Chapter 3
Evan
Tonight is boys’ night.
Once a week, my friends and I indulge in these nights. Just like our infamous escapades at Elite – the city’s most exclusive sex club – it’s one of the only times we drop the facade and just exist as ourselves.
But unlike Elite, tonight is about unwinding. No expectations, no pretense, just expensive cigars, aged whiskey and a couple hands of poker. The venue and host rotate each week and tonight it’s Harrison Archer Lauder III, Anais’s brother and my best friend’s penthouse apartment I’m walking into.
As I step into the entryway, low voices and the faint hint of smoke greet me. I move further into the apartment, smirking when I find everyone already gathered. It’s a long-standing joke at this point, I’m always the last to arrive unless I’m hosting.
“Ah, Maxwell. Nice of you to join us,” Nathaniel Rossi drawls, his grin sardonic.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I reply smoothly, shrugging off my suit jacket.
“I’d probably drop dead if this asshole showed up before me,” Jameson Calloway mutters, lifting his tumbler of amber liquid up in greeting.
“Anyone would think he runs the country, the way he’s always late,” Parker Rothman adds; his eyes narrowed in judgement.
“Don’t expect any hors d’oeuvres,” Harrison grumbles, forever the moody bastard. “These fuckers demolished everything an hour ago.”
“The caviar was exceptional. You’ll be disappointed you missed it,” Rowan Donahue murmurs around his Cuban cigar.
“And the aged Wagyu? Roberto excelled himself,” Hayes Astor adds, referring to Harrison’s private chef.
I smirk, lowering into the last leather Wingback chair circling the marble table, and lifting the tumbler of scotch that’s already been poured for me.
I swirl the amber liquid, looking at each of them in turn.
“Damn. Here I was thinking boys’ night was about the company, and not the food.
” My voice is filled with sarcasm, and I take a sip of my drink, enjoying the way the smooth liquid coats my throat.
Harrison scowls. “You’re such an asshole, Maxwell.
If my memory serves, you started this weekly tradition and yet, you’re the worst at showing up on time.
” He clucks his tongue in disapproval. “Did mama and papa Maxwell never teach you the art of punctuality?” It’s rhetorical, he doesn’t expect an answer, so I don’t bother with one.
We’ve all been friends since boarding school.
Sons of the rich, famous, and powerful. We’re the one percenters of the world whose net worth is in the billions.
Some call us nepo babies, others call us American Gods.
The press coined that one. And while it’s as obnoxious as it is flattering, I’ll take it over being called spoiled.
Sure, we’re privileged, but the truth is we all work hard. My friends and I are all accomplished in our own rights.
Harrison works for his father at Lauder Communications, one of the largest telecom empires in the world.
Nathaniel, after working for his dad, founded his own law firm within a year of passing the bar.
Rowan, whose family is an American dynasty, created and launched the world’s top social media platform while still in school.
The Calloways own over five hundred luxury hotels all over the world, making them the biggest hoteliers on the planet.
Parker Rothman is a king of nightlife – me and Harrison being part owners of one of his clubs – and restauranteur.
And Hayes Astor, one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood right now, and a single dad to the cutest little girl no one knows exists.
Her mother, a one-night stand, signed away her rights the same day Hayes walked out of the hospital with a tiny pink bundle in his arms. Nathaniel handled all the paperwork, of course.
It’s one secret he has managed to keep hidden, and along with his parents, we are some of the only people to know about his sweet two-year-old daughter.
It’s a miracle the press hasn’t found out.
But his story? It’s complicated, and one only he can tell. And he will, when he is ready.
“Nice to see you boys,” I say, raising my glass in a lazy toast. The scotch, Macallan Volume II single malt goes down smooth. Only the best for the Gods.
“So, I hear my sister will be interning for you?” Harrison wastes no time, getting straight to the point.
I almost choke on my drink.
My gaze flicks to Nathaniel, who’s barely concealing the smirk playing on his lips. He’s picked up on Anais’s little schoolgirl crush and he’s also the only one I confided in when she declared her love for me, like we were in the pages of a romance book.
Spoiler alert. We weren’t.
Keeping my tone even, I glance at Harrison. “You heard right. My father informed me about this little development two days ago. Seems your charming,” I cock my head. “I mean annoying little sister will be invading my space for eight weeks.”
“Watch your mouth, Maxwell.” he warns, always the overprotective big brother.
“Wait, Anais will be interning at Maxwell’s?
” Parker asks the question I’ve already asked myself a hundred times since my dad informed me of our new employee.
“Why not for your father’s company? Or your mom’s?
” he says before pausing. He frowns, pointing at me.
“And, by the way, there’s another telecom merger rumor going around. ”
Harrison shrugs, not looking the least bit concerned.
“There are always merger rumors going around. As for Anais, Telecoms and PR don’t interest her.
But diamonds?” he chuckles. “That’s another story.
She told my dad she wanted a summer internship; he suggested Lauder Communications.
She flat out refused. You know my sister, when she wants something, she aggressively goes after it. ”
My jaw tightens, my gaze flicking to Nathanial once more. The amusement dancing in his eyes tells me he is enjoying this a little too much. We are all aware Anais is relentless. And while I respect her drive. That doesn’t mean I want to be the object of it.
“That’s all well and good,” I mutter. “But now I have to babysit the little brat all summer. Not sure what I did to deserve that kind of karma.”
Everyone but Harrison laughs, though I find no humor in the position I find myself in. I meet my best friend’s eyes. He glares at me, his teeth grinding together as he watches me. He hates anyone talking negatively about his sister.
“I might have known you since we were in diapers, Maxwell, but best friend or not, I will beat your ass if you disrespect my sister. Anais has changed. She’s grown up. You’ll see that.”
I shake my head.
I don’t want to see anything.
Truth is, I don’t want her anywhere near me.
Anais has made her intentions clear; she is the hunter and I’m her prey. I don’t like it. Not one bit. Hell, why couldn’t she have fallen for Parker? He’s the softest out of all of us. More… vanilla. More Anais.
But it’s me she has set her sights on. And I can’t let my guard down around her, not even for a second. Harrison has no idea what she’s really like. He still sees his sweet, innocent, sister. But I’ve seen the sly smiles, the determination, the calculated seduction.
I can’t even blame him. I used to be the same way with my sisters, convinced they were innocent, untouchable.
That was before Thalia had an affair with a married man and Aria got knocked up by her bodyguard.
The rose-tinted glasses slipped. And as much as I love my sisters, they’ve both made choices I don’t agree with.
Innocence fades fast.
Anais may look virtuous, but she is anything but.
And one day Harrison will see that.
I sigh. “Can we play? I’ve had enough of you assholes already, and I’ve only been here…” I look down at my Audemars Piguet. “Fifteen minutes.”
Nathaniel chuckles, forever the joker of the group. “Come on, boys. Let’s deal. Evan’s already hit his limit, and I’ve got a hot date at midnight.”
“By hot date, you mean you’ve booked a room at Elite?” Hayes raises a brow.
Nathaniel smirks. “You know me too well, my friend.”
I shake my head, though the idea of a visit to Elite suddenly seems like the perfect distraction. After the Anais bombshell, I’ve got enough tension to work off for a year.
Harrison snaps his fingers, calling a name. In the next moment, a poker dealer appears from the kitchen where he has been hiding with the chef.
I smirk.
I don’t need the money.
But I’m going to enjoy every minute of taking theirs.