thought she’d given up—
“I saw the way you were looking at her.”
I stopped mid-step.
“It was filled with attraction. You looked at her husband with anger almost.”
I said nothing.
But she took my silence as confirmation. “I never understood what Vincent meant when he said you had obsessions… fixations… addictions. Don’t tell me this is one of them.”
Was I truly looking at Gavin with anger? Envy would suit my situation better. And as for my flower… I knew my stares were rather intense. However, I didn’t think they would translate into emotions or feelings others could detect so easily.
“Are you jealous that you’re not one of them?” I chuckled, turning. “My father is right. I do have… habits that often take up my time. Be that as it may, she’s a married woman. I’d say you have no real place to judge or assume anything about me. There’s no need to make false assumptions to speculate why I act a certain way. Even if what you said is true, it wouldn’t even be your concern. You and I aren’t together. End of story.”
As I went to turn, I paused.
“Oh... and the married husband … to the wife you were so concerned about left you this.”
I placed the business card on the coffee table and made my way up the stairs.
Stepping into a guest bedroom, I looked outside of the window as my jaw clenched slightly.
Kira was walking over to the car as Rosenna spoke to Gavin beside it. Cracking the window, I listened to their conversation in the distance as I toyed with the ring on my finger.
“Congrats on your new investor, by the way,” he said almost sarcastically.
My little flower immediately picked up on his tone, her shoulders tensing.
“Don’t say it like that.”
Gavin laughed. “So when I’m unsupportive, I’m a jackass, but when I’m supportive, it’s not good enough.”
My jaw clenched. Kira was right… “Gaslight Gavin” is a rather fitting title.
Moving the curtain, I watched as Kira joined Rosenna’s side to speak with her and Gavin moved to sit in the car. What Rosenna and Kira spoke about, I couldn’t hear: their tones were too low. Most likely they were discussing business matters.
Shortly thereafter, they said their goodbyes, and I groaned internally as I watched my flower walk to the car. It didn’t help that the longer I stared at her ass my cock began to stir. She was going to be the fucking death of me—
“I’d say today was quite a success, wouldn’t you agree, son?” came my father’s voice from behind me.
I sighed as I looked over to see him leaning against the frame of the door. Glass of whiskey in hand, he took a sip before speaking again. “Sebastian and Jessica just left… You could’ve let her down easier, you know.”
“She was making assumptions about my character and my actions. She’s only upset because she’s still bearing the idea that we might be a couple someday.”
“Well, you did ask her to accompany you to the event today.”
“I had my reasons for inviting her…”
My father hummed. “Surely it wasn’t to rekindle the non-existent relationship between you two?” I remained silent as I listened to the sound of Gavin’s car leaving the lot, gravel grinding under his tires. “Sebastian is quite excited to see what you’ve been working on… I hope it is reasonably grand, considering you ghosted my associates and assistants who’ve requested frequent progress reports. “
“I’ve been busy,” I muttered again.
“ Is what you told Jessica and Kira.” I remained silent as he continued, “She and Rosenna need your vision and concepts to prepare accordingly.”
“I’ll send something out by the end of the week.”
He smiled. “Glad we’re on the same page…”
He went to leave the room, but I stopped him.
“Is my new warehouse ready yet?”
He paused for a moment. “It should be…” Then he was gone.
Looking back out of the window, I caressed the fabric of the curtain as the image of my little flower being used by me filled my mind again.
That was all I’d been able to think about for the last week or so… The way her lips felt around my cock, the tightness of her little cunt, her little whimpers that fed my sadistic side that wanted to see her break.
An obsession… a fixation… an addiction . Those words settled into my skin, festered into my fucking blood. And for once, Jessica made a relatively solid point.
I was obsessed, fixated, addicted… and like an addict, I craved more. I fucking needed more … and I was going to get my fix.
One way or another.