Chapter 23
George Thermopolis tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he turned onto the quiet, tree-lined street where Lexie Stacias lived.
He’d spent most of the morning gathering whatever information he could on the woman.
The pink-dress enigma from the party had been the talk of the evening, and the whispers were impossible to ignore.
Max’s interest in her had been obvious, and George couldn’t shake the feeling that Lexie might be the key to swaying Max’s opinion about his campaign.
George wasn’t a fool. He understood power and leverage, and Max Diatras held both in spades.
Convincing a man like Max to back him wasn’t about speeches or policy—it was about influence.
And if Lexie had that kind of influence over Max, then she was someone George needed to understand. Someone he needed on his side.
As he approached the modest house, his brows furrowed. The place was unassuming, almost quaint, with its small porch and carefully tended garden. It didn’t scream wealth or power, which only made her connection to Max more baffling. Why her?
But before he could ponder further, his attention landed on a figure standing near one of the front windows. A blonde woman, dressed in a short skirt and high heeled black boots, was peering into the house, her hands cupped around her face as she tried to see inside.
George slowed the car, parking a little farther down the street. The blonde’s behavior was suspicious, to say the least. His first thought was that she might be a friend—or perhaps a rival—of Lexie’s. Either way, this was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
He stepped out of the car, smoothing his tie as he approached. The blonde hadn’t noticed him yet, too focused on whatever she was looking for. When he was close enough, he cleared his throat.
“Excuse me,” he said.
The blonde startled, spinning around with wide eyes. Her expression quickly shifted to one of annoyance, her hands planting on her too-slim hips. “What the hell do you want?”
George raised an eyebrow, unfazed by her hostility. “I was going to ask you the same thing. It’s not every day you see someone peering into another person’s home.”
The blonde narrowed her eyes, studying him for a moment before her lips curled into a sly smile. “Who are you?”
“George Thermopolis,” he replied smoothly, extending a hand. “And you?”
The blonde hesitated before crossing her arms, ignoring his greeting. “DeeDee,” she said flatly. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Well, DeeDee,” George continued, letting his hand drop, “what exactly are you doing here?”
DeeDee glanced back at the house, her expression hardening. “Looking for someone.”
“Lexie Stacias?” George guessed.
DeeDee’s eyes snapped back to him, narrowing with suspicion. “How do you know her?”
George smiled faintly. “Let’s just say I have my reasons. And I’m guessing that your reasons for being here aren’t particularly friendly.”
DeeDee crossed her arms tighter. “She’s messing with my man,” she snapped. “Enzo. He didn’t come home last night, and I know it’s because of her.”
George tilted his head, intrigued. “Interesting,” he said slowly. “And what do you plan to do about it?”
“I’m going to make sure she knows to stay away from my man,” DeeDee said, her voice dripping with venom. “She’s got no business getting involved with a guy like Enzo.”
George chuckled softly, his mind already working. This could be useful.
“You know,” he said, stepping closer, “it sounds like we might have a common goal.”
DeeDee blinked, clearly caught off guard. “What are you talking about?”
“Lexie Stacias,” George explained smoothly. “She’s... let’s say, complicating things for me as well. But I’m not interested in scaring her off. I’d rather have her... cooperation.”
DeeDee eyed him warily. “Cooperation? For what?”
There was no risk in speaking so plainly; if DeeDee repeated it, no one would take her seriously. She was the walking cliché of a mafia mistress, right down to the cheap perfume and all flash and drama with not a lot of intelligence to back it up.
DeeDee’s laugh was short and sharp, tinged with disbelief and mockery. She shifted her weight onto one hip, crossing her arms tightly as her lips curled into a half-smirk. “And how do you think she’s going to do that?”
“Lexie has Max’s ear,” George replied carefully, glancing at the house before returning to her. “If she believes in my campaign, she can sway him. And if Max is on my side, the rest of the dominoes fall into place.”
DeeDee’s frown deepened, her expression a mix of skepticism and curiosity. Her nails tapped a restless rhythm against her arm as she considered his words, her gaze narrowing as though trying to decipher what he wasn’t saying. “What’s in it for me?”
George’s smile widened, but there was a deliberate vagueness in it, as though he was testing the waters. “Why don’t we talk?” he offered, leaving her to fill in the blanks.
DeeDee tilted her head, studying him with open suspicion. She took a small step back, creating a deliberate distance between them. “Talk, huh?” she echoed, her voice laced with suspicion. “Sounds like you’re hiding something.”
George’s brows lifted slightly, feigning surprise at her wariness. “And here I thought you wanted Lexie out of the picture,” he countered calmly, his smile unwavering. But the faint clench of his jaw betrayed a flicker of irritation. “Or am I wrong about that?”
DeeDee’s lips tightened into a thin line, and her eyes darted to the house before snapping back to him. “I don’t trust you,” she stated bluntly, her body tensing as if preparing to bolt if his tone shifted even slightly.
“The feeling’s mutual,” George replied, his voice dropping an octave. His easy demeanor slipped for just a moment, replaced by a sharper edge. He stepped closer, deliberately closing the gap she’d created. “But we don’t have to trust each other, DeeDee. We just have to want the same thing.”
DeeDee’s jaw worked as she chewed over his words, her eyes narrowing further. She uncrossed her arms but kept her hands on her hips, a defensive posture that didn’t go unnoticed by George.
“Fine,” she agreed begrudgingly. “We talk. But don’t think I’m doing this for you. I want Lexie away from my man. That’s it.”
George inclined his head, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. “That’s all I need to hear.” But as they shook hands, the tension between them lingered, a silent acknowledgment that this uneasy alliance was built on mutual distrust and ulterior motives.